Removing Aiptasia for Good - I DID IT!!

[@papaechozulu3737]

As the Prime Minister of the Nudibranch nation, I would like to thank you for your kind words.

[@Evergreenroblox1]

Thank you, the berghia Nudibranch is eating right now! I’m so happy and it is fun watching the aptasia suffer!

[@DasNoodz]

Friendly reminder that you never have to apologize for auto immune flares! Great job slaying this pest!

[@QueenofReef]

🥲❤️

[@tashalaplante475]

Yeeee! Congrats on winning your battle with aiptasia! Take care of yourself and it’s always nice to have a video from you 🥰

[@JimMcPherson1]

First of all, I'm glad you're feeling better and it's great to see you posting again! My experience w/ Aiptasia: Aiptasia X was effective short term, but they always came back so I got a filefish. My filefish will do absolutely nothing with big aiptasia, but will gladly eat the small ones. So, using Aiptasia X on the big ones let I the filefish deal with the small ones. Problem solved. HOWEVER, once the aiptasia were gone, the filefish started nipping at my euphyllia and that was not acceptable and I moved him to my non-coral tank. Now the aiptasia are back and have called in for reinforcements. I guess I need to move my wrasse, spend the $$$ and just get the nudi's. Thanks for the great videos!

[@smokeandkippers]

Honestly, don't trust everything you see on YT. I have a wrasse dominated tank and they don't eat Berghia. They will try to eat them and spit them out. My Berghia destroyed an invasion of Aiptasia within 2 months and this was in a tank with 7 different wrasse. Never had a single Aiptasia since.

[@ruffaccord]

This video is definitely needed. I'm in a losing battle. Hope you feel better soon!

[@QueenofReef]

Stick it out! It gets better

[@Richs_reef]

There is always a way! And even berghias are cheaper than a shutdown/exiting the hobby!

[@BH0t8498]

I have a bad aiptasia infestation in my biocube. I just added 13 nudis. I think they are awesome creatures and hope they do as well as yours did. When I first got them I plucked 3 tiny aiptasia from my sandbed and put them in the acclimation cup with the Nudis. They all immediately zoomed it and consumed the aiptasia. I was so happy to see that. Then Into the tank they went that night. Groups of three. I’ve heard a few tips 1-an aiptasia needs to eat within 5 days or it dies. So if you are still seeing them in your tank it means they are still feeding. 2-when they are healthy they look bioluminescent on their tips. When they are hungry they are all white and dont glow. 3- reason why peppermint shrimp will eat them is because they taste like the aiptasia since that is all they eat. 3-they will leave a scent trail that other Nudis will follow and when they hunt they draw all the others together to take out larger aiptasia 4-if a Nudis falls into a large aiptasia it can get eaten. Good luck with your tank.

[@jheisner78]

Took my file fish a while to start earing the aiptasia, but boy when he did, HE DID. Wiped them out. Pulled rocks out of the sump and he cleaned them up too. I had a copper band at one time, beautiful fish and ate aiptasia and frozen. A $5 damsel murdered it. Haven't had one since because they'll also eat feather dusters and coco worms.

[@QueenofReef]

That darn damsel!!! I would be so upset 😭😭 Hopefully I won't have to deal with aiptasia again, but if I do I hope the file fish comes around and makes sure they don't spread!

[@Jedi-fi9zs]

So glad to see new videos from you. This one caught my eye primarily because I have a full on infestation myself. My success with the Berghia however has not been so positive. Maybe I will try again. Thanks for the video, glad to see you back and feeling better!

[@MumRah]

I have the same tank! Did you do a video on how/why you setup your flow?

[@jjdurrant]

Great vid! Thanks.. I am a new reefer and only have about 3-4 small ones.. that I can see.. think I just try Nudis right off the bat or Aptasia X first? I only had a 60gal

[@FISHYFLLOYD]

I tried a copper band, after he ate all the aphasia, he started eating my polyps and couldn’t catch him, my best success was adding peppermint shrimp. Once aphasia is in your tank it will always stay in the tank, but having peppermint shrimp would keep them in check.

[@ROTTERtube]

The resolution - 9 minute mark. Welcome.

[@BryznsReef]

Burghia also solved all of my problem ! Def the best choice for those without wrasses and shrimp

[@BryznsReef]

Also after they consume all the aiptasia look at the top edges of the tank and in the overflow !

[@SharbucklesReef]

Glad you were able to get rid of the aiptasia!! I had great success with Lysmata Kuekethali, however like the berghia you need quite a few to get the job done.

[@inventoryking]

Been saying, they are the best, Burgiah. BTW congrats on winning the battle.

