Aptasia troubles

slakker · #1 08-18-2008, 10:46 PM

too bad... I'm in Vancouver but just put in some peppermints last month to control my aptasia and flatworms...

wickedfrags · #2 08-18-2008, 10:51 PM

what size tank?

I have a copperband butterfly that eats the aptasia out of my hand! Downside, you need a larger tank to keep them long-term unless you can get them to eat prepared foods (which can be tricky). No gurantee they will eat aptasia also...

Hangfire · #3 08-18-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

what size tank?

The tank is only 38 gallons

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

I have a copperband butterfly that eats the aptasia out of my hand! Downside, you need a larger tank to keep them long-term unless you can get them to eat prepared foods (which can be tricky). No gurantee they will eat aptasia also...

What other things do they eat? I thought I had read that they also really like feather duster worms - I have a ton of them in the tank (but I kinda like them, so I wouldn't want to see them all disappear).

Hangfire · #4 08-18-2008, 10:51 PM

Well let me know how the peppermints do slakker - and I didn't know they ate flatworms as well. Interesting. Still, I'd hate to get some shrimp and have them walk over the aptasia to get to something they find tastier.

Marlin65 · #5 08-18-2008, 11:12 PM

I had them in my old tank and peppermints took care of them. If you have clams I would not put them in though.

slakker · #6 08-18-2008, 11:48 PM

It seems to have done the trick, but I did a few things at once... so the background is my 14G Biocube got an aptasia and flatworm "bloom". I went and got a peppermint, a six line and increased the water flow. I also did a fresh water dip on the corals (amazing how much flatworms came off). It's about a month now and aptasia and flatworms are gone. At least I can't find any when I look (and I'm trying pretty hard).

But I did have to move my flasher wrasse as the six line was picking on it. The scarlet that in the tank is good with the peppermint.

Evil Guppy · #7 08-19-2008, 05:31 AM

I had a bit of Aiptasia problem as well and 2 Peppermint Shrimp solved the problem. The Aiptasia that I had were all pretty small though. I've heard that if the aiptasia are too big, the Peppermints wont eat them... but I dont have any experience with this firsthand.

As for Flatworms, mine don't seem to be interested in eating them at all.

purplepolypeater · #8 08-19-2008, 01:27 PM

i use really thick concentration of salt and a little water just squirt it on with my test syringe sometimes takes two applications but kills them and majano

cwickham · #9 08-20-2008, 05:59 AM

Joes juice works great for me.. kills them almost instantly and they dont come back.. and the lil container you get for 8 dollars last forever because you only need such a tiny bit.

bignose · #10 08-31-2008, 05:17 PM

have you tried lemon juice to kill the aiptasia? I bought a needle from a vet supply store and injected them with lemon juice. Just get close and jab it good and inject, you'll see a little puff from the juice. I had a couple in my tank and it got rid of them the first try.