aptasia treatment question

leahski · 02-06-2008, 02:46 PM

i just got several new litte zoa frags and they all look healthy and great, except for one of the rocks has three aptasia anems on it. is there a way to treat just this rock? can i like soak it in something? i'd rather not kill the zoas on the rock, just the nems.

also, how do they spread? it's not like an airborne virus right? the rock has been in my tank for two days now, they haven't propagated themselves by now have they?

in_a_days · 02-06-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leahski

i just got several new litte zoa frags and they all look healthy and great, except for one of the rocks has three aptasia anems on it. is there a way to treat just this rock? can i like soak it in something? i'd rather not kill the zoas on the rock, just the nems.

also, how do they spread? it's not like an airborne virus right? the rock has been in my tank for two days now, they haven't propagated themselves by now have they?

I believe most the posters here will recommend a product called Joe's Juice. Just inject the 'nem with a little and it's toast. I've also read that you can use lemon juice.

lcstorc · 02-06-2008, 02:57 PM

The best way to get rid of them is to target the individual animals and not the entire rock. I have the best luck with Joe's Juice. A small amount is put in the center of the anemone with a syringe. This rapidly kills each anemone. As long as you are careful to not get it on the zoas they should be just fine. The quicker you remove the ones that are there the less likely they are to spread. Just treat the ones you see and keep a sharp eye out for any new ones.

leahski · 02-06-2008, 03:36 PM

yeah, i've heard alot of people talk about joe's juice, but they are REALLY small. the largest is MAYBE a quarter of an inch tall.
would the syringe still work?

does lemon juice work on the outside of an aptasia or only injected? and does it hurt the polyps too?

mps9506 · 02-06-2008, 03:54 PM

I would recomend Joe's Juice. Before Joe's Juice came on the market I used thick kalkwasser paste, but you have to be careful using that as it can burn nearby corals. Vinegar works well also. The reason I recomend Joe's Juice is it doesn't seem to negatively affect nearby corals. They might close up for a bit, but it won't harm them.
Even the little guys you have can be killed with Joe's Juice. Just try to get really close to the aiptsia mouth and squirt down into them. Might take two or three tries but they will go down.

leahski · 02-06-2008, 04:24 PM

should i try to contain the rock in a separate container while i do it or does it really not matter if some of the juice gets in the aquarium. i remember hearing something about having to remove the dead animals so that the pH isn't affected...is that only for using kalwasser? or do i have to worry about that with joes?

mps9506 · 02-06-2008, 04:49 PM

No, it should be fine if you leave it in the aquarium. That's more a concern with Kalkwasser or vinegar than with Joe's Juice. When you remove the rock those aiptsia's will be close up and hide in the rock anyhow.
If you are worried about the pH just aim at one aiptsia a day so you aren't squirting to much JJ into the tank.

lcstorc · 02-06-2008, 05:30 PM

It is easy to get the small ones with Joe's. The syringe tip is quite small and you just squirt a small amount directly into the mouth. If you remove the rock you won't be able to get to the mouth. A bit of extra Joe's is not going to hurt anything I have seen. A very large amount can cause a PH spike but not the amount you are going to use for a few even if you use a lot more than needed.

Nxpmike · 02-06-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leahski

should i try to contain the rock in a separate container while i do it or does it really not matter if some of the juice gets in the aquarium. i remember hearing something about having to remove the dead animals so that the pH isn't affected...is that only for using kalwasser? or do i have to worry about that with joes?

leahski....

When i started with my 1st tank 4 years ago the rock i bought was littered with them, From tiny to rather big. Joes juice is the way to go - killed them all and havent had any since. Left the rock in place and all the coral oround wasnt harmed....good luck!

leahski · 02-06-2008, 08:36 PM

good to know. thanks.

i'll pick some up soon.

nikkipigtails · 02-06-2008, 09:38 PM

We've had a problem with aptasias in the past. The easiest thing to do is to get a syringe and the hottest water you can. Fill up the syringe with the hot water...nearly boiling...insert the tip into the aptasia as close to the base as possible and inject the water. It may take a couple of injections, but the aptasia will instantly discentigrate and pieces of it's flesh will fall off the rock. It's the easiest way to treat just the aptasia without adding chemicals to the water.

jsindorf · 02-06-2008, 09:48 PM

oops
my bad
sorry for giving you the demon aptasia

leahski · 02-06-2008, 11:20 PM

hahaha only a baby. i'm just preventing it from becoming a demon!!

