Weird Aiptasia! Question

I killed, or attempted to kill, some aiptasia with Joe's Juice. They disappeared, totally, for like a month. But now they've come back, and they are clear!! What the heck?! Has this happened to anybody else?! And why didn't the JJ work?!

 

Do they look like this?

 

No, they are definitely aiptasia. One looks like majano, so I think it may be, and it just happens to be in the same spot. But the other three are definitely aiptasia!

 

The JJ most likely did work on the ones you put it on. The problem with aptasia is that if you have one, you definitely have several you can't see. They are non-photo corals, so they love high flow places where they can catch lots of food. This means they will be anywhere they can catch a bite to eat including your plumbing. IMO squirting stuff on aptasia is just a temporary bandaid. Have you tried peppermint shrimp? They won't rid your system entirely of them, but they can keep them out of the display and away from corals.

 

Well, what's so weird is these are in the EXACT same spots and are the exact same sizes!! I mean they are HUGE. They aren't baby ones. It's just really weird.

I really don't like shrimp...but I guess I could try one.

 

The shrimp will only hit small aiptasia. You will need to kill them with some aiptasia remedy. You can try and make a paste from pickling lime to kill them; just paste it over them. You will need to turn off your flow while doing this.

 

Aptaisia are photosynthetic, although like other anemones can survive on food alone. It sounds like they bleached from the treatment and are weakened. If you hit them again now, they will probably die. Often multiple treatments are required. In addition to only eating small ones, the problem with shrimp, or any other natural predator, for that matter, is they are not always reliable and if they do eat them, aren't going to know the difference between aptaisia and some corals. So, no natural predator is 100% reef safe.


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Peppermint shrimp are hit or miss on aptasia. Thats a gamble.

 

Have to agree with bruh. They are very hit and miss and may even begin eating zoas and paly's. They won't eat the bigger aip's anyway. Berghia are the only permanent solution. Start with as few as 6 to cut cost. It will take a while for your tank to be pest free but they will wipe out every single one.

 

Thanks guys. Sounds like I just hurt them. I'll have to hit 'em again! (Actually, my fiance does it as I can't stand to hurt them ).