Aiptasia drives me crazy

Hey everyone,

My tank has been running for soon 10 months now, and i've always been frustrated with the aiptasia that dominate my tank. I've always had a huge war with them, and tried alot of things to kill them: Boiling water, Aiptasia-X, Peppermint Shrimp everything... But they always come back, there is ALWAYS one hiding somewhere. In my area, i cant get any berghias either, and i wouldnt risk it either, because my wrasse might eat them. I'm just getting extremely frustrated, and i want them all gone.. What can i do? Any other suggestions that i havent already tried?

 

Couple of questions. Did you notice if the peppermints you got actually ate ANY of the Aiptasia? If not you may have to try different ones, they can be hit or miss. If the nem is to big they wont eat it either so you have to help em a little. I use a kalk paste and spot kill the larger ones. A file fish will also make quick work of them but will also need to be removed and observed to ensure he isnt eating sps polyps if you have them.

 

Berghia Nudibranch's will eliminate them. I have a 180 that had a lot of big ones ( up to 1" in diameter)and they got rid of all of them within 3 months

 

I got very lucky with mine. I got a copper butterfly who eats them like candy. I need to get some rocks with a lot on the. Or at least start growing them myself.

 

iv had success with pepermints and i suggest you try again, avoid a CBB they are most delicate and no guarantee they will eat them either. (i suspect mine eats the smaller ones but i have a huge one he doesnt touch)

 

I've always had luck with Peppermints. I would try them again.

 

I also had good luck with peppermints. I did use aptasia-x on the larger ones and between both they never returned. We did catch it early though - only a few big ones in a 90 gallon. Even had one in the refugium. How many peppermints did you get? We have 9 in the 90 gallon - fewer didn't seem to be enough. Or maybe not enough of them ate it. But I could watch them in the holes and cracks in the rock eating them.
Good luck.

 

Well seeing as you've tried all the other methods...

Have you tried putting some LR rubble (I usually use 1"-2" pieces) over the aiptasia? IME they move onto the rubble in order to get to the light, than you just take the rubble out and toss it.

OR

Make the aiptasia retract into it's hole (that's where the foot is, out of sight) then super glue over the hole. This method usually takes care of any under .5"

HTH

 

I have had great success using Aiptasia-X. Why is it not working for you? Too many?

 

Yeah they did eat the aiptasia. But they ate my frogspawn too. I'm afraid of using any fish like scats, filefish or something like that because they nip at corals, and i just dont really wanna risk it i guess..