A selection of useful tidbits of information for the aquarist.
Readers are encouraged to send their tips to terry@advancedaquarist.com or
to post them to our Hot Tips sticky in the Reefs.org General
Reefkeeping Discussion forum for possible publication.
Next month's Hot Tip theme will be "Algae
Control".
Aiptasia Control Tips
When I see Aiptasia I nuke them with Kalkwasser. I just mix
a bit of kalk in a small glass with warm water untill it
is thick. I use a test kit syringe and suck the slurry
up. Turn off the circulation pumps and pump a bit of kalk
paste on the anemones oral disk. It should stick being
so thick and cover the area. You can turn the pumps back
on after kalking is all done, it shouldnt blow around the
tank. If the ifection is bad just do a few a day so you
don't have to worry about a pH jump.
Ben
It took two doses on the big mother Aiptasia and I introduced
a pepermint shrimp. Though I've never seen her eat them, there
are no more new baby pests.
NathanLando
I've had good luck with pepermints. The first one I put in
my tank went right for the biggest aptasia I had. It reached
right down the oral disc and ripped it's insides out. I wish
I would have been filming!
Bingo
My very easy, very cheap, 100% effective method is to get
a stick lighter that people use to light BBQs and just torch
the spot the anemone is on for about 20 seconds. Kills a dime
sized spot of rock, but it quickly recovers. Works well for
majano anemones as well, or for killing any living thing you
don't want in your tank.
Peppermints are great if you can keep them in high density
and they are permanent. Aiptasia will come back if you remove
the shrimp though. There are also issues with peppermints occasionally
eating zoanthids and clam mantles as well.
Matt Wandell
My 100% effective approach is to quarantine all rocks and
corals: no pests!
Mihai
Berghia verrucicornis
Dizzy
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