Aiptasia Outbreak

ShewbZ · Feb 15, 2020

Hello everyone,

I have a 24G all in one tank (Aquatop rec life 24) and I have recently been plagued with Aiptasia. I have been using Aiptasia-X to try and kill them off with no success. At this point i believe there are 50+ mini aiptasia all over the tank, including some in the back filter! It is difficult to reach the aiptasia in the back compartment and there are even some in the media baskets. They are also growing on the base of my frogspawn and zoas. This all started after i noticed 5 of them a few weeks ago and treated with Aiptasia-x, even after i dipped new corals. I do not have any livestock which target feed aiptasia. I appreciate any help!

Thanks.

xiholdtruex · Feb 15, 2020

have you tried peppermint shrimp? they have been known to eat aptasia. The only thing I know for sure has worked for some of my friends is berghia nudibrancs they tear up aptasia may need to repeat treatment to completly wipe them out.

#305reefclubsquad

Bob Lauson · Feb 15, 2020

Berghai Nudibranches....they are amazing at devouring aptasias. A little expensive but do a great job

Billldg · Feb 15, 2020

+1 on the Berghia, they start off slow, but when they get going they do the best job, IMO.

TheGreatBarrioReef · Feb 15, 2020

Just be careful w/ wrasses if you have any. I bought 10 nudis & they were gone the next morning. My leopard wrasse had a very expensive dinner

chris k. · Feb 15, 2020

Peppermint shrimp are my goto for aptasia .

Bapeluso · Feb 15, 2020

Aiptasia eating filefish. They will go absolutely nuts on em but are smart enough to eat all but one which they'll leave as a mother nem as a constant source of food propagation. At least that's from my experience and I've had one in every tank I've ever owned (which has been about a dozen thusfar). Sadly I dont have one currently because he went to the dark side and decided to follow in suit with my hippo, cleaner wrasse, emperor angel juvie, and sailfin in munching on my fiance's favorite acan. Only experience though that I've had of one eating a coral. If you got as many bad nems as you say, there definitely shouldn't be any reason for him to do coral munchin

DarkSky · Feb 15, 2020

Aiptasia-X should be called "propagate aiptasia" because that's all it seems to do - kill the treated one and spread its children everywhere.

Bapeluso · Feb 15, 2020

I think it's good for small quantities... but you gotta be quick and thorough

FMF0331 · Feb 15, 2020

i hate aiptasia x ... garbage .
got the berghia and it clear my whole 55 cube tank

piranhaman00 · Feb 16, 2020

F aiptasia is working great for me. I’d be very hesitant to try and natural preds (pep shrimp ect) because they will eat coral. Nudi are your best bet if you want to go that route.

Bapeluso said:
Aiptasia eating filefish. They will go absolutely nuts on em but are smart enough to eat all but one which they'll leave as a mother nem as a constant source of food propagation. At least that's from my experience and I've had one in every tank I've ever owned.

Lol

ShewbZ · Feb 17, 2020

Hi everyone, sorry for the late reply. I looked into getting Nudi's for my problem and saw that you can only purchase them online for ~15$ each. That seems kinda pricey. On Sunday I had went out and purchased one peppermint shrimp and today I watched it feed on an aiptasia. Im just hoping it doesn't start eatting my zoanthids.

Will the Nudi's be able to kill the aiptasia growing in the back filter of my AIO tank? The shrimp will not be able to access these hard to reach areas.

I forgot to mention, my tank contains:
-RBTA, 3 Zoa frags, 2 frogspawn, 1 octo, and GSP
-2 clowns, 2 fire shrimp, bicolor blenny, 2 turbos, and the newly added peppermint shrimp

Thanks again for all the replies!

Houstoner · Feb 17, 2020

Ayee fellow aquatoper I also have the 24gal, I know the struggles of that tank let me know if you have questions. Am upgrading to a red sea 250 soon though. Anyway what most everyone else said get some Berghias and be sure to put some in your back sump area.

BeejReef · Feb 18, 2020

Another voice in the chorus for nudis. Yes, they are pricey and the shipping is as much as the animals if you only buy four or five. Then there's at least three or four days of wondering if they survived the acclimation or were eaten cuz mine dove into the rockwork and were impossible to spot.

BUT - finally catching them at 1:30 a.m. and watching with a flashlight as they tear up the aptasia... even better than watching an emerald crab feast on bubble algae.. lol.

I thought they were initially shy and I was seeing them more and more as they got more acclimated to the tank. That's not what it was. Within 4 months, the 5 I put in had easily tripled in number (all good sized adults) and ate all til they starved themselves out. Had I known, I would have caught and sold any I could see and easily made my money back. Peeps on the local fb group always clamoring for them. Kinda hoping I get them again honestly.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 18, 2020

Forget chemicals and all that jazz.3
Your answer is a kleini Butterfly. Small, peaceful, eats aptasia like candy, eats all dry and frozen foods, does not bother coral and peaceful