DESTROY Aiptasia with Berghia Nudibranchs! Everything You Need to Know!

[TopShelfAquatics]

In today's episode Taras gives us all the details on Berghia Nudibranchs, what they can do for your tank, and how they can help get rid of Aiptasia infestations!

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[Rocky Mountain Reef]

I have a complete outbreak of thousands of Aiptasia. What container does the Berghia come in? How do you recommend releasing them from that container into the aquarium?

 

[William Bruckmann]

I have a complete outbreak of thousands of Aiptasia. What container does the Berghia come in? How do you recommend releasing them from that container into the aquarium?

Pipette or turkey baster them on to rock work after lights out. Try to place them close but NOT touching Aiptasia or they will be stung and eaten. Berghia make a sneak attack under the Aiptaisa tenticles. They thump the trunk making the Aiptasia retrack, then attack.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a complete outbreak of thousands of Aiptasia. What container does the Berghia come in? How do you recommend releasing them from that container into the aquarium?

I recommend just putting the container in the tank. Weight it down. It should be a specimen container with a screw cap.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

I recommend just putting the container in the tank. Weight it down. It should be a specimen container with a screw cap.

I believe that's how they are gonna come, as they did in the last batch I got. Would you just put the container on the sand bed? Have you done this with success?
Last batch I got I did that and have seen no diminished amount of aiptasia. It's been just over 2 months now with nothing happening.

 

[Dburr1014]

I believe that's how they are gonna come, as they did in the last batch I got. Would you just put the container on the sand bed? Have you done this with success?
Last batch I got I did that and have seen no diminished amount of aiptasia. It's been just over 2 months now with nothing happening.

Absolutely.
I have done this. I try to find an aiptasia near the sand and mount the cup pointing to it and weight it down.

I have used the nudies twice. The second time it took 6 months to notice. In fact, I called the company and asked what could have eaten them. CBS, are active at night, that's who they pointed the finger at not my wrasse.

What are the details of your tank?

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

Absolutely.
I have done this. I try to find an aiptasia near the sand and mount the cup pointing to it and weight it down.

I have used the nudies twice. The second time it took 6 months to notice. In fact, I called the company and asked what could have eaten them. CBS, are active at night, that's who they pointed the finger at not my wrasse.

What are the details of your tank?

What are CBS? Starting to learn all the new acronyms.
Aquarium is 210 gallon, started 2 years ago. Sump/refugium below. Had a dusky wrasse when I first put in the Nudis, but it was eating very healthy and never saw him picking at the rocks… However, all my fish died a few weeks ago because the power went out and basically the oxygen was depleted and killed off dozens of fish.
I have some corals that are doing pretty good and like to focus on acros. Rocks are all completely covered with aiptasia.

 

[Dburr1014]

What are CBS? Starting to learn all the new acronyms.
Aquarium is 210 gallon, started 2 years ago. Sump/refugium below. Had a dusky wrasse when I first put in the Nudis, but it was eating very healthy and never saw him picking at the rocks… However, all my fish died a few weeks ago because the power went out and basically the oxygen was depleted and killed off dozens of fish.
I have some corals that are doing pretty good and like to focus on acros. Rocks are all completely covered with aiptasia.

CBS = coral banded shrimp
If your rocks are covered it should be a good option for you then

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

CBS = coral banded shrimp
If your rocks are covered it should be a good option for you then

Would never have thought CBS eat nudibranch. Peppermints eat aiptasia…if your lucky.

 

[Dburr1014]

Would never have thought CBS eat nudibranch. Peppermints eat aiptasia…if your lucky.

I wouldn't have thought either.
Anything that eats aiptasia is going to eat the nudies. So if you have peppermints do not get the nudies.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

I wouldn't have thought either.
Anything that eats aiptasia is going to eat the nudies. So if you have peppermints do not get the nudies.

Wonderful advice and thank you so much for everything… Right now my Aquarium is without anything so I can start from scratch

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

Wonderful advice and thank you so much for everything… Right now my Aquarium is without anything so I can start from scratch

Just saw a large Berghia on aquarium glass this morning. Over an inch. Then it lost grip and went into the flow. Likely to have dropped into an Aiptasia, so likely eaten?
Also, if there’s one big one, must be many in rocks, right?

 

[Dburr1014]

Just saw a large Berghia on aquarium glass this morning. Over an inch. Then it lost grip and went into the flow. Likely to have dropped into an Aiptasia, so likely eaten?
Also, if there’s one big one, must be many in rocks, right?

May or may not.
How many did you get?
Should be more in the rock.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

May or may not.
How many did you get?
Should be more in the rock.

23 of them about 2 months ago

 

[Dburr1014]

23 of them about 2 months ago

I'm sure they are working.