Aiptasia everywhere. Copperband? Or other options….

[steveschuerger]

My tank is presently as much an aiptasia garden as a mixed reef. I’m seriously considering getting a Copperband Butterfly and take a risk that it doesn’t consider my lps in particular yummy treats . My other options might be limited as I have a couple wrasses and a mantis in the tank. Opinions , thoughts ? I want to pull the trigger on a purchase of something by Friday as it’s gone on for too long..this is the tank in question so y’all know what’s in it…

 

[Baldguy]

You understand a mantis will eventually kill any fish or invert in your tank? Other than that peppermint shrimp have always worked for me.

 

[shakacuz]

copperband or filefish will ultimately be your options. ppermint shrimp and berghia's will get eaten off by the wrasses.

your other option would be to rehome the wrasses and put in a big amount of peppermint shrimp/berghia's.

 

[steveschuerger]

You understand a mantis will eventually kill any fish or invert in your tank? Other than that peppermint shrimp have always worked for me.

The mantis has been in there since last November . It only eats snails and frozen so far. In fact he shares his space with my jawfish…and yeah that’s why I’m thinking Copperband

 

[silent1mezzo]

Personally I'd set up a temporary home for your wrasses and re-home the mantis. Then I'd introduce berghia. That's your best bet for totally eliminating the aiptasia.

 

[steveschuerger]

copperband or filefish will ultimately be your options. ppermint shrimp and berghia's will get eaten off by the wrasses.

your other option would be to rehome the wrasses and put in a big amount of peppermint shrimp/berghia's.

That was my general thoughts honestly . And I have no plans to rehome my wrasses.

 

[steveschuerger]

I have no real problem with a small aiptasia population, just not the swathes of it that are in there now…

 

[Slocke]

Despite having a wrasse dominant tank I have a lot of success with peppermint shrimp.

 

[steveschuerger]

Despite having a wrasse dominant tank I have a lot of success with peppermint shrimp

Yeah, I’m just concerned that the mantis would lunch them. But I suppose if I throw like a dozen or so in they might make a dent before becoming fast food.

 

[Msz3389]

I would say best bet is filefish he will eat the aiptasia in no time. If you have any shrimp in there he will eat that too!!

 

[Slocke]

Yeah, I’m just concerned that the mantis would lunch them. But I suppose if I throw like a dozen or so in they might make a dent before becoming fast food.

I get like 4 at a time and split them between my DT and sump. The aiptasia usually disappears really fast. Like a couple of days. Though I’ve never had a bad outbreak.

 

[steveschuerger]

I get like 4 at a time and split them between my DT and sump. The aiptasia usually disappears really fast. Like a couple of days. Though I’ve never had a bad outbreak.

Don’t have sump as it’s an AIO design, but I do have a chamber I use for a ‘fuge of sorts. I suppose I could throw a few in there as well.

 

[exnisstech]

Peppermints and CCB work for me in the display. My CBB has never touched a coral that I have seen and has been in with a large maxima clam for a bit over a month and so far so good. Aiptasia usually grow in overflows and sump also. I pulled my CBB to move it to another tank and two weeks later I had aiptasia coming out of the weir on the overflow. I've read filefish are likely to go after corals but have no first hand experience.

 

[steveschuerger]

Mmm, leaning toward a two pronged approach right now after reading these. Peppermints in the rear refugium space and CBB in display.

 

[Slocke]

Don’t have sump as it’s an AIO design, but I do have a chamber I use for a ‘fuge of sorts. I suppose I could throw a few in there as well.

Yeah
It’s just about killing as many as you can as otherwise they will come back faster. The one I have now has survived several months in the DT so they can definitely survive in a wrasse heavy tank.

 

[UMALUM]

It's amazing how after finding my last peppermint dead the baby Apts stating popping up only weeks later. I can't say that I've ever had a major infestation but their around. The unreliability and unpredictability of the cbb led me to trying a captive bred Molly Miller Blenny and more pepps and I couldn't be happier. Not sure who's doing all the work or if it's a combo but I have witnessed consumption by the blenny.

 

[dwest]

What wrasses do you have? I’ve had fairies and flashers with shrimp with no problems. In the past I’ve had a couple sand burriers also (yellow and melanurus I think) with shrimp. My problem with peppermint shrimp is they only live 2-3 years for me and I rarely see them. So by the time I realize they have lived their lives, aiptasia are back.

Aiptasia really suck so good luck. BTW, I’ve tried every aiptasia eater listed in this thread (with exception of CBB) and still have them

 

[vetteguy53081]

My tank is presently as much an aiptasia garden as a mixed reef. I’m seriously considering getting a Copperband Butterfly and take a risk that it doesn’t consider my lps in particular yummy treats . My other options might be limited as I have a couple wrasses and a mantis in the tank. Opinions , thoughts ? I want to pull the trigger on a purchase of something by Friday as it’s gone on for too long..this is the tank in question so y’all know what’s in it…

For Aptasia- You cant beat a Kleini Butterfly BUT must be the bluehead- NOT the yellow version. The yellow will go after coral too but bluehead as pictured will eat aptasia like candy, then eat all dry and frozen food offered, colorful, friendly and stays small. I will note that a couple of persons who got the blue had their kleini nip zoa. if so- easy sell, or place in sump as aptasia have likely made it down there already

 

[Jmp998]

For Aptasia- You cant beat a Kleini Butterfly BUT must be the bluehead- NOT the yellow version. The yellow will go after coral too but bluehead as pictured will eat aptasia like candy, then eat all dry and frozen food offered, colorful, friendly and stays small. I will note that a couple of persons who got the blue had their kleini nip zoa. if so- easy sell, or place in sump as aptasia have likely made it down there already

A beautiful fish regardless of aiptasia eating function-can you comment on required tank size and aggressiveness?

 

[steveschuerger]

What wrasses do you have? I’ve had fairies and flashers with shrimp with no problems. In the past I’ve had a couple sand burriers also (yellow and melanurus I think) with shrimp. My problem with peppermint shrimp is they only live 2-3 years for me and I rarely see them. So by the time I realize they have lived their lives, aiptasia are back.

Aiptasia really suck so good luck. BTW, I’ve tried every aiptasia eater listed in this thread (with exception of CBB) and still have them

Blue Star Leopard and Melanurus. I know one of them took out a coral banded shrimp I had so definitely shrimp lovers