aptasia

Salmon King · #1 12-10-2007, 04:52 AM

Can you control aiptasia with joe juice.I seem to be finding a few everyday and shoot them.Can I erdicate them this way or do I have to get peppermint shrimp as I dont really want these shrimp in my tank.Any opinions appreciated

surgeonfish · #2 12-10-2007, 05:13 AM

I'm not sure there is any good way to totally eradicate these pests indefinitely. From my reading, most of the methods only temporarily control them. Once you stop using Joes Juice or get rid of the peppermint shrimp, CCB or Aiptasia Eating Nudibranchs (Berghia verrucicornis) they all come back. Anyone else been able to totally eradicate Aiptasia without them coming back over time?

Chaloupa · #3 12-10-2007, 06:07 AM

I have a couple of Peppermints in my 150g as when I first set it up I had quite a few Aiptasia....I have had none show up in the display since I first put them in BUT...I do have them in the sump so I would say they "control" what you can see but that's it...I had NO LUCK at all with Joe's Juice. There is a new product in Duncan that is comparable to Joe's Juice (supposed to be better) being made by a guy there....maybe that's something to try...I've tried many of his reef products and am THRILLED with the products...he isn't a site sponsor so I don't think I can directly name him but PM me if you want to get his name....

EmilyB · #4 12-10-2007, 06:07 AM

The correct spelling is aiptasia I believe. That would help people search more efficiently.

Puff · #5 12-10-2007, 07:41 AM

i found some aiptasia one day and really wanted to nuke them, but i didnt have time to go buy joe's juice, so i tried concentrated lime juice. i inserted it into the base of the aiptasia from the side and it detached itself from the rock and shrivelled up. i nuked one other as well.

they havent come back, but i did find one recently when redoing my rockwork, but i think it is one that i missed, not one that has sprouted up lately.

i also have a majano anemone, but i just cant bring myself to kill the little guy...he doesnt QUITE look like a majano as well..so its hard for me to kill it cause it's so cool. brown with a BRIGHT green mouth

Black Phantom · #6 12-10-2007, 05:47 PM

Lemon juice injected works quite good as well. Just dont go overboard with the juice if you have a small tank as it will throw your PH out.

danny zubot · #7 12-10-2007, 05:55 PM

I've had great success with using boiling water and a turkey baster. The hot water melts them with just one squeeze, then you can suck the remains out of the rock at the same time. Never had one come back.

surgeonfish · #8 12-11-2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puff

i also have a majano anemone, but i just cant bring myself to kill the little guy...he doesnt QUITE look like a majano as well..so its hard for me to kill it cause it's so cool. brown with a BRIGHT green mouth

Puff
I would be nervous about leaving that majano anemone in the tank. Maybe it isn't, but maybe it is and it could cause problems in the future.

Salmon King · #9 12-11-2007, 07:36 AM

Kill it.Seen few tanks that were very infested with that.Rather have aiptasia any day,To kill those stick needle with joe juice right into its mouth.

fishoholic · #10 12-12-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surgeonfish

I'm not sure there is any good way to totally eradicate these pests indefinitely. From my reading, most of the methods only temporarily control them. Once you stop using Joes Juice or get rid of the peppermint shrimp, CCB or Aiptasia Eating Nudibranchs (Berghia verrucicornis) they all come back. Anyone else been able to totally eradicate Aiptasia without them coming back over time?

I had a peppermint shrimp that did the trick untill anout 6 months after he died and it started comming back. Now I have a CBB that seems to be getting rid of the aiptasia, and I told him he's not allowed to die so I should be aiptasia free forever lol