[@anthonyudovich7524]

Omg! Glad I found you. So awesome!! Starting a new 29g saltwater tank. My first one. I have freshwater tanks. Thanks for your vids.

[@andrewgutt276]

Same route with me. File fish worked. I have a 32in long 75g display and a palm size file fish Barely keeps up. But he does the job and yes loves mysis and flake but is eating the aptasia

[@Richs_reef]

What a great overview of the topic! Aiptasia-X is great for small breakouts but for anything more developed you really need biological control. I find Berghia’s need 2-3 weeks to really show their progress

[@stevegrillo5399]

I'm getting these today!

[@aurora_lax]

Thank you for your video. I have a massive aiptasia infestation, I purchased a file fish a couple month back, all he did was eating my rock flower anemones, but he's not interested in aiptasia. Then I bought the nudibranchs, but the file fish ate them! Did you have the same issue with your file fish? I think I should remove him and try again with the nudis. Could you share your experience with your file fish? Did you see him trying to eat your nudibranchs? Thank you!

[@delonjohnson5907]

Happy you're doing better and glad you got the pests under control. I use sodium hydroxide to help with ph so when I have one pop up I just mix up a strong batch and burn them to the ground

[@rubenespinosa1685]

Great video and I as well bought some bergias for my tank. How long did you really start to see a difference. In my case it’s only been 3 days but I’m optimistic thank you for your video I as well tried everything with no success 😢

[@QueenofReef]

I would give it 2 weeks to a month! But rest assured, it will be taken care of 😊

[@rubenespinosa1685]

@@QueenofReef thank you for your response I as well have a beautiful 150gallon reef but those dreaded aptasia found there way in and have embedded themselves firm to a point I was gonna get new rock and do a redo but after your video I have some hope Ty much 🤗

[@mitrasingh9502]

Amazing I need this solution

[@sgbbco3981]

Even with QT my corals.. I ended up with Aiptasia in my DT. I had 0 for nearly 2 years. Then boom started popping up and replicating similar to how your Aiptasia did. I had not added anything new either... So nature finds a way .lol. I feel like any excuse to invite some Nudibranch or sacoglossans into the tank makes for a great learning experience. They are fascinating creatures. I only wish they weren't so voracious and it was easier to keep them longterm. Though running out of Aiptasia is something any reefer can live with. Haha. Hope you're able to keep sharing updates with us about your beautiful system. I'm sure coral growth will take off a bit more now too with the Aiptasia under control.

[@reefer6972]

Tank looks great, don't sweat the small stuff and take care of yourself!

[@uncledd1067]

Wow Stephanie I hope you feel better soon!! The tank looks great too! 😘

[@QueenofReef]

Thank you!! 😊

[@g-reef]

I am happy you are feeling better ❤

[@QueenofReef]

❤❤❤

[@GwonkReefkeeping]

Great video Stephanie! I just picked up a couple of them today. I know that more would get the job done faster, but they are just so expensive. I'll see how they have done later this summer.

[@TheYear2525]

They were breeding in your tank? Noice. At this time I also have an aptasia problem and got me 5 Berghias to multiply before putting them into the tank. This worked flawlessly like 10 years ago but this time the spawn wouldn't grow bigger than microscopic. I tried upgrading the cups in which they were supposed to breed. That made it worse. I had small plastic tubs and added tiny plastic heaters but they looked sick and stopped eating. I think it might have been residual chemicals (tesides or so) from the new heaters. Even after I placed them into the main tank, in a cup, separated by gauze from the main tank, they wouldn't start eating again for weeks, until they literally grew backwards and died :( . I even set up an aiptasia breeding tank, to keep the slugs alive after their job was done. This time. Maybe I should do it your way and just put them into the tank? I don't have any overly agressive animals in there. Only an algeae blenny, an Ecsenius stigmatura, a Pseudochromis friedmanni, a cleaner shrimp and an emerald crab. Everyone says not to put them in the tank directly...so is this just because of the cases where people have wrasses and things in there? Also it's said that they don't hatch when grown Berghias are in the vincinity? That's why you separate the bredding slugs and the actual spawn? Would you think I could put like 5 or 10 of them into my 100 gal. tank? Mybe I'll buy 10 and spilt them between tank and external breeding (this time in *glas* jars in a heated water bath...). Actually I don't know if they bred inside the main tank during my successfull attempt 10 years ago. Because from my "external" breeding attempt I got at least 60 slugs to put into the main tank. I don't know if like half of them died or if they actually bred there, since you really can't count them in a big tank lile that. All I know it that they ate like 1000 aiptasia in less than 4 weeks and that was it for the last 10 years :D .

