Aiptasia
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:48 am
Absolutely overrun with small greenish anemone looking creatures, I think they might be aiptasia (sp). They are killing everything else. Any advice will be appreciated.
Sorry to hear about the Aiptasia. There are several ways of getting rid of them but it will take awhile regardless if they are as numerous as you say.
You can kill them using kalkwasser made into a paste and using a syringe or dropper to inject the anemones with or coat them with kalkwasser. There is also a commercial Aiptasia control you can buy at local saltwater stores. I have also heard of people using hot water and vinegar. Kalkwasser is what I generally use but be careful how much you use at once as its' pH is 12 and will raise your aquariums pH. I would also get something that would eat the anemones like peppermint shrimp or maybe a semi-reef safe butterflyfish.
Examples would be Copperband butterflies or Kleini Butterflies. Also, longnose butterflies may eat them but I have never seen them in action. Be aware that all of these fish are capable of eating coral polyps. There is also a filefish called the Seagrass Filefish that eats Aiptasia but I have never scene one locally.
James