Copperband Butterfly or not?

[daisy]

So I have an aptasia problem. I've used Joe's Juice, and even with siphoning, the problem is worse than it was before. I've read about the aptasia-eating nudi, but I don't like the idea that they'll starve to death after they eat the aptasia.

I think I would like to get a CBB, but right now and for the forseeable future, I have only a 55 gal tank - tons of rockwork and only mushrooms, green star polyps, small feather dusters and anthelia. I will get more corals, but not soon.

I know that CBB are hit or miss as far as picking on corals go - my big question, is this -- is my tank simply too small to get a CBB?

The other fish I have now are a yellow tang, a royal gramma, a red lip blenny and a maroon clown, but none of them are in the 55 yet. The 55 is my "new" tank and is nearly done cycling. I would not add the CBB for the next few months - I'll make sure the tank's nice and stable before adding it. I just need to know if it's safe size-wise.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[crox99]

You should be fine with a 55g. They recommend at leaat a 50.

 

[DevIouS]

Size wise....the tank is ok. It's getting one to eat properly that is the problem.
Your Tang will probably harass it as well.
Hit or miss with apitasia & say goodbye to your feather dusters.


It's just a hit or miss purchasing one.

http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=212&N=0

 

[reefman]

i would add a raccon bf since i find they tend to pick on asptasia more n r hardier.but i dont think its reef safe.

 

[daisy]

ARRRRGGHHH!!!!

All I want to do is NUKE THE APTASIA, preferably in some natural way - not with a syringe.

I do not see aptasia when I am scuba diving. Why do I have to see them in my tank??????

It is late and I am feeling discouraged.

So Brachia Nudis? Raccoon b/f?

I feel so incredibly defeated!!!!!!

:sigh:

 

[digitalreefer]

Peppermint shrimp are your best bet. Copperbands require a larger tank and are finicky eaters. They may or may not eat the aptasia, and may starve in your tank.

 

[jhale]

do not get a CBB.
your tank is too small and the yellow tang will harass or kill it.

this is from personal experience.
if you would like more info you may pm me.

 

[MikeyNYC]

Also worth considering, emerald crab. A really interesting creature, eats aptasia, went to work the day placed it the tank.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Also worth considering, emerald crab. A really interesting creature, eats aptasia, went to work the day placed it the tank.

srry for the hijack daisy ,,,but really mike ,,can you get a pic or start a thread on this

:backtotop:

 

[MikeyNYC]

Not sure what you mean. Simply stated, Emeralds could help her with Aptasia

 

[jhale]

Also worth considering, emerald crab. A really interesting creature, eats aptasia, went to work the day placed it the tank.

Mike you must have some magic E crabs, mine never looked at an aptasia. can I borrow some of yours :happysad:

Dasiy, how many aptaisa are you talking about?

kalking larger ones is pretty easy, unless you have hundreds of them.
also know that water quality will influence the number of aptasia in your tank.

 

[MikeyNYC]

The trick is to conduct a thorough interview, as we know, no two candidates are the exactly the same.

Good luck with it daisy, back to topic, for real. Hahaha

 

[DevIouS]

Aiptasia eating Emerald crabs?:tired:

 

[DEEPWATER]

Not sure what you mean. Simply stated, Emeralds could help her with Aptasia

Its the 1st i heard any crab eatting aiptaisa ,,I would love to borrow yours for a few weeks

 

[MikeyNYC]

I refuse to whore my emrald crab out, that's just the kinda guy I am. :tongue1:

 

[chuck]

I have a CBB which I brought because of an aptasia problem. I had him about 7 months. after about 3 weeks I started to see a decline in aptasia and as of today I don't have any (aptasia)in my tank. the only "problem" I have with the CBB is that he will only eat frozen foods. I have zenia, GSP,sps and lps in my tank and the CBB hasn't touch one of them. I say go for one. Just wash the frozen foods in a brine shrimp net to clean it before introducing it to the tank, otherwise you will be adding phosphates into your water which will cause a cynobacteria outbreak.

chuck

 

[bigbris1]

Perhaps you can do a search & employ peppermints that have already performed this function in a fellow member's tank.

EDIT: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/258872-post2.html
​

 

[daisy]

So here's the low-down... (and I don't mind the occasional hijacking, so long as it helps me!)

There are maybe a bazillion aptasia in the tank.

for real - there are probalby 20 big ones (mouth disc as big as a nickel) and TONS of very small ones and everything in between. This LR is in a cycling tank - there are no inverts or fish in there yet (none that I've put on purpose, at any rate - lots of worms and pods though...).

I can tell you that I will be testing the water at the end of the week, but I'm using RO/DI water and am running a protein skimmer (remora hang-on - I know it's not the best, but it's what I've got room for...)

I've got no cyano problems, though I've got bubble algae, but that's spore-related, not water-chem related (as are aptasia!!!)

I know that emeralds will take care of the bubble algae, but have never read about them having a taste for aptasia. I will get them regardless b/c of the bubble problem.

I absolutely flat-out refuse to buy an animal that may a)eventually starve in my tank, b)outgrow my tank, or c)be harassed/stressed out by other animals in the tank.

On the other hand, it could be some time before I add the fish I currently have to the new set-up, so maybe I could introduce somebody to eat the aptasia before I add my fish and then swap that animal out?

Still searching for the solution!

 

[House of Laughter]

Daisy,

my experience:

I bought 200lbs of LR from a member (now friend) covered with aptasia. I knew it was covered - the price was right.

I BAKED it (3 months in winter weather, in and out of water then in dark for a month)! then I reintroduced it to my new 92 bowfront. In 2 days, there were 4 aptasia in there. I bought 5 peppermint shrimp - I didn't feed the tank for 5 days - then there were none - all the pepps ate all the aptasia.

If you are infested, and the tank isn't fully running and you're only cycling, you'd be better off being patient, recuring the rock to be aptasia free then starting the tank. If you're inpatient, get 5 pepp shrimp, don't fed the tank they are in and they will likely eat the aptasia - never a guarantee on any of this - wild caught pepps usually do better than tank raised since they are eating in the wild.

The racoon is a better, more healthy choice compared to the CBB but the risk is that racoon also like "aptasia looking things" (zoos, paly's select anemone's etc).

Either way, there is no magic pill and you'll have to try some of the methods outlined above - just not a CBB unless you get it from a member, with an established tank and it is proven to be eating aptasia - AND, even then, it's a crapshoot!

Sorry for being so vague.

House

 

[prattreef]

I agree with most of the above. In your situation, I would consider a Racoon or double saddleback ( C. ulitensis) Butterfly to add to the cycling tank ( after it has cycled ). They will do a very good job on the aiptasia and you can rotate the rocks around in the bin to help them get to those hard to reach places. It might take a few weeks, but they will wipe out most of them for sure. Then I would look for a new home for the Butterfly as it will have the potential to wreak havoc in your main display and add a few peppermint shrimp to perform mop up duty.

Randy