One Single Aiptasia

After 3 years in the hobby, I have just spotted my first single Aiptasia on a peice of live rock in my 10g refugium that I just established a month ago. I believe it may have hitchhiked in on a mangrove. Anyways, I am kind of freakin. What should I do?

Should I leave it be, since it is in the refugium? Should I try to get a shrimp that will eat it? Should I do something to the rock?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Although it seems to be only one right now, I know it can spread all over and essentially annihilate a reef system.8)8):-/

 

Kill it. They always start as just one!

Mix up a Kalk solution, or get some Aiptasia-X (odds are you'll eventually see more).

If you see one, odds are there are a few more. But IDK if it would be worth getting a shrimp specifically for it.

 

Remove the piece of rock if you can. If not kalk paste it as posted above.

Turn the pumps off just prior, administer the kalk and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

Repeat as needed.

Moved to -------- General Reef Topics.

 

Yeah, kill it with kalk paste... You may have to hit it twice, so, check again in a few days, but they are not particularly tough to kill in small numbers.

 

Thanks guys....Kalk paste it shall be!

 

i have better luck with a pepermint shrimp. he lives in my sump and i get him out as needed and put in display.

 

Well now I don't seem to to see the Aiptasia I saw last night...so I will get a shrimp to find him and do the job!

 

Lol...take a breath, it isn't going to annihilate your reef!! They're annoying and can get out of hand, but I'd guess that is pretty rare - there are plenty of simple ways of controlling or getting rid of them. I used the above mentioned kalk paste and peppermint shrimp and haven't seen any for a year.

Like other critters that can be pests such as I'm guessing that how they spread is often related to how the tank is fed. I target feed lightly and my aptasia and bristles are all but gone.

Rick

 

I guess I am freaking mostly because I went to a coworkers house with a tank and he literally had thousands of Aptasia upon his live rock. I have way too much money and pride invested to see my tank as such. Although, it seems like I have read that some people actually breed Aptasia in a fuge because they are actually amazing at removing bad nutrients from a system. Does anybody know anything about this topic?


Also one more question...I have noticed my LFS has abundant Aptasia...should I shop elsewhere or not be too concerned about it?

 

A decade in the hobby and I have yet to find an LFS or online store that is aptaisia free (DFS/Divers Den included). They are just part of the hobby. Actually, it's pretty odd you have not had one in three years. And it's more odd it just disappeared, they don't really move... I would gues that more than likely there is already some critter in your tank that is eating them.