Aptasia Holistic Approach?

[ghurlag]

Okay, its like this... My tank originally didn't have any problems with aptasia. I got some rock from a friend, who I KNEW had aptasia, but I had major cerebral flatulence and put the rock straight into the tank without drying it out first. So now I have aptasia...

I don't really have enough in the tank yet to support a population of peppermint shrimp, but I would like to get some. I have been reading a bit about chemical treatments like Joe's Juice and AptasiaX. I have also heard of many folks having good fortune with kalk paste. I have a bucket of kalk that I could work into paste, but here's the question - What's the best way to apply this stuff to the little buggers?

[marinelife]

What size tank is this again?

[jeremyreef]

a syringe would be good

[hdelectraglide]

I would go with the pepperment shrimp. I put 4 in my 90 and no more aptasia.

[~reefchik~]

He has a 29 gal.

Brian, I've got an aiptasia syringe that came with my Joe's Juice if you want to borrow it. I'm just not sure how to get it to you quickly.

[marinelife]

O yeah that's right,
Joe's Juice or a few peppermints

[jjoos99]

go with peppermints. I tried the route of joes juice. It would kill the aptasia but they would always come back just smaller then the original. i placed 3 peppermints in my 180 which had over 20 aptasia in it and with in just no time they were gone. I let them grow in my overflows now but none will grow in the main tank now with the shrimp in it.
jeff

[~reefchik~]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the Joe's Juice either, but I kept the syringe and it works great for using vinegar or kalk to shoot the little buggers with!

[ghurlag]

I have been getting the impression from research that peppermints are probably my best bet. Are they known to eat zoanthids if aptasia are scarce?

[aquatic mouse]

Peppermints & get them from Aquatic Specialists. I've heard from other people that after you drop them in the tank, you never see them again. Not true with Justin's. Mine are out all the time. They never hide! They did a great job on my aptasia.

[marinelife]

Yeah his Shrimps are the best true Aiptasia eaters

[larrynews]

i have always had great luck with a copper banded butterfly, pricey but you have something to look at

[TechGuy40]

i have always had great luck with a copper banded butterfly, pricey but you have something to look at

Mine did an incredible job. I have thousands of aptasia, he cleared the whole 120 in a few weeks. Sadly mine would never eat frozen food and perished a few days ago.

[marinelife]

If the tank was big enough I would recommend a nice Angel, my emperor cleared my up right way.
For this size tank, peppermints would be best

[ghurlag]

Oh, definitely. It's peppermints or a syringe on this tank. I still have room for another fish or two, but a copperband or any other angel is just way too big.

Looks like I am adding peppermints to my AS shopping list. Justin's gonna be happy when I get back up there :)

[~reefchik~]

Too bad you couldn't use my Klein's. She's just the right size for your tank.

[chromiumlux]

I put 1 Peppermint shrimp in my 30g a few weeks back. No more aptasia in the main display. plenty in the sump which is fine by me. Used Joes juice for a long time and as mentioned in a previous post the aptasia always came back. My personal experience is that injecting is a temporary cure for aptasia. The shrimp are doing a great job and earning their keep. I got mine fron Justin at AQSP.

[Natasha]

Help, my tank is over run by aptasia. I have used the aptasia stop. it seems to work well on the small ones, but I have this huge one that I have shot with the aptasia stop 4 times and it has not killed it. These things are about to make me want to give up my tank. Is there anyway to get rid of them for good?

[jeremyreef]

I have always had good luck with pepperment shrimp. If the big one is that big, can it be physically removed with a blade under it? You can also make a kalk water mixture and blast it with that.

[deuce2004]

I blast mine with Mrs. Limes pickeling lime, one taste then there all gone till i add something to my tank that has them hidden...

[jeremyreef]

Mrs wages pickling lime is kalk. How much do you use? Been so long since I had them I forget :D

[Natasha]

Does the Mrs Limes pickeling lime hurt anything else in the tank? Also I have these red looking worms that stick to the glass, any idea what these are and how to get rid of them. I am just having issue all around this tank.

[deuce2004]

i just use a tbsp in some water disolve and use a syringe inject right in head of Aptasia and poof vanished....and no, no more than you use wont hurt.

[~reefchik~]

Wow, I used this method and man, it does work! No more spending $$$ on Joe's Juice or any of that other stuff. Thanks!

[deuce2004]

Your Welcome