Finally - I found a foolproof Aptasia killer method !!

[GaryG]

I have tried a number of methods and experimented with developing some of my own with mixed success. I now have one that works 100%.

I tried these:
1) Pepperment shrimp of course - works to some extent. But my puffer keeps eating them.
2) mix calcium water, vinegar and heat in microwave. Works, except it has to be injected directly into the stalk - but that can be hard when they retract.
3) Apply reef epoxy over the whole - works, but makes protein skimmer go crazy and leaves an unsightly blotch on the rock that nothing will grow on.
4) North Coast Marines - "Aptasia Away". Works, but again you need to have a syringe and inject directly into the stalk. Sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Now here is the one that works 100%. I found it by experimenting with different mixtures, etc ...

Mix 50/50. North Coast Marines "Aptasia Away" and Seachem "Reef Calcium" liquid. It turns into a gel. Use a wide mouth syringe (like the one that comes in a calcium test) and suck in some gel. Place it directly over the little b*****rd and it will retract. Push the plunger and the gel fills the hole. Within seconds of being exposed to the warm saltwater the gel turns into a paste. Within an hour or so, it's hard and looks just like a spot of coraline algae. I have been doing this now for a few weeks and not a single one of them has returned.

[DennisW]

SWEET!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Dennis

[Doug1]

T*F*A*

[horge]

Very interesting.

You know, with a bunch of pics (of materials, how-to, before, after, and wayyyy after), this could easily make a very good and relevant article, Gary.

Way to go.

[skilter]

this will sound kinda bad but,

does anyone have a pic of what aptasia looks like, i have an idea of what it is. but not sure.

can someone show me a pic?

thx, -don

[rottn]

Here's one from my tank...

Not the greatest pic, but hopefully you'll get the idea...

HTH

[Allyson]

Cool...thanks Gary. I've been shooting them up with kalk & like you said...you have to really get it into the stalk which can be hard when they retract.

Don...here's a pic off the web!

[Doug1]

Thats it Officer, thats the culprit

[Allyson]

I am going to be placing an order of pods to recharge my sandbed from another online store & they carry thier own brand of "Stop Aptasia". I guess it's probably the same stuff....I just get nervous about mixing solutions.

[Alice]

Very cool Gary! I always worry about the ones you can't see and can't get to though....I know they are there...like cockroaches, if you see one, you just know there are more! Still, how satisfying to eliminate the nasty buggers!

[reefcam]

Anybody tried this method on Anemone Mojanos? The are the little green BTA that spreads about as fast as Aiptasia?

[skilter]

thanks for the pic!
i thought thats what aptasia was, i truely hate those lil things!
-don

[rottn]

Hmmm - okay Allyson, that pic might be "slightly" better than mine.

Actually, much better! I know mine was a wee bit on the dark side. Hmmm, aptasia...on the dark side...hmmm...