[@robertoakes1801]

Had two bouts of aiptasia. After trying almost everything,I decided to lower the temperature to 70-72 degrees. After about 8 months all the aiptasia was gone , and I had about 100 of them. The only things that didn’t make it was Xenia and the coraline algae started to decline a bit. My tank is a 90 with LPS and SPS corals.

[@TheYear2525]

That's curious. Maybe there are different kinds of Aiptasia? Since I had one in a *sealed* cup of water on my desk at 19-20 °C for at least a month and it didn't seem to care xD .

[@artistic_spaz3724]

Hope you feel better and really happy for you that your tank is looking so awesome! RIP Nudi's

[@QueenofReef]

Thanks so much! But yes rip 😢 If I ever have to use again definitely going to make a plan for their recovery so they go into another tank

[@born2beashooterjosh397]

Wisb i could use berghias but im quite certain my male melanurus would devour them so i think im gonna have to try either peppermints or filefish and hope for the best bc covering them with glue or puttytheu jus come back

[@mcrawfordd28]

File fish are perfect for aiptasia. The thing is, it takes about 3 weeks for them to get comfy, then they'll feast on the aiptasia:)

[@QueenofReef]

Probably why he wasn't so effective! The berghia's took over so quickly

[@jjmccloud]

I love this aquascape

[@ou812reefing]

Great update and Wishing the very best

[@Pork_slinger]

Did you have them in the overflow? My fil had a bad outbreak including in his overflow.

[@lew131323]

Did you use a turkey baster to place them down?

[@hughhines6121]

First of all, glad you are feeling better. Thank you so much for that complete diagnosis of the pesty aiptaisia. I have been down the same track and now I have a big fat file fish, six pepper shrimp that hides, and more aiptaisia than I've ever seen. Luckily I only had just started with one coral that they murdered. I've begun to remove the rocks and put them out in the sun. Trying to source some Nudies, anyone know a source in Phoenix?

[@QueenofReef]

I would ask in any local FB groups or your LFS! I know some places sell them online too shipped (I got mine from Salty Underground). Make sure to remove those peppermints first though! 😅

[@Sammy31Dee]

Yea I just received a bunch from saltyunderground too...I have a small LFS and even I struggle to source them and peppermints are limited ....from virtually every wholesaler ....there's a wide open market for breeding both species ...high demands not being filled ....

[@coreyh.7871]

I’m so happy for you! 😅

[@fletcherwright7042]

The tank looks awesome 👌

[@sher_3771]

Wow amazing!!! I have autoimmune too. Hope u find relief soon! Pico tank update?? 😁❤

[@MrKea009]

Do all shrimps eat nudibranches? Or only pepermint?

[@paulearp3762]

Update.... I had one aptasia on a frag I bought, pulled it out of tank took coral off the plug n glued to sterilised plug, not seen one since, think /hope the filefish maybe picking off any that appear. BTW I'm assuming Reef Queen is in the states, nice to hear you using "Buggers" which is very a very Anglo word, as so many words and phrases are now Amercanised in the UK

[@williamstafiej2524]

Great I do about the nudibranchs. I need to ask what programs modes and speed do you use for the 4 map 40’s? Thank you

[@lcj2046]

Am sorry to hear about your health. Get well soon. Wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹. That’s good you got rid of those pests

[@QueenofReef]

Thank you so much ❤❤

[@jennagetchell8899]

What is the coral at 4:30 in the bottom left of the screen?

[@chunkydino6252]

Dunken coral

[@jovankasargo]

Hello, are berghia nudies also eat zoas? Im a lil bit sceptics on nudie, i dont know what those kind nudie was, but they always get caught killing my zoas garden.. Thanks anyway for the good informations

[@QueenofReef]

Nope! No other corals - they quite literally eat only aiptasia 😊 Each type of nudibranch only eats 1 type of coral (sometimes 2), it shows in their coloration. Berghia Nudi's only eat aiptasia, every other nudi is considered a pest really

[@anthonym3051]

That happened to me. I had 2 and I used Aip X and the multiplied like rabbits.

[@Dariusdoesreefing]

Omg that’s friggin ridiculous that the filefish didn’t touch the aiptasia ! But I get the feeding point. It might be hooked on the daily food. But plan B with the nudi’s was GOLDEN !

[@stelios563]

Well done!

[@McGD4]

Las Vegas goes thru copperbands. Seems like they always have them. Never see them eating. I’m going to get one tomorrow that’s only eating masstick

[@QueenofReef]

Same - I see them all the time, but never eating 😢 Congrats on grabbing one up!! such beautiful fish

[@danieljckson]

I put Berghia in my tank a year ago and I have seen them when my light are off recently so I know at least some of them are still in there but they haven't even put a dent in my aiptasia.

