I have 4+ adults nearly 1" long in a tank with plenty of aptasia. I am hoping they start to breed as I can no longer afford to bring these guys in. I would though consider a prepaid group order for them. My # at the shop is 403 338-1880.
Kevin

What type of file fish is the most effective in term of getting rid of the aptasia?

Matted Filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus

well kevin let me know if u need aptasia or if u would like to swap rock some of the rock has got lots of gsp on it if not i may just boil the rock as this is to much i have wasted about a grand in coral

aptasia
 

banner fish also clean up aptasia-breeding berghia right now-will have 20-30 by next month ready to go

lol i had filefish in both my tanks full of zoas too now i have 2 tanks and i think i still have a single zoa head left, both filefish eat like pigs but everytime i turn around they hit the zoa gardens. i moved a small green tip from one tank to the other and looked back an hour later...... file fish with HUGE white lips and little bubble tip gone. my next tank will not have a filefish id rather take my chances with an angel

I rember seeing this little electric zapper to fry the little bastards, just can't rember what site it was on. Really easy to make. I will see if I can find it for u. From what I seen it worked pretty good and it didn't bother the fish.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=78657

This is the one not sure how to send a bookmark. So this is what ya get. If all else fails it in the DIY section under aptasia zapper. Look like fun.

Although I never support the buying of Copper banded butterflies, perhaps if you have nothing con specific like a tang in your tank, you could have success keeping one in your tank. apparently they really like aipasia (their beeks poke into rocks well), Dont be too dissapointed though if it dies on you or goes on a hunger strike those can be an absolute nightmare of a fish to make happy and keep. I will never support the capturing of those for our hobby because of how hard they are too keep good luck removing the aiptasia.

I finally got my aiptasia problem licked in my display tank. I have a Copperband, but he just wasn't going after them, probably feeding too well on other food. But I also have a couple of Pearlscale Butterfly fish in the tank, and they finally took a liking to the aiptasia. Didn't happen for many months (also too well fed), but then one started nipping at them, and before long the others joined in. Then the war was on.

And what's really great, my Copperband also got it into the act, and with his long beak, can get the ones deep in their holes better than the Pearlscales.

I used to have 100's of these ugly things all over in my tank, and now, can't see any. There are still a few hiding out here and there, I'm sure, as the butterflys continue to hunt and peck at the rocks. But at least they are not over running my tank like before.

What would be interesting is if I removed the Pearlscales, whether my Copperband would continue to keep the aiptasia in check.

I know many are concerned about butterflys nipping at corals. My Copperband doesn't touch them, just the aiptasia. The only corals that my Pearlscales touch are my palys, but not enough to stop them from growing (yet). I suspect zoas wouldn't last with them though. Stuff like leathers, colt, bubble coral, frogspawn, are all safe, though.