Bye bye aiptasia .....

[::pete::]

I have been fighting with this for what seems like ever. I have tried all except the copper band, but decided against it. While surfing garf I saw a recipe with pickling lime and water so I gave it a try. It took around 3hrs, but I have no aiptasia and have not seen one for @ 3 days. I look very carefully and even at night.
I also had a little patch of bryopsis and said what the ..., its dead too!!!
Then there was the problem of the green stars getting too close to my Acros ... notice the word was :grin:

It was very small amounts and did not mess with my water at all.

Take it for what its worth. :D

[eleyan]

So what is the recipe? and how do you apply it? I have a couple of little ones on the rocks from sam. I have some stop aptaisia, but I don't know how my corals will react ot it.

[::pete::]

Recipe

1. 1 tsp. pickling lime - food grade calcium hydroxide
2. 2 tbls. tap water.

boil water and lime in microwave for 40 sec.
keep closed plastic container in cool place.
You will need a vet syringe from a pet store that sells vaccinations

This mixture comes out of the needle very thick. You do not need to inject the Aiptasia.
Just release a small amount on to the aiptasia and it will take it in. This mixture seems to stick to the
anemone, but it does not stick to the other inverts. We also use this mixture on problem hair algae.


The same needle you got with stop aiptasia is the one I used. This is the first product I tried ... doesnt work, neither does JoesJuice so save your money. Pickling Lime is @ 1.00 for a qt size container and you only need a very little bit. You can also use the pickling lime as kalk ... :)

[brewercm]

I've had pretty good luck with lemon juice also but you have to be careful not to get it too near other softies you want to keep around.

[::pete::]

I did accidentally get some yellow stars and zoos, but they did open the next day. It wasnt a direct hit, but falling from above. I then used a turkey baster to blow everything off and away after that.

By the way turn the pumps off!!!

[NaCl_H2O]

I went the other route and just picked up a Copper Band Butterfly from Alamo. Currently my Powder Blue is giving him hell trying to show him who is the master of the tank!

When all settles down, I hope the Copper Band's appetite for Aiptasia (and nothing else) is as planned. I'll let y'all know either way.

[Instar]

All kinds of methods like this work on the ones you see. Its the ones you can't see or get to that will get your corals. You'll be at it again. It may take a few weeks, but you will see the aiptasia again. And when the corals grow big, the CBB can't get in there and also he can't get under rocks, in deep holes or under shells. I gave up when my corals started getting stung from beneath and put the nudibrances in. Now the aiptasia are really gone. I read someone was gluing their rock pores shut. Kinda defeats having nice live rock and kinda like gluing a sponge cause there's lots of tunnels in live rock. Kalk paste (lime) didn't work for me on aiptasia. It kills a few of them, but not all. It kills bubble algae too. Just a little injection and those bubbles are gone in a few days. I enjoyed messing with this method even though it wasn't 100% successful. Be careful not to get it too close to cleaner shrimp and similar.

[brewercm]

You're right on that Larry. Mine have alway come back so I just keep injecting. I recently got a CBB myself to see if it helps, that and I've always thought they were a beautiful fish. Mines doing the same as srodgers and being bullied by my achiles tang, he did that to my purple tang also for a while. He is definately the boss in my tank.

[BA]

hmmm....i'll have to try that recipe..

[NaCl_H2O]

I gave up when my corals started getting stung from beneath and put the nudibrances in. Now the aiptasia are really gone.

Larry, where did you get your nudibrances, and how much? I had 2-3 of them for about 6-8 months (freebies from live rock), but they seem to be gone ... maybe a short life expectancy?

Steve

[::pete::]

Steve
Here is one place ... Inland (http://inlandaquatics.com/prod/tr_invert.html)

[scuba_steveo]

Larry I need some of your nudibrances. Can I get some? You need to come by and see the new room when you are in the area.