kloseo

I recently set up my 29 gallon aquarium with live rock to cycle and have found copepods and aiptasia. I plan on setting up a peaceful aquarium with chromis and firefish, cardinals and was wondering should i try and rid the aiptasia or leave it alone. I hear it is trouble but why

thanks

sgould

Get rid of it. It spreads like weeds.

Alessa

Yes, aiptasia is a pest in saltwater aquariums. There is a number of ways to get rid of it, I dont know the most effective one, but yes, they are a pest, better get rid of it.

Matt

Get rid of it ASAP it will ruin your SW experience.

nemo addict

Aiptasia is a pest anemone that can take over your tank if you don't get rid of it. They can be brown, yellow, clear, or a few other colors. If you aren't sure if something is aiptasia, poke it with something. If it sucks into the rock, it is likely aiptasia. If it just folds up, it is probably a harmless polyp,, ways to rid are buying joes juice or aistasiax
or injecting with lemon juice or if you cant get rid of a last resort is pour boiling water over the rock but this will kill anything living in the rock but can be reseeded with more live rock

nemo addict

ohh i forgot or you can buy a true peppermint shrimp if they are only small and this is the best way

Angela_96

They are def bad news! There are a few ways to kill them, as mentioned above, I would try the shimp out, and then go w/ the freshwater injection and see if that works if the shimp doesn't eat it.

Matt

Peppermint shrimp re the most efective way i think but other ways can be too.

From Matt

cerianthus

Instead of any injection, can suck them out w/ hypodermic needles. Time consuming but works if and when Peppermint shrimp do not perform its duties.

Mike

Here is some more info on controlling it: Aiptasia

Slug

Lemon Juice injected works as well. Watch it though, this can affect your pH.

Martinismommy

BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!!!!! Peppermint shrimp will mow it down for you....

Slug

It needs to be stated that Peppermint shrimp may or may NOT eat it. Some peppermints won't touch it, some gobble it up. And there is no way to tell without trying them. I was told and have been under the impression that Caribbean peppermints will eat them but the other varieties won't.

nemo addict

Lysmata wurdemanni are the true peppermint shrimp that may eat aptisia and they are western Atlantic variety