Aptasia Keep Multiplying!

I started with one little guy on my lr. And now it's growing on all my rocks! Should I just squirt hot water at all of them? And what is causing them all to grow and spread so quickly?

 

Nothing per say, that's just their nature. Try a peppermint shrimp. Boiling water and lemon juice works.

 

It's has been my experience that boiling water or Joe's Juice is not an efficient treatment.

I would get peppermint shrimp, but be prepared to remove them once the job is done. Peppermint shrimp can be nasty little buggers and eat and bother corals.

 

Peppermint shrimp may eat them. I also inject any Aptasias I see with Tropic Marin Elimi-Aiptas directly into the stalk as opposed to the mouth. I find that the product has a better kill rate when injected into the stalk.

 

My wife uses Aiptasia-x by red-sea works good but always on constant vigil keeping eye out for new ones to pop up. As soon as we see one we zap it.

 

I used Aptasia RX from Blue Life (available on Amazon) for about a year. And while it did rapidly kill them it was a constant, once a week, regimen. My accidental cure turned out to be a Mertensii Butterfly which eliminated them in a bout a week while leaving my corals alone. Have not seen any Aptasia for at least 2 months.

 

I have to be objective here, so please forgive me, but since you always have them popping up, wouldn't that term the phrase that the Apt-x is in fact not working that well? :

As for the OP, I've also heard that kalkwasser paste, and some nubribranch species work as well. Keep doing your homework, but just as everyone has said, they can be very invasive, as you have seen. Keep on top of them, no matter what technique you use.

 

Well they do not pop up in same place so seems to kill the ones we can see. Understand your point but these suckers can do a good job of hiding and. This is not a full tank dose but a direct application to what you see so you can keep them in check.

 

Ive learned that aiptasia x can work nicely if used properly. Your technique on treating each head determines if you get rid of the problem or not. If you squirt the solution on the crown of the aiptasia, cover the mouth completely, and the aiptasia does not retract or squirt it will close the mouth permanently. Let the solution sit in the motionless water for 15 minutes and the aiptasia should shrivel up or wilt.

One problem I first found is that I wasnt applying the solution correctly. I was injecting it way to fast. If you go to fast they will retract , move ,or squirt which compounds the issue. After all my initial application flaws I moved a rock that had an aptasia to a bowl of water. Once there I was able to position the rock to the perfect position for a vertical application. I placed a tiny drop on the crown and let it close around the solution. Once it thinks its food it begins to injest the product. Once it does I apply about 4 more drops to the crown to completely cover the head. Then the wilting process starts.

Now you can apply that technique to your DT. Thats how I got rid of my problem.

The problem with aiptasia is we think we got them all but in fact there may be small one or two in the rock work you dont see. If your rock work can be taken apart it you can thoroughly look at every part to see if you have any. If not you gotta just deal with them as they occur.

 

My favorite option is one I haven't done, I just need a bigger laser!

This is from a local reefer (with an awesome blend of food)

laser beats Aptasia video!