Aptasia filter.....

Ive been debating a pure aptasia filter for a while. Went on a service to do a followup on a 240 mixed reef with a bad aiptasia infestation, after week 2 and the elimination of the majority began the nitrates and phos began to rise, i attributed it to the decay of apta. matter.... nope, still on the rise. nice water change, filter cleaning, and feeding cutback....still rising. I had to take out a good amount of fish for it to stabalize. After a strikingly similar occurance with another tank this week i want to build an aptasia fuge...as frightening as that may be. It will be small and not run inline with anything, just itself. I want to see how much load i can put on them before the levels begin to rise. ill be starting this sometime next month, should be interesting.

 

There was a thread talking about this last week. It had a link to this video site (check out the second from the top left) Reef Videos. Very interesting. I will be looking forward to your test results.

Marc.

 

i saw that video too. dude had a uv sterilizer on return to make sure aptaisa didn't enter the main tank. Interesting idea. My q is (although I haven't had a prob getting it to grow in my main, lol) how to specifically get it to grow there.

 

Great find Marc!!!!! Thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!!!!Calfo, Borneman- a couple masters of the reef world!
Mistermikev-aiptasia really don't require anything out of the ordinary...water flow, food/detritus, proper water parameters and limited predation!

 

They dont need any light either, I found a couple in my external filter when I was maintaining it and as its completely sealed there is no light whatsoever!! I was thinking about doing the same thing as you mentioned when I build my new tank, another option is to create a runner outside of the main sump.

Let us know how you get on.

 

Would you laugh if I told you the nitrates on this tank are zero.

 

wowzers thas-alotta aiptasia.