When did Aptasia become such a big deal

[cilyjr]

I have been doing this since 1998 and consistently since 2006. So I've been around for a while. I sort of take breaks from the forums from time to time and it seems like when I popped back in right around pandemic era I've noticed this trend of Aptasia being described as a horrible plague.

I've, and most of the people I know who have been in for a long time consider them more of a minor inconvenience. Some I leave some I have to get rid of but I never see more than a few in the display tank. If they are in my sump or an overflow, I leave them because they're filter feeding is beneficial.

It seems like recently I see posts of people freaking out about them like it's a horrible thing. Or somebody will post asking what this is and people will tell them it's aptasia and they need to pull out half of their rock structure to deal with it.

My question is why are people billing them as these horrible villains? Is there some strain of aptasia that is particularly hard to deal with? Or what's going on?

 

[jabberwock]

Following

 

[BristleWormHater]

Ugly, thats most of it really I think

 

[smitten with ocean life]

they took over my tank and bothered my corals is why i want them gone

 

[cilyjr]

they took over my tank and bothered my corals is why i want them gone

Sure. I have them irritate some corals from time to time and those are the ones that I have to zap.

Another thing, why do we all think they're so hard to get rid of?
I have been using kalkwasser paste on a q-tip for 15 years and it's been working fine.

 

[Tamberav]

I have been doing this since 1998 and consistently since 2006. So I've been around for a while. I sort of take breaks from the forums from time to time and it seems like when I popped back in right around pandemic era I've noticed this trend of Aptasia being described as a horrible plague.

I've, and most of the people I know who have been in for a long time consider them more of a minor inconvenience. Some I leave some I have to get rid of but I never see more than a few in the display tank. If they are in my sump or an overflow, I leave them because they're filter feeding is beneficial.

It seems like recently I see posts of people freaking out about them like it's a horrible thing. Or somebody will post asking what this is and people will tell them it's aptasia and they need to pull out half of their rock structure to deal with it.

My question is why are people billing them as these horrible villains? Is there some strain of aptasia that is particularly hard to deal with? Or what's going on?

I think most "pests" became a huge scary thing when live rock from Fiji or wherever was no longer available and the fake and dry rock trend started. People are not used to diversity anymore and it scares them.

I just boil some water on the stove, suck it up with a syringe (no needle) and target boil them, can boil them right in whatever hole they shrink down into with a jet stream of hot hot water.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

well, im sure people would hire you! i never tried a qtip. thats a good idea! i used a syringe and ended nuking some stuff that was close by

 

[Reefer Matt]

They don’t stay “just a few” for long without intervention and can kill coral in large numbers. My theory is that a lot of Reefers keep fish that eat the invertebrates that eat the aiptasia, like wrasses. Every Reefer I met that had wrasses had a lot of aiptasia in their tank. Not saying that is true in all cases obviously. I’ll have an occasional aiptasia popup here and there, but I eliminate them on site. I see them like flatworms, nudibranchs and spiders, etc and they are not welcome in my reef tanks. However a species only tank may be a good idea for these for those wanting to try.

I also don’t keep any nems because they move and sting coral.

 

[exnisstech]

I don't think it's just aiptasia. I think there is a new generation of reefers that want sterile tanks with no hitchhikers. People freak out over a little algae, bristle worms etc. It's silly IMO but it seems to be the way some people try to run a tank these days.

 

[Ironwill723]

I don't think it's just aiptasia. I think there is a new generation of reefers that want sterile tanks with no hitchhikers. People freak out over a little algae, bristle worms etc. It's silly IMO but it seems to be the way some people try to run a tank these days.

Agree. I don't understand the whole sterile tank thing trend.

 

[SliceGolfer]

I don't think it's just aiptasia. I think there is a new generation of reefers that want sterile tanks with no hitchhikers. People freak out over a little algae, bristle worms etc. It's silly IMO but it seems to be the way some people try to run a tank these days.

And pods… All the pod posts… What’s this? Will it nuke my tank? OMG monsters!

Seriously though, I find Peppermint Shrimp to be the best solution for aiptasia.

 

[jabberwock]

They don’t stay “just a few” for long without intervention and can kill coral in large numbers. My theory is that a lot of Reefers keep fish that eat the invertebrates that eat the aiptasia, like wrasses. Every Reefer I met that had wrasses had a lot of aiptasia in their tank. Not saying that is true in all cases obviously. I’ll have an occasional aiptasia popup here and there, but I eliminate them on site. I see them like flatworms, nudibranchs and spiders, etc and they are not welcome in my reef tanks. However a species only tank may be a good idea for these for those wanting to try.

I also don’t keep any nems because they move and sting coral.

Please share your elimination technique. Thanks

 

[exnisstech]

And pods… All the pod posts… What’s this? Will it nuke my tank? OMG monsters!

Seriously though, I find Peppermint Shrimp to be the best solution for aiptasia

I love mine. Fun to watch and beautiful color as adults

 

[Reefer Matt]

Please share your elimination technique. Thanks

Nothing fancy really. I just don’t put it off until tomorrow. If I see one, I immediately turn the tank flow off, grab the Aiptasia X, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then I siphon it out with a turkey baster and turn the tank flow back on. I also have used pepermint shrimp with success in the past, but getting the right species can be difficult sometimes.

 

[BetteMidler]

I can say confidently, my Aiptasia problem is not normal.

Every rock is like this, 75lbs. A batch of 5 Berghias added a week ago.

Edit: only one algae eating fish ever in the tank for over a year. I would like to buy fish, but can't bring myself to buy anything for the tank.

 

[cilyjr]

I think most "pests" became a huge scary thing when live rock from Fiji or wherever was no longer available and the fake and dry rock trend started. People are not used to diversity anymore and it scares them.

I just boil some water on the stove, suck it up with a syringe (no needle) and target boil them, can boil them right in whatever hole they shrink down into with a jet stream of hot hot water.

This makes a lot sense to me. Good insite!

 

[cilyjr]

well, im sure people would hire you! i never tried a qtip. thats a good idea! i used a syringe and ended nuking some stuff that was close by

I make it real thick at 1st. I can practically roll little balls with my finger. Then I smash it onto the q-tip and hold it on the aptasia you know you've won when you pull it out and the q-tip is slightly Brown from the parts of the anemone that melted.

 

[cilyjr]

And pods… All the pod posts… What’s this? Will it nuke my tank? OMG monsters!

Seriously though, I find Peppermint Shrimp to be the best solution for aiptasia.

I use peppermint shrimp as well. At any given time. I'll have like 15 or so in my tank.

 

[Seansea]

They kill coral man. Why would you want something in your tank that can sting your expensive beautiful corals? They were killing my monti cap which I thought was indestructible. They got to go

 

[NonstopSoda]

They sting, they take over, and they kill. I dont mind hitchhikers or pests or most algaes that grow (unless its killing a coral) The issue with aiptasia now is the fact that they are persistent for survival. I would not mind if it was one or 2 or even 5 in my tank if they just stayed put and didn't spawn at such an insane rate. They get into every crevice and hole in the rocks are then they start growing by corals and even in old growth skeletons of corals. I do agree that they have a bit of charm, I even like the colors when they are fully grown. My opinion on the matter is the reason they are despised and treated like a plague is because they spread like one.