Aiptasia Ever Good?

Anyone ever keep them alive for a prolonged period? as a desirable animal?

Im sure there are some species that don't replicate as rapidly or are prettier. Any ideas?

 

I would say if you don't mind the sight of them and NOT doing a reef tank -- then they really don't hurt anything. They are just a nuisance that can sting nearby corals. Other than that -- I don't believe them to be that big of a deal.

 

They make a great addition to the grasses as a filtration method in a refugium ,

 

I've found one and placed it in a separated tiny 2 gal tank... It is really an interesting organism ...

 

Heck you could say I raise them to for food for my copperbanded butterfly. he only eats them and mysis and every feather duster he can get to.

 

its all personal preferance, the biodiversity of todays reef tank is overhwhelming. the only problem is in the main tank, there not welcome. spawning could be an issue going back to the main tank. theres pros and cons throughout this industry.

 

One of my clients has a 80g FOWLR and thought they were free corals when he bought live rock for the system. He loves them, and it spares me the trouble of killing all 500 million of them in that tank. It's a win win

 

We found one recently growing within a large colony of Anthelia...The Anthelia did not seemed to be bothered and we could only see it when the Anthelia was closed...It was rather large, we did away with it....They are quite interesting though and have a ravenous appetite...8)

 

What keeps them from spreading from refugium to main tank? --- Seems like they would in time.

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But I think they can also be pretty also, if not taking over whole tank and not stinging other corals. (But in somebody else's tank )

Actually saw group like above for sale in LFS once.

 

As Tangster put it nicely...They make wonderful and highly efficient filter feeders! Housed in a refugium or sump is a great way to diversify your biological filtration. I have them in my refugium and even have them in my 30 gallon hex tank with soft corals.

I have even taken this one step further as an experiment! I recently removed my Remora Skimmer from that tank to see what ramifications would be evident without the skimmer being part of the equation.
To my surprise, I really HAVE NOT witnessed any dramatic detrimental consequences as a result of pulling the skimmer. The skimmer has been removed for over three months now!
I have a Niger Trigger, Clown, Six-line Wrasse and an Azure Damsel fish with two peppermint shrimp and a brittle star and snails. I have aiptasia anemones in the tank with various mushrooms. zoos and leathers with anthelia as well!!!!!
I will keep you posted as to possibly negative, or positive implications!