What causes aiptasia?? Once gone is it gone forever??

dnguyen1 · 10/14/2019, 12:50 AM

I've had an aiptasia issue spring up. I have a melenarus wrasse I love and will have to trap.

I plan on bringing in a peppermint shrimp to do the job.... If I get the pep in there and he kills all the aiptasia is there a way to prevent them from coming back aside from watching out for hitchhikers??

Thanks

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Realposition · 10/14/2019, 01:01 AM

I personally think it's impossible to completely eliminate it. Some peppermint shrimps eat it, some don't. If you get one that does eat it they may be able to keep it in check over time.

mcgyvr · 10/14/2019, 04:34 AM

A whole polyp or just a single cell hitchhikes into the tank on other corals/rocks,etc...
If there is plenty of extra food in the tank and conditions are right you can have an outbreak..
If you manage to eliminate them and don't ever put anything else into the tank is possible that you may never see them again.

lolgranny · 10/14/2019, 05:32 AM

+1 on you’ll never fully get rid of them. It’s just about keeping them in control. Even if you think they are gone from the display there’s sure to be one lurking in the sump or plumbing.

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64Ivy · 10/14/2019, 05:49 AM

I hadn't seen an aiptasia in my tank for several years because my Muelleri Copperband kept them in check. A couple months ago, my Muelleri died and the aiptasia came back in just a few weeks. They'd been lurking in the overflow and other places inaccessible to the butterfly for nearly a decade.

hkgar · 10/14/2019, 12:52 PM

Why are you trapping the Melanurus? I don't see the connection to Aptasia?

lolgranny · 10/14/2019, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Why are you trapping the Melanurus? I don't see the connection to Aptasia?

He’s afraid it will eat the pep shrimp. I would be too personally.

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hkgar · 10/14/2019, 02:33 PM

Get a Matted File Fish

NWoods · 10/14/2019, 02:45 PM

Copperband Butterfly will also go after Aiptasia from what I have heard, but are also a harder fish to keep. When I had my 75G reef, I had an Aiptasia outbreak and used Aiptasia-X. I was able to eliminate most of them that I could see.

dnguyen1 · 10/14/2019, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Why are you trapping the Melanurus? I don't see the connection to Aptasia?

Yup exactly it will eat the peppermint I tried it before lol.

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lolgranny · 10/14/2019, 03:31 PM

+1 on the matted filefish. I have one in my 700g along with a copper and and none to be seen.

Peppermint are hit or miss imo. Through the years I’ve had ones work, but more so they just scavenge and take food from coral.

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dnguyen1 · 10/14/2019, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolgranny

+1 on the matted filefish. I have one in my 700g along with a copper and and none to be seen.

Peppermint are hit or miss imo. Through the years I’ve had ones work, but more so they just scavenge and take food from coral.

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Awesome on the file fish I think they look really cool. Do you guys have hit or miss with them going after coral ???

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lolgranny · 10/14/2019, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnguyen1

Awesome on the file fish I think they look really cool. Do you guys have hit or miss with them going after coral ???

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It’s hard to tell as I have a very large copper and and regal angelfish in the tank. I know they nip at my sps, but the tanks loaded with them so I haven’t had any worries. I have sps and lps in the tank. No zoas as the angel grew a taste for them after the tank transfer so I can’t say on that account.

They are definitely interesting fish, whenever I have people over they are always asking what that fish is because they look so odd.

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Uncle99 · 10/14/2019, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnguyen1

I've had an aiptasia issue spring up. I have a melenarus wrasse I love and will have to trap.

I plan on bringing in a peppermint shrimp to do the job.... If I get the pep in there and he kills all the aiptasia is there a way to prevent them from coming back aside from watching out for hitchhikers??

Thanks

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

If you have any Acans, watch carefully, Peps have been known to take out Acans.

hkgar · 10/15/2019, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnguyen1

Awesome on the file fish I think they look really cool. Do you guys have hit or miss with them going after coral ???

