Aiptasia - What is it?

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by Noah, Oct 5, 2009.

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  1. Noah

    Noah Astrea Snail

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    What is that stuff, I have a piece of Liverock that's covered in it.
    It also seems to be spreading onto another piece of rock (which isn't liverock).

    What does it do? Should I get rid of it? If so...how can I do it safely without harming my fish?
     
    Noah, Oct 5, 2009
    Noah, Oct 5, 2009
    #1

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  2. fuzzyfish

    fuzzyfish Astrea Snail

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    joe's juice just spray it on and watch them die!
     
    fuzzyfish, Oct 5, 2009
    fuzzyfish, Oct 5, 2009
    #2
  3. mattheuw1

    mattheuw1 Montipora Capricornis

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    yes get rid of it. Aiptasia-X is a good commercial product to rid the nuisance or kalwasser formed into a paste and injected or fed to the anemone. Boiling water injection is also said to work. It is a nuisance because it will sting neighboring corals and it spreads rapidly. Peppermint shrimps will help control it but will kill it all, especially the larger ones. I would go the kalk doughball way or aiptasia X method. But I would definitely add a couple of peppermints too.
     
    mattheuw1, Oct 5, 2009
    mattheuw1, Oct 5, 2009
    #3
  4. Noah

    Noah Astrea Snail

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    Hmmm, I might just take the piece of liverock out and get rid of it, it's only a small one.

    Might get a peppermint shrimp too though, do they clean fish aswel like cleaner shrimps do?

    Also will a peppermint shrimp be ok with my hermits? Mine seem to be pretty savage, my biggest one kills off any inverts that are smaller than it.
     
    Noah, Oct 5, 2009
    Noah, Oct 5, 2009
    #4
  5. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    I would get rid of the piece if you can and add a couple of peppermints. They should nip it in the butt and you will never have problems with it. You could nuke the rock with bleach so you can still use it. Or you could just boil it that should get rid of them.
     
    mikejrice, Oct 5, 2009
    mikejrice, Oct 5, 2009
    #5
  6. tatted4ever

    tatted4ever Clown Trigger

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    Ive tried peppermints..... no success, so its a hit or miss. Recently added a copperband butterfly ... no more aiptasia :) I really mean ;D because Ive battled aiptasia for about 9 months with joes juice and peppermints with no success. this copperband is a great aiptasia eater.
     
    tatted4ever, Oct 5, 2009
    tatted4ever, Oct 5, 2009
    #6

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  7. ReefSparky

    ReefSparky Super Moderator

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    Yes--instead of throwing expensive rock in the trash, remove it; put it in some bleach water for a day or two, then soak in RO/DI water with baking soda, then in straight RO/DI water, remove it and allow to dry, then put it back in the tank.

    No more pests on the rock in question.
     
    ReefSparky, Oct 5, 2009
    ReefSparky, Oct 5, 2009
    #7
  8. tatted4ever

    tatted4ever Clown Trigger

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    This has a 100% success rate. Ive done this to unwanted corals ;D. But ive used muriatic instead ;)
     
    tatted4ever, Oct 5, 2009
    tatted4ever, Oct 5, 2009
    #8