Aiptasia - why is it a pest?

Sorry if this has been asked before. I know everyone considers aiptasia as a pest. I've always killed them using heated vinegar then using a syringe to nuke it.

I started doing this since a fellow hobbyist told me that I should. But I never bothered asking why.

Why are they considered pests? What do they do to the tank? Do they kill corals? Fish?

 

I have had 1 abd inky 1 that hasw survived in my tank for the last 2 years noe and I have let it be, why? I think hes a survivor ;D but I really dont know why

 

I belive its bebecause they sting and kill other desirable corals

 

Always question !! good for you.

Aptasia sting and kill corals - the real issue is that they can replicate quickly and within months cover your rock and kill your reef.

 

Ah, I see. Right now I see about 3 aiptasia in my tank but in hard to reach rocks. So I thought I'd ask so I know if I really had to kill it.

 

As a good friend learned the hard way. He was moving his rocks around and accidently smooshed one. In the next few weeks he had a population explosion and had as many as 50.Not good.

 

in all my tanks i have had aptasia, if you leave them alone they do not reproduce really at all. in my old 40 gallon i had about 4-5 that were about 4 inches tall. that was all i had in the tank they didnt sting my corals because there werent any corals near them but i think if you just have a couple aptasia i would just leave them alone rather than risk a whole outbreak by killing one

 

In addition to stinging corals and taking over a tank I personally think that they are quite ugly.

 

Killing one will not cause an outbreak. Smashing one by accident will. I would remove them to be safe. Why risk your tank over a simple kalk treatment?

 

Yep, like everyone else has said they will sting your corals. I always try to get rid of mine as soon as I spot one. But now that I have a good peppermint shrimp, he keeps them in check and I haven't seen any for a long time now. I tried Joe's Juice but that was hit or miss with me.