apstasia solutions

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by AquariumFan, Sep 19, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. AquariumFan

    AquariumFan Plankton

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2011
    Messages:
    10
    My tank is having a serious apstasia problem. And I have tried many different techniques. Looking for any suggestions even the most extreme.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2011
    Messages:
    3,471
    Joes Juice, Aptaisia-X, kalk solution squirted directly into them (or lemon juice or boiling water). The key is you need to repeat often. Do not expect to win the war with just one try. Also, peppermint shrimp are good, but they occasionally will eat corals and such. That's sort of the problem with natural predators, they don't know the difference between a coral and an aptaisia. They are opportunists and if hungry will eat what they can find. As a last resort they are still a good idea though IMO.
     
  4. Mindyv82

    Mindyv82 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    Messages:
    34
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    At one point I had an apstasia infestation. I tried several chemical solutions as well as squirting with boiling water. What got rid of every last one was the purchase of 3 peppermint shrimp (for my 30 g tank). I fed my fish lightly, making sure the shrimp didn't get any, and the problem was gone in 3 days!
     
  5. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2010
    Messages:
    4,427
    Location:
    SE South Dakota
    I tried everything and they only spread and came back until I finally bit the bullet and ordered Berghia.
    Aip's are all they eat. It takes time for them to get them all but they will get them all.
     
  6. milkman

    milkman Plankton

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2011
    Messages:
    20
    Location:
    Parkville, MO
    I had very good luck with a Copperband Butterfly. Cleaned the entire 120 gal tank of hundreds of aiptasia in 2-3 weeks. No bad habit, but every fish is different, some will pick at corals.
     
  7. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Messages:
    1,462
    Location:
    San Antonio
    so when the aiptasia runs out, they won't go after any other type of coral or anemone?
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

    Joined:
    May 28, 2011
    Messages:
    4,874
    Location:
    USA
    No. Sea slugs have very defined diets and usually starve once their target prey has been eradicated. That's one reason I do not agree with using them.


    Learn About Berghia Nudibranchs here | Questions and concerns about Berghia
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2011
  10. Reef Queen

    Reef Queen Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2011
    Messages:
    246
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    +1

    i got some live rock that came with some aiptasia, and i let it go for a few weeks and it spread like mad in my 120...i bought 1, let me repeat that 1 peppermint shrimp and he got rid of it all in seriously 1 week! i think i just got lucky with him though becasue i know some peps wont touch aiptasia! now if only he would eat the flatworms i just found so i dont have to get yet another pest eating friend haha!
     
  11. Newreef15

    Newreef15 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Messages:
    2,052
    Location:
    Tallahassee Florida
    +2 I put 4 of them in my 40 gallon they ate all of them and my red coriss had a nice shrimp snack after lol
     
  12. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,879
    Location:
    Geneva Switzerland
    i have used concentrated lemon juice this works well on smaller apitasia. i have one that is somewhat large and i literally injected it with 5ml of lemon juice and this monster survived it! i thought i had won the battle when i saw a small white film/mucus string come out of her hiding hole together with some air bubbles but 2 days later there she was again......*%&+!
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2011