Live rocks with aiptasia - New tank being set up!

[Fernando Parra]

Hello everyone,

I need an advice about live rocks!

I have some live rocks with aiptasias in my current tank and I would like to transfer all the rocks to my new bigger tank but I wouldn't like these pests in my new tank.

What do you guys suggest I do? Is there any chance to eliminate this pest without harmful the biology of the rocks?

If you were in my shoes, if you have a new tank but want to use yours live rocks with aiptasia, what would you do?

Thanks a lot!
Fernando Parra

 

[Oddball]

I had the same problem in my reef tank. I bought a group of Berghai Nudibranchs from a seller on eBay. There are several sellers offering these. They feed solely on aiptasia. The 4 I bought eradicated the entire system of aiptasia in about a week. They'll die off once the aiptasia have all been eliminated.
Check out these nudibranchs on Youtube doing their job. It's a sight to see.

 

[BIG-G]

Get a syringe and inject the base of the aiptasia with a concentrated kalkwasser mix or the DIY version is pickling lime . You can find it in the canning section of any grocery store.
Mix it with just enough water to make it thin enough to inject .
It works, and the only thing your really adding to your tank is alkalinity and calcium.
Which is beneficial to the coraline algae and hard corals anyway.
Trust me it works and its cheap and simple.

Some will say to use lemon juice and it does work but to much in your tank and you could cause Ph problems.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Peppermint Shrimp also love to eat those and readily available in any LFS that feature saltwater.

 

[Oddball]

Other species that feed on Aiptasia:

Atlantic Peppermint shrimp (the Pacific species will not eat them)
The Aiptasia Eating Filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus.
The Molly Miller Blenny
The Copperband Butterfly fish (careful, this fish may injure other reef inverts as well).

 

[Fernando Parra]

Thank you everyone for all clues about this pest! I will try some methods and I will let you guys know what worked! I appreciate your help!