What option is best for ridding aiptasia from tank?

Imlovinit · #1 01-03-2011, 12:21 AM

Hey everyone my wife and I are new to saltwater and this forum. We have recently set up a 28 g nano tank. Currently it contains 20lbs live sand and 20 lbs of live rock. Also there are two blue damsels in there to help with the cycle. The tank has been running for a week, I have noticed that some aiptasia have hitch hiked in from a piece of LR. There is about five little ones so far and don't want it to spread. My question is what method is the best to rid of it from my tank?
1. Peppermint shrimp... Are these reef safe? We are looking to get into soft corals.
2. Injecting lime juice... Do you inject it into the aiptasia or squirt it close? How much of this is safe for the tank?
3. Kalk... I have heard this somewhere not quite sure what this is?

Thanks and any start up advice is muchly appreciated and or any other alternative options on getting rid of the aiptasia

Lampshade · #2 01-03-2011, 12:28 AM

I just went and did another round of injections of lime juice in my tank. I only use 5ml at a time, but that's more than enough for 10+ apasia/majono's. I'm just picking off the last few now that have come in on various live rock/frags. Seems to have worked great, i went from probably 20 majono's/5 apasia down to 0 apasia and maybe 1-2 majono's left.

I inject right into the mouth, make sure the apasia fills like a baloon and you'll never see it again. If you leak any juice out before you get the needle inside it will shrivel up and you'll probably not get a good injection after that. If i notice them baloon out, i know they will never come back.

Wayne · #3 01-03-2011, 12:57 AM

I got rid of my aptasia with both peppermint shrimp (they are safe with my corals) and lemon juice with a fine needle.

I zapped all the big ones that I could see and get at with the lemon juice, make sure the needle penetrates there mouth or stem and get them good! My aptasia is gone and the peppermints just scavange for food now

fencer · #4 01-03-2011, 12:59 AM

In the end...10 peppermint shrimp

Myka · #5 01-03-2011, 12:59 AM

I like to use a Kalk paste (cheap when lots of Aiptasia) or Joe's Juice. I find both work really well. Kalk is short for Kalkwasser which is a powdered calcium and alkalinity supplement, you mix just enough water with it to make a paste, and then inject it or just syringe it on top of the Aiptasia.

pelle31 · #6 01-03-2011, 01:05 AM

I've used Joe's juice,Peppermint shrimp and sodium Hydroxide. IMO sometimes the peppermints are hit and miss at least the ones were that I bought locally.

doch · #7 01-03-2011, 01:17 AM

If you can, pull the rock out, and torch the SOB's with a lighter! I guarantee you that they will not come back! When you torch them, just wait until a)they pop or b) they turn black.

Works everytime... I've yet to have had to do it twice.

cale262 · #8 01-03-2011, 01:33 AM

I've also used a product called "Aptasia X" from redsea and have had great success with it.

naesco · #9 01-03-2011, 01:56 AM

For a small tank, one peppermint shrimp
Acclimate her very slowly

AquaticFinatic · #10 01-03-2011, 02:31 AM

Just like doch said ........ You have such a small tank and amount of rock that you shouldn't even bother with any thing else. I had some on three pieces of rock and all I did was make a note of where they were and use a BBQ lighter to torch them. I am now and have been aiptasia free ever since. I have tried the all other methods and this is the best.