Help Aptasia and Vermetid snails!

ShoreReefer · Nov 24, 2021

I need some help, over the past few months my 1 yr old 125 gallon tank has been overrun with vermatid snails and aptasia. I have a had a file fish in the tank from the beginning and he doesn't touch the aptasia. I tried Aptasia X and now have many more than before. I even put a copperband butterfly in about a month ago that doesn't seem to touch them.
As far as the vermetid snails i added 50 bumble bee snails last month and it's hard to tell but they may be helping. The tank has finally turned a corner and i finally have coral starting to encrust and grow so i'd hate to break it down and start over but i realize it may be a possibility. What is anyone's opinion?
I started with dry rock that came out of a fellow reefers tank a year before and i cleaned in a vinegar bath the rock is now covered with coralline algae. I run a trident and recently started dosing 2 part with the DOS as the kalk stirrer wasn't keeping consistent parameters. Parameters are as followed:
Alk:8.92
Calc:374
Mag:1584
PO4:.05
NO3:16

Cell · Nov 24, 2021

Can we see a full tank picture?

ShoreReefer · Nov 24, 2021

Cell said:
Can we see a full tank picture?

When i get home from work I will upload a picture.

muzikalmatt · Nov 24, 2021

With vermetids it really depends on the strain/species you have in your tank. Some species are more irritating to the corals than others. My rockwork is covered in vermetids and while they are a bit of an eyesore, they don't really bother my corals so I've learned to live with them. As long as they aren't bothering your corals, I wouldn't break down your tank over them, unless the sight of them really bothers you that much.

Regarding aiptasia, I guess it depends on the level of infestation. I don't have as much experience dealing with them as I've only had one in the very early days of my tank and haven't seen any since. *knock on wood* I do know Aiptasia X tends to spread them, so I would recommend Frank's F-Aiptasia instead. It kills and seals in the aiptasia so they can't spread through the tank.

Ultimately, I wouldn't think either pest necessitates a tank breakdown, unless you really just can't stand having them in your tank. However, be wary as I've read/heard numerous stories of people breaking down tanks due to vermetids or aiptasia only to have them come back in the rebuild anyways.

ShoreReefer · Nov 24, 2021

muzikalmatt said:
With vermetids it really depends on the strain/species you have in your tank. Some species are more irritating to the corals than others. My rockwork is covered in vermetids and while they are a bit of an eyesore, they don't really bother my corals so I've learned to live with them. As long as they aren't bothering your corals, I wouldn't break down your tank over them, unless the sight of them really bothers you that much.

Regarding aiptasia, I guess it depends on the level of infestation. I don't have as much experience dealing with them as I've only had one in the very early days of my tank and haven't seen any since. *knock on wood* I do know Aiptasia X tends to spread them, so I would recommend Frank's F-Aiptasia instead. It kills and seals in the aiptasia so they can't spread through the tank.

Ultimately, I wouldn't think either pest necessitates a tank breakdown, unless you really just can't stand having them in your tank. However, be wary as I've read/heard numerous stories of people breaking down tanks due to vermetids or aiptasia only to have them come back in the rebuild anyways.

Thanks for the reassurance, I obviously do not want to break it down and don't mind doing whatever it takes to get through it as long as it's a possible task. I'm thinking about getting 10 peppermint shrimp for the Aptasia, do you think that would be the correct amount?

chris 4758484 · Nov 24, 2021

Cell said:
Can we see a full tank picture?

billyocean · Nov 24, 2021

Lemon juice in a diabetic needle through the head of the aptasia has worked for me. Didn't spread. Just make sure it's in the "head"

muzikalmatt · Nov 25, 2021

JSmith said:
Thanks for the reassurance, I obviously do not want to break it down and don't mind doing whatever it takes to get through it as long as it's a possible task. I'm thinking about getting 10 peppermint shrimp for the Aptasia, do you think that would be the correct amount?

No problem! I considered breaking my tank down over the vermetids as well but came to realize that they weren't really that big of a problem. And once the coral started to fill in, I didn't even notice them as much

I would be careful with the peppermint shrimp. Maybe try one or two first. I had one in my tank go rogue and start eating my euphyllia. You also need to make sure it's the right species otherwise it's not going to eat your aiptasia.