[Mark Matthews]

I have a 75 gal reef tank with a few fish. Recently I have fought the battle bristle worms and still havent won that one but now I have some sort of invert growing in here that is taking over my tank. I dont know what these things are, least of all how to kill them. They kind of resemble anemones but are on a long pink stem with long tendrils that appear to be stinging my other corals. My zoanths have all but dissapeared and the once large crop of pumping xenia has been halved. There appears to be a disk in the center that the tendrils come out of and they are spreading like wild fire! Can anyone help me here?

[benesh10]

Mark,
Welcome my brother to your new ongoing battle with the beast known as aptasia.
Many will tellyou to get peppermint shrimp---------------- wont work.
many will say joes juice---------------------- works but they,ll come back.
many will say a siringe with boiling water--- works but they,ll come back.
Thank goodness for websites like this. For years I to have battled the damn aptasia. They will grow everywhere and kill anything theose pink little tentacles touch.
But today is your lucky day cause I have the answer.
The ugly but amazing Banded Butterfly Fish.
who happens to eat aptasia like desert before dinner. trust me you can try other methods but the banded butterfly works. be patient it may take a couple of days for him to get the taste but once he starts your problems are over.

[Mark Matthews]

Thanks man, I'm about to order one just as soon as I sign off here!

[Mark Matthews]

I was doing some reading on the Banded Butterfly Fish and some of it said that this particular fish shouldnt be housed in a reef aquarium because it tends to eat all invertibrates. Is there any truth to this? What if it decides it likes my other corals instead of the aptasia? Is there a possibility of this happening?

[Krazy]

I battled aptaisa's for a while, I added a dozen, YES, 12 peppermint shrimps to my tank, hehe, they did a great job for me

Its hit or miss really...

I've herd the joe's juice works well, I have some and never used it as the peppermints did the trick for me, you can also mix up some kalwasser with water make it like a thick paste and smear it over the aptasia, it'll nuke it for ya. also some say to inject with boiling hot water...

I'd try the peppermints first, they are cheap enough and worst case if they dont work, you got some help in your clean-up crew

Do some reading if your gonna get the banded butterfly fish, make sure your tank will meet its needs...

I'm a good preacher of "reasearch before you buy" hehe

[Stuck]

Joe's Juice works well. Just be careful of how many Aptasia you kill at one time. You could very well change your PH etc.. Peppermint Shrimp are good but research the Genus to make sure you get the ones that like Aptasia.

[Reef-Daddy]

LFS told me to use Purple Up in a syringe and I also read from Dr.Fosters and Smith website to use Lemon Juice.

[glampka]

Purple-up to kill aiptasia?? That's a new one - might work. I used Joe's Juice. They kept coming back. Got a peppermint shrimp - now they're totally gone.

[crazygator]

ued the joe's juice and haven't had on in two years. it takes practice with te juice though because if yo don't get it all in or on the aiptasia, he will just pull into the rock until he recovers from the damage. be quick and thourogh and don't wash excess away until you are sure that the whole thing is covered. if you have lsp, clams, or smaller anemones the banded may nip them also. but he may not as with most things just because it is in his nature doesn't mean he will. but just keep an eye on it and if he does yank him quick. there are other ways to get rid of the critters if the banded is harmful or doesn't get a taste for them.