What To Do?

[reeferkeeper420]

So as some of you may know, i have a aiptasia problem. Im wanting to do a tank switch to a 135g, but am not sure what to do.. Do i use all my rock i currently have or can i go with mainly fresh dry rock and use some of the old stuff and try to get a smaller amount under control? Will using mainly new rock create a immature tank and brown out all my sps? Need advice. Thanks
Riley

 

[EricTMah]

If you go with mainly new rock. Prepare to cycle the system. Although you'll still see a small cycle with just transferring your stuff over. It will be a "fresh" cycle with mostly new rock.

If you're going to transfer some of your rocks over. You're still running the risk of transferring aiptasia over as well. Short of boiling or soaking in muriatic acid. There's no 100% way to be sure none will make the move.

Is the new system going in the exact same spot? Can you run two systems at the same time for a while?

You could cycle the new system. Then transfer just your corals over. Now you can introduce a couple raccoon butterflies and they'll clear your rocks of aiptasia.

Or if that isn't an option. Look for a Matted File Fish. They're slow and you can easily remove once he's done his job.

The second option is the route I'm going right now.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Tank is in a separate area.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Id prefer to not have to cycle a system, but this aiptasia is getting ridiculous lol.

 

[reef keeper]

Do the file fish. They rule

 

[reeferkeeper420]

File fish will eat zoos. And i have a nice collection lol, so i cant really risk it. I may have to try a larger group of berghia..

 

[heath]

is there a way that you can remove/kill the aptaisis from your rock and then use it?
I have 2 pieces in my tank and I tried the vinegar thing and it did nothing..

 

[Bfofre]

Somehow aiptasia had snuck into my tank.. Now I'm seeing them pop up everywhere.. Watching this thread closely.. No way am I taking everything apart!

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Yeah theyre sneaky buggers.

 

[reefgeek]

What about nudis? Fairly certain they would go for the aptaisia and in time reproduce to a level that they naturally control it.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

I tried a small group 2 months ago, and i dont think they survived. Im think of trying again, maybe a group of 10 or 12.

 

[saltyair]

Imo if you lower your feeding and nutrients and add a pep shrimp with manual vinegar shots you should be able to eliminate any tank transfer. It has worked for me:

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Ive tried vinegar with no luck.

 

[SamB]

I use Red Sea Aptasia X
Works but you've got to keep at it !

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Ive tried that aswell, didnt work that well, and killed alot of zoas in the process.

 

[Kevin Tran]

Can I join this aiptasia club since I now have aiptasia from the rock that I bought from nexusnight. I have quite a few of them too, small one. Gotta love this guy Adam lol. Anyway following on this

 

[derrick orosz]

what about a army of pepermint shrimp

 

[Kevin Tran]

Did you try peppermint shrimp Riley ?

 

[barebottomcouple]

Ive tried vinegar with no luck.

not sure how you used vinegar but you have to inject it into them with a needle and syringe into the stem. I had a few a couple years ago and used lemon juice injected into stem and have not seen them since also have a peppermint shrimp that helped

 

[reeferkeeper420]

No havent tried peppermints, but i hear only certain ones eat them and at 15-20@piece its not cheap to put a little army if they dont eat em lol. I also hear they only will eat the little ones. I have some monsters haha.