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I always said they are so ugly they are cute/cool.

d0ughb0y · 10/15/2019, 04:12 PM

they are not called pests for nothing.

JayinToronto · 10/15/2019, 07:37 PM

+1 on the copper banded butterfly
Got mine to control a bad outbreak. 3 years later I haven't seen an aptasia and my copper banded is doing great. He's constantly hunting for them still.

paal · 10/15/2019, 11:01 PM

Ny filefish took care of my aiptasia. Once they were 'all' gone I placed him in my refugium. However, the aiptasia came back after about a month, so I had to put him back in the tank to keep them in check.

He does not kill any coral, but sps polyps are not what they used to be...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8c4G97ola40

Misled · 10/16/2019, 06:37 PM

Anything you add after getting rid of them can bring them back.

dnguyen1 · 10/16/2019, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

Anything you add after getting rid of them can bring them back.

Dude those suckers are smart

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Misled · 10/16/2019, 07:48 PM

Not called hitchhikers for nuttin!!!

ThRoewer · 10/16/2019, 11:14 PM

I got a good number of Aiptasia with a portion of Halimeda... Only good thing about those particular ones is that they don't reproduce as crazy as other strains I have dealt with.
The worst were the micro "Aiptasia" I got once with some macro algae from LiveAquaria. They didn't get any larger than 1/4", reproduced like crazy, and nothing would eat them, not even the Berghia I ordered to clean the tank of them. They rather starved to death. Ultimately I decided to bleach the whole tank to make sure they would not spread to my other tanks...

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Spyderturbo007 · 10/18/2019, 06:55 AM

I've had them for years and can't for the life of me get rid of them. I think I've tried everything. It's so frustrating. The look terrible and my coral isn't too terribly thrilled.

lespaul339 · 10/18/2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolgranny

+1 on the matted filefish.

My matted filefish wouldn't touch aiptasia. It was tank bred though so maybe that had something to do with it? I had a huge infestation that over took my tank.

I ended up tearing my tank down, muriatic acid dipping my rocks, and starting my tank over. Aiptaisa gone.

Now I'm going fowlr so I can just enjoy my tank and not have to deal with the hassle of coral and the hitchhikers and pests that come with it. I grew tired of the testing and dosing that a reef tank requires. Then even when everything tests good you'll have some coral start to die off for no reason. Super frustrating. Fowlr for me equals less stress and more time to just enjoy my tank. I got into the hobby because of the fish anyways.

hkgar · 10/18/2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lespaul339

My matted filefish wouldn't touch aiptasia. It was tank bred though so maybe that had something to do with it? I had a huge infestation that over took my tank.

I ended up tearing my tank down, muriatic acid dipping my rocks, and starting my tank over. Aiptaisa gone.

Now I'm going fowlr so I can just enjoy my tank and not have to deal with the hassle of coral and the hitchhikers and pests that come with it. I grew tired of the testing and dosing that a reef tank requires. Then even when everything tests good you'll have some coral start to die off for no reason. Super frustrating. Fowlr for me equals less stress and more time to just enjoy my tank. I got into the hobby because of the fish anyways.

Tempting. I got into it for the coral,but your comments made me go Hmmm.

10/14/2019, 12:50 AM	#1
dnguyen1 Will work for fish Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 910	What causes aiptasia?? Once gone is it gone forever?? I've had an aiptasia issue spring up. I have a melenarus wrasse I love and will have to trap. I plan on bringing in a peppermint shrimp to do the job.... If I get the pep in there and he kills all the aiptasia is there a way to prevent them from coming back aside from watching out for hitchhikers?? Thanks Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk __________________ Trying to keep the tank clean ONE DAY AT A TIME. Current Tank Info: 50g cube

10/14/2019, 01:01 AM	#2
Realposition Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cheektowaga NY Posts: 320	I personally think it's impossible to completely eliminate it. Some peppermint shrimps eat it, some don't. If you get one that does eat it they may be able to keep it in check over time. __________________ Larry

10/14/2019, 04:34 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	A whole polyp or just a single cell hitchhikes into the tank on other corals/rocks,etc... If there is plenty of extra food in the tank and conditions are right you can have an outbreak.. If you manage to eliminate them and don't ever put anything else into the tank is possible that you may never see them again. __________________ Who me?

