Thinking of nuking tank and starting over

[TheJoshuaPlan]

My reef tank has been up for over 2.5 years now and it has had it's ups and downs, but I have finally been able to keep fish and shrimp alive that I have put in my tank, but corals don't seem to thrive and I think it is due to some pests I have. Vermetid snails and aptasia have reproduced rapidly in my tank to the point where I feel the only potential option to fix this is to take everything out and throw it in acid to kill it all off, which means a complete start over of the beneficial bacteria that has grown in my tank for the last 2 years. I have been able to push back against the aptasia using kalk in a syringe and killing them that way, but I know I won't be able to get them all. The hermetic snails on the other hand have completely engulfed the rock and I think that may be the reason for the corals not thriving.

With all this being said, is there a way to kill off the pests outside of completely nuking the tank and starting over?

One thing to note as well is that I did just recently start a new 40 breeder as a frag tank that is completely separate from the main tank that I could use to home the tank inhabitants until I get a full restart and some stability in place before moving them back.

Thoughts?

 

[Webslinger]

dark period of a few months would work

 

[TheJoshuaPlan]

dark period of a few months would work

Vermetid snails require light? I have not seen this solution other places.

 

[Webslinger]

Vermetid snails require light? I have not seen this solution other places.

no but they will starve if you don't feed for 2 months

 

[Roosterjack]

 

[Fishyfish22]

Try getting an aptasia eating file fish for the aptasia and some bumblebee snails for the vermetids, or a wrasse

 

[TheJoshuaPlan]

Try getting an aptasia eating file fish for the aptasia and some bumblebee snails for the vermetids, or a wrasse

I'll have to look into this thanks

 

[Fishyfish22]

I'll have to look into this thanks

If you don't have any shrimp or predators, you can also try Berghia nudibranches to take out the aptasia. Note that if you get a wrasse for the vermetids they'll whipe out the nudibranches too

 

[PR_nano]

Keep at it, I'm on the same boat and while still considering starting over. I want to use this as a learning experience. I been battling a bunch of different issues/pests for a couple of months now. Biggest issues: dino, aiptasia, bubble algae. I purchased 2 peppermint and 1 emerald crab this past weekend in the hopes they help tackle some of the issues. I been dosing 2 different bacteria, Vibrant weekly and sporadically using joes juice and N03.

While not apparent I have started to see a glimpse of hope. Two weeks progress, less visible dino on sandbed and backwall also parts of the rock exposed which was previously covered by bubble algae.

 

[TheJoshuaPlan]

Keep at it, I'm on the same boat and while still considering starting over. I want to use this as a learning experience. I been battling a bunch of different issues/pests for a couple of months now. Biggest issues: dino, aiptasia, bubble algae. I purchased 2 peppermint and 1 emerald crab this past weekend in the hopes they help tackle some of the issues. I been dosing 2 different bacteria, Vibrant weekly and sporadically using joes juice and N03.

While not apparent I have started to see a glimpse of hope. Two weeks progress, less visible dino on sandbed and backwall also parts of the rock exposed which was previously covered by bubble algae.

Yea the last thing I wanna do is nuke the tank, I might just keep at it to see what I can accomplish. Gonna try feeding less and superglue to see if it does the trick

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Yea the last thing I wanna do is nuke the tank, I might just keep at it to see what I can accomplish. Gonna try feeding less and superglue to see if it does the trick

I have heard recently that some vermiteds can burrow through super glue...

Feed lightly. Get some Berghia nudis if you can bear the price. Bumblebee snails. Kalk paste. And patience. I wouldn't kill all that good bacteria on your rocks...

 

[Tired]

Berghia will get rid of those aiptasia pretty handily, with some time.