On the subject of Aiptasia! Help for a fellow reefkeeper

[Anonymous]

I just use epoxy & barricade them in their holes.

 

[danmhippo]

What if it's a darn porous fiji rock......... 8O

 

[texman]

Len, I read the article that you posted - sounds intersting. I have tried the nudibranchs which disappeared and a copperbanded butterfly which eats everything but my growing population of aptaisia. I checked the places mentioned in the article to get some NaOH, but they are not retailers. Has anyone ever tried this method, and where did you get the sodium hydroxide?

 

[CraigLampe]

My reef tank greatly improved after addition of 6-8 peppermint shrimp in a 125, also aiptasia do grow in refugium and in overflow, and in sump I guess too, but I don't care ---

Some say copperband butterflyfish will eat certain corals/SPS, this is why I avoided that solution...

 

[Tony Quinn]

Hey guys the butterfly failed the test! He feeds like crazy on the food thats put in the tank but aiptasia, it may as well be a burger for all the notice it took of it! As this tank is purely fish only with all live rock and no corals I will try the hot calcium route, the peppermints are out as there are triggers in there, actually the aiptasia is that big it would engulf any aquarium shrimp, except perhaps a mantis!!!! HELP!

 

[danmhippo]

Stop feeding the tank for 5 days and see what happens. Most tanks can withstand 5 days without feeding.

 

[Palmetto]

Yes, you just have to stop feeding and wait usually. Every CB I have had would eventually try one and get hooked.

If you are tossing food in there, they will just take the food and not hunt for it so much. They just don't immediately think of them as food, and it sometimes takes months for them to go for the first one. However, once they taste the aiptasia, it is all over with!!

 

[Palmetto]

I have tried the nudibranchs which disappeared and a copperbanded butterfly which eats everything but my growing population of aptaisia.

texman, what did the CB eat that you didn't want it to? Just curious.

 

[texman]

He eats any of the food that I put in the tank and has recently started picking at the tentacles of my LPS's. Aptasia continue to spread.

 

[Tony Quinn]

I thought of that but there are 2 juvenile Angels who are fed small amounts 4 times a day to prevent stunting, they eat like there's no tomorrow. I know 5 days wouldn't kill them but with their small size and digestinal tracts they are fed regularly. My thinking was that if the Butterfly took his time it may harm the growth rate of the Angels! Or the Triggers may get a little less choosy in their diet!!!