Reusing live rock with Aiptasia

[Gone Reefin’]

Here’s the scenario. Getting my new tank.

First, my pride and joy reef tank needs to move to an adjacent room. I am converting this tank into a bare bottom, half frag rack, half live rock tank. Thus, I do not need half of the live rock. I want to use this rock in my new tank. Here’s the catch…it has aiptasia. Sparse, but it’s there. I am not interested in chemical treatment, tried it, and one becomes 2 or 6 or 12.

I want to nuke the aiptasia, but preserve some of the live benefit. I don’t think this can be done, but let me know if I’m wrong! Second best thing will be to nuke the rock to kill the aiptasia (100%, no possibility of survival) and have some dead base rock. Please share your thoughts. I’ve heard bleach, rinse, and the sun dry. What time durations on this process and what concentration of bleach to water?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lavey29]

It will just come back again sooner or later. Best remedy is just to have aptasia predators in the tank to keep it gone.

 

[UncommonSense]

10% bleach solution using tap water, put a powerhead or large pump in to mix it… soak for a few days… there will be no life left intact on the rock!

Edit: cover the bleach soak container from direct sunlight exposure, UV degrades bleach!

 

[Gone Reefin’]

It will just come back again sooner or later. Best remedy is just to have aptasia predators in the tank to keep it gone.

I understand, but are you saying it will come back from reintroduction from an external source? Or that the nuking will not kill it. This will be a predator type tank so berghia and shrimp will not be an option, would have to go fish route.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

10% bleach solution using tap water, put a powerhead or large pump in to mix it… soak for a few days… there will be no life left intact on the rock!

Edit: cover the bleach soak container from direct sunlight exposure, UV degrades bleach!

Got it! Is there benefit to sun drying AFTER bleach treatment to degrade bleach residue before reintroduction?

 

[Lavey29]

I understand, but are you saying it will come back from reintroduction from an external source? Or that the nuking will not kill it. This will be a predator type tank so berghia and shrimp will not be an option, would have to go fish route.

Even better, certain fish will keep it gone. You can try all the bleach or sun bake you want but sooner or later your tank will get it again so the fish option is great. Now you have some good seasoned rock to help Jumpstart your biome in your new system. Why destroy that great stuff that will only benefit your new start up? I would spot treat the rock where you see aptasia and keep the rock wet and ready for your new system.

 

[UncommonSense]

Got it! Is there benefit to sun drying AFTER bleach treatment to degrade bleach residue before reintroduction?

Not necessarily!

I’ve had my best results just soaking for several days in tap water with a pump in it after bleaching, usually exposing the soak container to direct sunlight!

The chlorine will off-gas from the tap water fairly quickly… or, you can do your final soak in RODI if your tap water is absolutely disgusting!


Examples of finished bleached skeletons from a free dead tank I broke down:

This is definitely the nuclear option…

 

[exnisstech]

Kill the rock and aiptasia or deal with them using a predator. I really can't think of any other options. I've had aiptasia show up on rock that has been in dark unheated storage for a year but the boost from live rock is worth it for me. I keep peppermints in all my smaller tanks and CBBs in my large tank and have no aiptasia in the DTs

 

[winzig]

I would get a file fish,i did and he went right after aptasia and ate it all.
I also used aptasia x, the trick it to completely cover it with your power heads off for an hour.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Ok all, you definitely have me reconsidering. What I am hearing is intentionally introduce aiptasia into my new tank because the benefit of the live rock outweighs the pest aiptasia?!?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@00W tried putting his rocks one at a time in a bucket with peppermints. want to chime in joel?

 

[Lavey29]

Ok all, you definitely have me reconsidering. What I am hearing is intentionally introduce aiptasia into my new tank because the benefit of the live rock outweighs the pest aiptasia?!?

If you have a tank that can support a good fish that eats aptasia you will be fine. The benefit of the wet well seasoned rock is it will Jumpstart your biome. Its like people buying real live wet ocean rocks from Tampa Bay to start their tanks.

None of us "introduce " aptasia to our tanks but you can bet the house that it has shown up in all our tanks at some point. I have a beautiful garden now.

 

[FMF0331]

When I need to reuse my live rock with aiptasia , I give it a thorough soaking / cleaning with bleach.
I hate aipatsia.

Also don't forget those things are already living in your pipes / hoses / sump..etc

 

[OrionN]

I was the king of aiptasia. With one CBB in a 320 gal, after 1 year the aiptasia is 90% gone. Soon there will be none. CBB have never fail me in my 45 years of saltwater aquarium.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

When I need to reuse my live rock with aiptasia , I give it a thorough soaking / cleaning with bleach.
I hate aipatsia.

Also don't forget those things are already living in your pipes / hoses / sump..etc

Yep the tank that has it will continue to have it. Not worried about that. Getting a NEW tank, and want to transfer rock only to this new tank.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

@00W tried putting his rocks one at a time in a bucket with peppermints. want to chime in joel?

This is an interesting idea, I do have several weeks before I need to move the rocks.

 

[Reefering1]

Assuming the donor tank is in decent condition, I wouldn't kill the rocks.
Bergias tend to work fast when there are no predators. Maybe hold off on stocking the tank for a couple months? Or maybe run the rocks in a tub, with flow and at a appropriate temperature, while bergias clear it up...
Long term, you will get them again- sooner or later. Alot of fish options for a fowler.