10/14/2019, 05:32 AM	#4
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	+1 on you’ll never fully get rid of them. It’s just about keeping them in control. Even if you think they are gone from the display there’s sure to be one lurking in the sump or plumbing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ -Dave Current Tank Info: 40g RIP. 300g system, 180g display.

10/14/2019, 05:49 AM	#5
64Ivy B'rer Reefer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 3,194	I hadn't seen an aiptasia in my tank for several years because my Muelleri Copperband kept them in check. A couple months ago, my Muelleri died and the aiptasia came back in just a few weeks. They'd been lurking in the overflow and other places inaccessible to the butterfly for nearly a decade. __________________ Be Kind To The Elderly. Life Without Parole Means Nothing To Us. ToTM 3-03 Current Tank Info: Between tanks. Searching for a home

10/14/2019, 12:52 PM	#6
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Why are you trapping the Melanurus? I don't see the connection to Aptasia? __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/14/2019, 02:33 PM	#8
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Get a Matted File Fish __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/14/2019, 02:45 PM	#9
NWoods Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 77	Copperband Butterfly will also go after Aiptasia from what I have heard, but are also a harder fish to keep. When I had my 75G reef, I had an Aiptasia outbreak and used Aiptasia-X. I was able to eliminate most of them that I could see. __________________ Current build: 50G SCA Starfire cube \| More to come Current Tank Info: 75G mixed reef

10/14/2019, 03:31 PM	#11
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	+1 on the matted filefish. I have one in my 700g along with a copper and and none to be seen. Peppermint are hit or miss imo. Through the years I’ve had ones work, but more so they just scavenge and take food from coral. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ -Dave Current Tank Info: 40g RIP. 300g system, 180g display.

10/15/2019, 04:12 PM	#16
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	they are not called pests for nothing.

10/15/2019, 07:37 PM	#17
JayinToronto Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 72	+1 on the copper banded butterfly Got mine to control a bad outbreak. 3 years later I haven't seen an aptasia and my copper banded is doing great. He's constantly hunting for them still. __________________ Jay Current Tank Info: 400g DT, 150g refugium/sump, 5 Orphek V4 LEDs, Deltec protein skimmer, 8 ecotech MP40s, phosphate reactor, charcoal reactor, Apex controller, 2 part dosing.

10/15/2019, 11:01 PM	#18
paal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 368	Ny filefish took care of my aiptasia. Once they were 'all' gone I placed him in my refugium. However, the aiptasia came back after about a month, so I had to put him back in the tank to keep them in check. He does not kill any coral, but sps polyps are not what they used to be... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8c4G97ola40

10/16/2019, 06:37 PM	#19
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Anything you add after getting rid of them can bring them back. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

10/16/2019, 07:48 PM	#21
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Not called hitchhikers for nuttin!!! __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

10/16/2019, 11:14 PM	#22
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	I got a good number of Aiptasia with a portion of Halimeda... Only good thing about those particular ones is that they don't reproduce as crazy as other strains I have dealt with. The worst were the micro "Aiptasia" I got once with some macro algae from LiveAquaria. They didn't get any larger than 1/4", reproduced like crazy, and nothing would eat them, not even the Berghia I ordered to clean the tank of them. They rather starved to death. Ultimately I decided to bleach the whole tank to make sure they would not spread to my other tanks... Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

10/18/2019, 06:55 AM	#23
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	I've had them for years and can't for the life of me get rid of them. I think I've tried everything. It's so frustrating. The look terrible and my coral isn't too terribly thrilled.