Aptasia breakout!

[Guest x2minusblndfold]

iv heard that aptasia is a threat to corals, iv had it in my reef for quite some time now but didnt worry about it cuz it wasnt close to my corals at all..today i looked in the reef and noticed little new clusters of aptasia VERY close(about 1 inch away) from my Mushroom colony. What is the easiest way to get rid of it w/o harming my corals in the prosess?? iv heard u could inject them w/ something w/ a needle?

[xeon]

What I've used for injections was a heavy concentration of kalk mix and water.  The consistency was thick, but not so thick it would not go through the needle.  Then there's the boiling water approach, so I've used a really warm concoction of kalk and water.  Some people say to use lemon juice or lemon juice and kalk mix.  Then there's a product called Joe's Juice, I have no idea what it is, but it works.  The easiest thing I've done is toss in two peppermint shrimp and let them do it all for me au' natural.  I did not have an outbreak at the time, but my inwall tank does make it hard to get to some things... much less a crummy pest anemone on the wrong side of the tank near the bottom. The peppermint shrimp sound especially nice if you have an outbreak.

[Sph2sail]

Peppermint shrimp.  Depending on the size of your tank, get 5-6 of them.  I have a 90G and tend to have 3-5 in there all the time.  They take care of business getting rid of the Aiptasia and they add lots good fish/tank food when they spawn.

 

I've also noticed that when you kalk the Aiptasia, that brings the peppermint shrimps over like a dinner bell.  Like lions pouncing on a wounded animal.  They know it is weakened, where it is, and say dinner is served!

 

steve