Killing Aptasia spores in the water column

matthew5664 · #1 07/13/2007, 04:16 AM

I have been battling with aptasia for a while and while Joes juice is getting the big ‘uns little ones keep popping up. I have given in and got myself 4 peppermint shrimps witch are going to work on them nicely. I do however have some of my old live rock witch had too many on that I have taken out and washed and dried and is now sitting in a bucket. I want to cycle and seed it with old tank water from a water change but I’m afraid that the Aptasia spores in the water will re-colonies the rock. Would a healthy dose of UV kill these spores? Or would it be better to cycle the rock in fresh SW and then seed it in tank?

Frick-n-Frags · #2 07/13/2007, 08:23 AM

? spores ?

I think once the rock has dried, that's it for the aiptasia. Algae has the spores that aren't so easy to get rid of.

Travis L. Stevens · #3 07/13/2007, 09:16 AM

Aiptasia don't have "Spores". Some Aiptasia species are able to drop off a tentacle to make another, but they don't have spores. Chances are, your water is Aiptasia free. It's the rocks and substrate you should be worried about

matthew5664 · #4 07/13/2007, 09:23 AM

Cool thanks for the heads up on that

Just to get it straight the Old tank water I’m going to use to seed my old liver rock won't have any aptasia in that could re-cononize the rock?

Travis L. Stevens · #5 07/13/2007, 09:36 AM

Shouldn't.

matthew5664 · #6 07/13/2007, 10:40 AM

Shouldn't ok thanks for the help

Lytehouse · #7 07/13/2007, 10:54 AM

Travis, than how do they show up singly in completely opposite sides of rock or the tank? Dropped tentacles get caught up in the flow we try to provide until they land in rock crevice? I run into the same thing, kill one and 2 pop up elsewhere.

Travis L. Stevens · #8 07/13/2007, 10:58 AM

Yes, Lyn. Also, a lot of times, they go undetected on the rocks as well.

Lytehouse · #9 07/13/2007, 11:32 AM

You mean because they are small? And then one day you go crap!!! where did that bugger come from?

When I hit mine with joe's juice they seem to evaporate like acid hit them. Any chance they release tentacles at that point that get caught in the current and transplant?

Travis L. Stevens · #10 07/13/2007, 11:47 AM

Yes and yes. I've seen one of my Aiptasia drop a tentacle when Death approached in a low flow area. Low and behold, the sucker attached to to the rock below it in a matter of hours. Days later, I watched it form a new Aiptasia. This is called Pedal Laceration. Here is some interesting information on Aiptasia Reproduction: http://joesjuice.com/_wsn/page18.html

It also states that one of the most common reproduction methods in Aiptasia besides Pedal Laceration is asexual reproduction from unfertilized eggs. Even though this is possible, it is doubtful that much of the planula will survive because of all the filter feeding and corals in a typical reef tank.

Anemone · #11 07/13/2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lytehouse
Travis, than how do they show up singly in completely opposite sides of rock or the tank? Dropped tentacles get caught up in the flow we try to provide until they land in rock crevice? I run into the same thing, kill one and 2 pop up elsewhere.

Also, small aiptasia (and even larger ones) can completely release from the rock and float with the current. Back when I was having aiptasia problems, I would see small aiptasia floating around the tank after lights out.

FWIW,
Kevin

Lytehouse · #12 07/13/2007, 07:51 PM

that really sucks.

Mine seem to be sharing information. since it is easy for me to hit them with joe's juice with a syringe and rigid air tubing, they have begun to hang our under small ledges. So I'm pretty sure they are talking to each other after lights out, or I could just be really tired and shouldn't even be posting.

mfp4073 · #13 07/13/2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lytehouse
that really sucks.

Mine seem to be sharing information. since it is easy for me to hit them with joe's juice with a syringe and rigid air tubing, they have begun to hang our under small ledges. So I'm pretty sure they are talking to each other after lights out, or I could just be really tired and shouldn't even be posting.

hahahahahahahaaa

vincent843 · #14 07/13/2007, 08:49 PM

Kevin, so what did you do to complete out of Aiptasia,
can you share. I use JJ too, as soon as I see it , I apply the JJ right away.. but it comes back every3-4 weeks. thanks, vincent.

Anemone · #15 07/13/2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vincent843
Kevin, so what did you do to complete out of Aiptasia,
can you share. I use JJ too, as soon as I see it , I apply the JJ right away.. but it comes back every3-4 weeks. thanks, vincent.

I bought a couple of Berghia nudibranchs and put them in my 80 gallon tank. They promptly disappeared.

8 weeks later I had dozens of Berghia. Within another few weeks, I went for 60-80 aiptasia to almost none. I started scouring the local area for aiptasia, and estimate I bought over 1000 over the next few months (not very bright, I admit). I was trading berghia and having fun. Then my berghia population crashed (I think becasue of heat issue...my garage tank got pretty hot). Suddenly, I had a few aiptasia but no Berghia. I ignored the aips (big mistake) and six months later was back to 50 or so. I bought a few peppermint shrimp and never saw them during lights on. But, a few weeks later I suddenly realized I had far fewer aiptasia. After a couple of years the peppermint shrimp were all gone, and I noticed I had a few aiptasia springing back up. I used kalk paste on those few, and that was that!

Sorry for the long story.

Kevin

matthew5664 · #16 07/14/2007, 02:04 PM

I like the story type entry Kev. Thansk for the info.

There was talk of using the Berghia in my club but at the time I didn't have the problem. Now however is getting bad. I took out about 5Kgs of LR killed it and re cycled it in a bucket for 2 weeks the rest and getting worked onby peppermint shripm but I have just bought 15Kgs of LR and have taken the old LR out with the aptaisia on and its sitting in a bucket of RO outside begining to stink. I'll give it a scrub then recycle and sell on. its the only way I could get rid of them in the end. I'm not on my own tho. I have just been to the London Aquarium and they have a BIG problem in there SW system. every thing but the shark tank and the lagoon asre linked and so what strted as a cople here and there is now carpets of them.

I have found however that the NO3 in my tank has droped to <2ppm and the PO4 is undetectable. where as befor the NO3 would get up to 10ppm come water change time and the PO4 was sitting at 0.05ppm. I was running Phosban and carbon all the time but now I use nither and the water is still crystle clear. So while they may breed like ba*****ds they have some use!

If only that could be contained??

Aptasia refuge of some sort? with a low return through a high output UV??

Anyone with me here????

saltyunderground · #17 07/18/2007, 03:28 PM

It's very common for JJ to make your aiptasia problem worse. As the aiptasia breaks down after treatment, the pieces that break off can make new aiptasia. Also aiptasia multiply by lacerating at the foot. If the foot remains, more aiptasia grows. If you dare using JJ or any kalk or chemical approach for that matter, be sure to siphon the dying aiptasia away as thoroughly as you can.