Just found Aiptasia... AWESOME!!! what to do?

I just found about 12 tiny (1-2 mm) aiptasia on my lr.. Im guessing it came in on my polyp rock.. anyways, should I get some peppermint shrimp since they are still small to do the job or should I go another route..

 

First off lets post up some pictures and confirm. Aiptaisia don't stay 1-2mm for long and usually will be 3-5cm tall with a 2-3cm disc

 

I cant get any good pictures.. they are too small.. they look like a polyp kind of with a longer slender transparent base with what seems like a polyp head central disk with mouth and tenticles... could they be small yellow polyps just growing on random other rocks?

 

could be, but aptaisia is pretty easy to spot. I use 100% pure white vinegar. Put it in my spot feeder and blast away. usually kills them first try.

 

I'd try and stay away from using vinegar. A little too acidic for a reef tank imo. There are many other alternatives to killing these things off. peppermint shrimp are awesome when they are too small for a target kill with an injection. Or if its a small piece of LR, and you know for sure that its aiptasia, just take the rock out and nuke it.

 

I used rice vingear on a q-tip. took the rock out of the tank, zapped them. then rinsed that rock of very well under fresh water, before returning to tank. Im about to get a shrimp for the little tiny ones.. the 2 I terminated, doubled in size in about 1 week. they were about 2" inchs tall!! seems like my wrasse has helped a little with those real small ones..

ps. I also got a couple bad worm kills when I stuck the qtip in the rock hole..

 

I would just get a couple peppermint shrimp, they worked great for me and you know its safe. =)

 

I ordered 2 peppermints from my lfs, I hope they are the cure..

 

peppermints work but.. if you feed your tank on regular bases the shrimp will be well fed and won't touch the aiptasia.

 

Peppermint shrimp will kill the small ones.. if you end up with any big ones use Aiptasia X.. its cheap and works great.. I had a total tank infestation and got rid of them all fairly easily this way. You can check out pictures here
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-of...ntual-reef-tank-aptasia-playground-66916.html