Mass Aiptasia Extermination?

[Sanfernando]

Well, after being away from my tank for the last 8 or so months aiptasia has taken over large portions of my live rock. Is there anyway to kill it in large quantities without killing everything on the rock as well? I've been using NaOH, but there are too many aiptasia for this to be really practical.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with a biological cleaner - some atlantic/gulf coast peppermint shrimp or a copper band or raccon butterfly. The butterflys are fairly delicate and might not feed on them or might eat them all and then starve if they won't take to other food. Might ask a local reefer if they have one you can borrow. The peppermints are cheap and effective but they won't kill the giant ones in my tank.

Also I have never used them but Berghia nudibranchs are obligate feeders on aiptasia I am told. Check some of the better online retailers I see them offered on occasion.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with the peppermints too.

 

[Sanfernando]

I have been thinking about a butterfly, but was worried that they might eat my open brain and sps corals. Is there any general guideline for the # of peppermints for x gallons of water? My tank is 90 gallons if it makes any difference.

 

[68fj40]

I have a 125gal that was heavily infested with aptasia. Probably 150 or more, they were everywhere. I tried the copperbanded butterfly but it just picked at them once in awhile. I put three peppermints in and all aptasia were gone in about five weeks.