A few years back I picked up some cheap live rock from a fellow reefer, unfortunately this rock also had a significant amount of aiptasia (although it was removed before I saw it) so have since been trying to control it, I have tried the following methods with some success...
- Boiling Water
- Joe's Juice - available at most aquarium retailers
- Kalkwasser - a mix of hydrated lime (builders lime) and water into a paste
- Biological Control
Use a syringe and needle (bigger the better here) and squirt boiling water into the mouth of the aiptasia. This seems to work OK, however it is hard with the smaller pests and they tend to close up and retract into the rock when you get close. Also you often get the needle into the mouth and then out one of the sides making it difficult to get them every time
Joes Juice - This method is identical to above but with a commercial product, it seems effective and the aiptasia don't appear to be coming back in the areas where I have used it
Kalkwasser - while this can also be used with the syringe it may block the needle. I have used a differing method that works well for large infestations. Mix Kalkwasser into a paste and press over the location that the aiptasia live. Important: Don't disturb the rock once done, move water flow away from the paste and ensure you don't use too much, maybe mix a typical dosing quantity of Kalkwasser that you would normally use...
Biological Control - now this appears to be the most efficient method for controlling aiptasia, but I have to base these findings on the opinions of others as I am unable to source the required specimens locally (due to their efficiency in control they are snapped up quickly at the aquarium stores) Peppermint shrimp and Copper banded butterfly (CBS) fish appear to be the most efficient, but there are cases where the CBS wont eat aiptasia. This does not appear to be the case with the pep shrimp (peps) - now Ive just got to get hold of one....
There has also been talk recently of Nudibranch a small (barely visible) critter that lives on aiptasia, these guys will quickly mow through a farm of these pests, but will quickly die when the aiptasia runs out. therefore I wouldn't recommend its use
Each of the methods above have their place;
for small infestations I have succesfully used the Joe's Juice or boiling water method (different tank)
for larger infestations Kalkwasser and or biological control is the way to go
Regardless of the method used, this is one pest that you will have to get used to, because there is no magic bullet.
4 comments:
It has to be said that i believe is the natural way with a peppermint shrimp or two, they are really effective.
I have recently heard of a product that can be purchased called Aitasia X, this can be purchased from a good local marine supplier.
As to if it works, i dont know
Have just applied Red Sea's Aiptasia X to a large infestation and seems to have worked wonders.
Fiddly method of application, so impossible to reach some aiptasia which are out of reach between rock, etc. This does mean they will return to show areas, but i now have an effective treatment when they spread again.
Now on the lookout for a peppermint shrimp to clean up the hard to reach places.
Post a Comment