02-06-2008, 02:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
leahski Sea Pen Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GR, Michigan Posts: 321 View Gallery Karma Komment	aptasia treatment question i just got several new litte zoa frags and they all look healthy and great, except for one of the rocks has three aptasia anems on it. is there a way to treat just this rock? can i like soak it in something? i'd rather not kill the zoas on the rock, just the nems. also, how do they spread? it's not like an airborne virus right? the rock has been in my tank for two days now, they haven't propagated themselves by now have they? __________________ Tori sharks are friends, not souvenirs! 8 gallons of salty goodness! The NANO club!

02-06-2008, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,786 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: aptasia treatment question The best way to get rid of them is to target the individual animals and not the entire rock. I have the best luck with Joe's Juice. A small amount is put in the center of the anemone with a syringe. This rapidly kills each anemone. As long as you are careful to not get it on the zoas they should be just fine. The quicker you remove the ones that are there the less likely they are to spread. Just treat the ones you see and keep a sharp eye out for any new ones. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

02-06-2008, 03:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
leahski Sea Pen Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GR, Michigan Posts: 321 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question yeah, i've heard alot of people talk about joe's juice, but they are REALLY small. the largest is MAYBE a quarter of an inch tall. would the syringe still work? does lemon juice work on the outside of an aptasia or only injected? and does it hurt the polyps too? __________________ Tori sharks are friends, not souvenirs! 8 gallons of salty goodness! The NANO club!

02-06-2008, 03:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question I would recomend Joe's Juice. Before Joe's Juice came on the market I used thick kalkwasser paste, but you have to be careful using that as it can burn nearby corals. Vinegar works well also. The reason I recomend Joe's Juice is it doesn't seem to negatively affect nearby corals. They might close up for a bit, but it won't harm them. Even the little guys you have can be killed with Joe's Juice. Just try to get really close to the aiptsia mouth and squirt down into them. Might take two or three tries but they will go down. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-06-2008, 04:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
leahski Sea Pen Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GR, Michigan Posts: 321 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question should i try to contain the rock in a separate container while i do it or does it really not matter if some of the juice gets in the aquarium. i remember hearing something about having to remove the dead animals so that the pH isn't affected...is that only for using kalwasser? or do i have to worry about that with joes? __________________ Tori sharks are friends, not souvenirs! 8 gallons of salty goodness! The NANO club!

02-06-2008, 04:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question No, it should be fine if you leave it in the aquarium. That's more a concern with Kalkwasser or vinegar than with Joe's Juice. When you remove the rock those aiptsia's will be close up and hide in the rock anyhow. If you are worried about the pH just aim at one aiptsia a day so you aren't squirting to much JJ into the tank. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-06-2008, 05:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,786 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: aptasia treatment question It is easy to get the small ones with Joe's. The syringe tip is quite small and you just squirt a small amount directly into the mouth. If you remove the rock you won't be able to get to the mouth. A bit of extra Joe's is not going to hurt anything I have seen. A very large amount can cause a PH spike but not the amount you are going to use for a few even if you use a lot more than needed. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

02-06-2008, 08:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
leahski Sea Pen Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GR, Michigan Posts: 321 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question good to know. thanks. i'll pick some up soon. __________________ Tori sharks are friends, not souvenirs! 8 gallons of salty goodness! The NANO club!

02-06-2008, 09:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Golden Moray Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hillbilly Hell, AL Posts: 2,808 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question We've had a problem with aptasias in the past. The easiest thing to do is to get a syringe and the hottest water you can. Fill up the syringe with the hot water...nearly boiling...insert the tip into the aptasia as close to the base as possible and inject the water. It may take a couple of injections, but the aptasia will instantly discentigrate and pieces of it's flesh will fall off the rock. It's the easiest way to treat just the aptasia without adding chemicals to the water.

02-06-2008, 09:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
jsindorf Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GR Michigan Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question oops my bad sorry for giving you the demon aptasia

02-06-2008, 11:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
leahski Sea Pen Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GR, Michigan Posts: 321 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: aptasia treatment question hahaha only a baby. i'm just preventing it from becoming a demon!! __________________ Tori sharks are friends, not souvenirs! 8 gallons of salty goodness! The NANO club!

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