aptasia

[murcos]

I know some of you were really helpful about a post I wrote about something like this earlier. But I needed a bit more info on what to do here. I am getting my new tank and rock etc tomorrow, and want to be prepared.

I am trying to upgrade my tank right now, and I found someone on craigslist that had one set up for sale. I was planning on taking his fish (they are moving and cannot take them) and selling most. I am keeping his tank and accessories, and his sand and live rock. But here is a problem. He has a flourish of aptasia all over. Probably 30 of them.

I was told that most of what I do will leave me with possibly getting aptasia in my main tank. What if I do this....put all my water, fish, coral etc i (and my own sand and rock) in the new 55 g tank. Then, in the old 30 put only his aptasia-infested rock. Could I treat the rock only tank with something like Joe's Juice that way? Maybe buy some pep shrimp to put in there too? THen, as it goes away, transfer that rock to my main tank again?

I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks! Mary

 

[squibley2]

Well congrats on the new tank first.

From my experience with Aptisia you can never get rid of it all I would transfer all his rock and sand ect to the smaller tank and put a few peppermint shrimp in the tank. The larger ones you can kill using either boiling water or hydrochloric acid (injected with a syringe). Then you can add the peppermint shrimp to the big tank as you add the rock to keep the aptisia away.

Mine has done a great job of getting rid of the aptisia I had. I had about 4 or 5 that were ranging in size from 1 inch to 1/2 an inch and there are still some really really small ones but as soon as they get to be about 1/8 of an inch my peppermint shrimp takes care of them.

Just my :twocents:

 

[amonya]

Copperbands Like To Eat Aptasia For More Of A Natural Way If Im Not Mistakin.hopfully Doing Ok Let Me Know On Your Other Thread How Things Are Going With The Q- Tank.thanks

 

[chrisbrph]

The peppermint shrimp are most likely the least invasive solution for you as long as you can place the rock in the smaller tank for a period of time.

You can expedite the process by mixing a solution of Kalkwasser and inject with a syringe.

Personally the boiling H2O and HCl acid seem to be a little frightening when a simple Kalkwasser injection works immediately. Keep in mind, if not able to inject the aptasia, you can squirt into hole it retracted into and will also work.

Feeding the larger Aptasia with brine shrimp prior to injecting does not allow them to retract as easy.

Good luck with your "fishing" expedition!

Chris