Aiptasia in seahorse tank :(

[ReefingDreams]

Oh, OK.... thanks for the clarification.... that makes a lot more sense. Hopefully since the ponies are diurnal and the berghias are nocturnal, the two shall never meet.

You'll want to remove your peppermint shrimp, as they will eat your berghia.

 

[TCoach]

Another option might be the Molly Miller Blenny from Biota. Not a seahorse keeper, so just passing along for consideration.

Molly Miller Blenny - Aiptasia eater

Gramma loreto Feeding on C1, PE Pellet, Hikari Mysis shrimp

shop.thebiotagroup.com

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

They were sold as peppermint shrimp (as opposed to camel shrimp) so I hope they are authentic but no way to know for sure. I would really hate to start feeding the ponies less.... I like to keep them fat, happy, and pregnant.

 

[MyFirstCar]

I have a Molly Miller, and it does eat aptasia (I've caught it in the act), but only like 1 a day maximum. More of a control mechanism than elimination (YMMV)

 

[Jmp998]

@SueAndHerZoo Did you try Berghia in your seahorse tank, and if so how did it work out?

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

@SueAndHerZoo Did you try Berghia in your seahorse tank, and if so how did it work out?

Kind of. A local reefer brought me three from his tank but I never actually saw them again after putting them in the tank so I don't even know if they survived or got eaten. The aiptasia explosion DID seem to slow down a bit, though? One can only hope they are alive and eating.
Sue

 

[Jmp998]

Kind of. A local reefer brought me three from his tank but I never actually saw them again after putting them in the tank so I don't even know if they survived or got eaten. The aiptasia explosion DID seem to slow down a bit, though? One can only hope they are alive and eating.
Sue

OK thank you. Starting with only three, it for sure would take a while, as you would need them to breed for a couple of generations likely. I hope it works out.

 

[saltyponies]

I had a similar problem with my seahorses tank. I decided to remove ALL the rock and watched the bristleworms wriggle out and die in my backyard (sorry I really don't like them). I vacuumed the sand and did a deep scrub of the whole tank. I looked in to a berghia nudibranch but I couldn't find enough info to make me feel comfy that they would be safe in a seahorse. Plus, they are expensive and my husband is already mad enough at me for all the money I spend on my ponies.

Anyway, I replaced the live rock with artificial coral and upped the number of my macroalgaes. Then I was just diligent about using Aiptasia X, which can be tedious but it is very effective in keeping them down.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

I think it's one of those things that will always be a challenge and we just do the best we can. I tried mostly artificial plants in the pony tank for a while but I got sick of having to keep removing them to clean them. Aipasia X on the ones we can reach, and hopefully the ones we don't reach, the ponies don't, either.
Sue