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CapnMorgan 
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The Capn'
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 Topic: Aptasia Control
Posted: August 25 2009 at 3:05am |
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I have a problem with some Aptasia popping up in my new tank recently. I have read that peppermint shrimp will fix the problem. I was wondering if there is somewhere local that sells true peppermint shrimp at a reasonable price? Any help or input would be great!
Edited by CapnMorgan - August 25 2009 at 3:07am
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: August 25 2009 at 10:02am |
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I got my Peppermint Shrimp from Reef Runners but almost all stores will carry them. Some peppermints will eat aptasia and others won't. It is hit and miss with them. The shrimp I got ate the 2 aptasia I could see in the first night. I consider myself lucky.
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Jeremyw
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Posted: August 25 2009 at 10:33am |
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Yes they do like Ryan said and yes it is hit and miss you just need to make sure you get the right species of Peppermints! I have several in my 90 gallon tank and all the aptasia is gone now!!
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bfessler
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Posted: August 25 2009 at 4:43pm |
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Another option is a copper band butterflyfish. I put one in my tank and the aptasia was gone before lights out. It's a great fish and hasn't bothered any of my corals or inverts at all. It worked out so well my dad just picked one up for his tank.
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Burt
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CapnMorgan
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Posted: August 25 2009 at 5:49pm |
Thanks guys. I'll look into the butterfly fish for sure. I am picking up a couple peppermints on thursday so I'll cross my fingers.
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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tropi_gal
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Posted: August 25 2009 at 7:29pm |
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My vote is for peppermints! Worked wonders in my tank.... and boy did I have a problem.
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bfessler
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Posted: August 31 2009 at 11:50pm |
Tropi_Gal,
How long did it take for the pep's to get started on your aptasia and how many did you get? I picked up a couple today and put them in my frag tank but they don't seem to be interested in the aptasia. I know they're smaller than the Copperband Butterfly I put in my display but the aptasia was gone that day.
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Burt
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downhill_biker
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Posted: September 01 2009 at 12:58am |
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bfessler: does your copperband eat majanos too? i am hoping to get a butterfly but am hoping to get one that eats aptasia and majano. i wonder how often they eat both?
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CapnMorgan
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Posted: September 01 2009 at 2:12am |
So put the Butterfly in the tank, and all I can say is that he must have been starving because within 3 days I am aptasia free.
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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bfessler
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Posted: September 01 2009 at 9:19am |
Downhill,
I'm not sure if it eats majanos or not because I haven't seen any in my tank. But they will eat tube worms and froage all day for pods. It hasn't touched any coral. I really like it and if the Peppermint Shrimp don't get busy on the aptasia in my frag tank I am getting another one.
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Burt
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: September 01 2009 at 11:52am |
Burt,
Get a syringe a gut load the aptasia with some shrimp. The peppermints will find the shrimp and tear the aptasia apart to eat. I am also thinking of selling my peppermint shortly. It ate all the aptasia I could see and now is a pest! He steals food from my acans when I feed them. Anyone want a shrimp cocktail?  |
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Cameron
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Posted: September 01 2009 at 1:20pm |
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My CBB Doesnt eat majano's
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Posted: September 06 2009 at 3:48am |
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Aquatic Dreams has true peppermint shrimp on a regular basis, if you haven't got any already. A few alternatives are, like mentioned above, adding in a butterfly fish, such as a copper band or kleins. However adding in these fish is a 50/50 chance as to if they will nip at coral so be cautious. Copper bands are also very finicky eaters so once the rock anemones are gone the real task is trying to get them to eat frozen, flake or pellet. You could also try a green file fish, they eat aiptasia as well. But yet again they have a downside, which is they also love the taste of inverts. Now, if you've tried the livestock aporach you could always use a concentrated calcium solution, such as joe's juice, aiptasia-X, aiptasia control or a kalkwasser. If none of these options are working you can always remove the live rock and do an R.O. dip and scrub off the aiptaisa. Doesn't sound fun, and its not. But it works. Good luck.
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