[@QueenofReef]

It takes a while for them to breed enough and get large enough to tackle. Only thing I can think of is that you maybe added too few at first so it's just taking time for them to breed? Either way, if you're seeing them they're still there and chomping down and breeding so just give it time or maybe add a few more for faster results ☺️

[@xanderjones2747]

You finally won the war, so glad to hear something finally worked! Sorry the file fish didn’t work out 😅😂

[@queencityreefs]

Congrats! Here's one for the algorithm 💯🥂🍻

[@reefs363]

What variety is your red gonipora? Is this an ora type? Thanks.

[@QueenofReef]

No it's a wild !

[@roryguice1234]

When I had tons of Aiptasia, I added 50 Peppermint shrimp, they demolished the Aiptasia. I was then able to catch all the shrimp and resell them. Currently in my new setup, I added a filefish and he ate all the aiptasia then started going for my Rock Anemones, Torches, and Tube Anemone, so I had to give him the boot. PS. What is the red torch looking coral on the left side of the tank?

[@QueenofReef]

Oh no!! Hopefully mine doesn't start 🥴 It's a red gonipora, love that thing!

[@estonianreefer2851]

Congratulations on getting rid of aiptasia🎉 Even if you find healthy feeding copper band it might just die from stress as you have a massive powder blue tang. You should have introduced copper band before powder blue to increase any future success. Anyway,good luck 🤞

[@jimmurpby2208]

Great to see you back ,Great job on the aptasia ! how were you able to get your nutrients up ? I’m having same trouble on my 220 also?

[@QueenofReef]

I feed a LOT. Luckily I'm home all the time so I feed multiple times throughout the day. I suggest an auto-feeder if you're not though!

[@oakville09]

Did you have any aptasia down in the sump? if so, how did you deal with that?

[@maplereef9433]

Get well quickly lady. I'm battling aiptasia as well.

[@QueenofReef]

💔 You will get through it too!

[@bobbyd592]

I took the same exact route as you, step by step. Unfortunately, the damn Aiptasia came back after a little while. Pretty aggravating.

[@QueenofReef]

The nudis didn't handle it when it came back? Or did you reintroduce?

[@bobbyd592]

@@QueenofReef They did, wiped out what I could see for a while. I have a feeling my over flow box may had some remnants. But those Nudis are the only way to go!

[@jgtheman84]

@@bobbyd592 nudis usually don’t 100% eradicate. They get 99.9% of it and then eventually the aiptasia comes back and you are back to square one. I buy a batch of nudis once a year and add them to my reef tank and they wipe it all out again.

[@tracyr9896]

You got such a tiny file fish and some of your aphasia were huge! But now if any pop up I would think your file fish will be on the job , mine really works on over time

[@QueenofReef]

Right 😆 Poor little guy never had the chance. That's what I'm hoping for!!

[@nikosb-k5156]

Do you think that there is aptasia in your pipes, That is the only thing that i am worried about if I add them because I don"t know if they will go into my sump to eat the aptasia.

[@MACNTOSFAM]

steph, i suggest joining your local reef group. if i’m right, you live in texas? there should be one. if so, ask around for someone who has bergia nudis, aptasia eating filefish or copperband butterfly. some groups even let you borrow them. as my local group does at times.

[@geofflee216]

Just picked up 4 for my Red Sea 250 let’s see how they do

[@AmyQuilts]

I bought 3 for my 65gal AIO. All aptasia is gone now. My LFS is infested with aptasia so I've been getting some free from them to feed mine. 😂

[@migueltostado7184]

It's good to have the rocks full of coralline algae. I like the way it looks. I don't have corals, I only have fish.

[@Simple_Reef]

Very beautiful tank!!!🥰

[@avcorals]

What vendor did you use to get them? I need them badly!!

[@QueenofReef]

Salty underground!

[@avcorals]

@@QueenofReef omg thank you for the response! I will check them out.

[@marinelunatic]

if think you have only a few you probably have 50-100, also if you buy a aiptasia filefish you have to make sure its just not named that and that he actually eats it the LFS I got mine from he was actually eating aiptasia but this in the UK I dont know how they do it where you are.

[@Peterrdee]

My filefish had to grow up, so he literally got rid of all of the aptasia, it was so good I love the filefish

[@pommieforever]

great video, i have missed you, i hope more importantly you get over the immune deficiantsy, cant spell sorry and fell 100% soon!

[@QueenofReef]

Thank you so much ❤❤

[@anthonym3051]

My filefish nor Copperband toucj the Aipstasia 😢 And I have many wrasses so I have no other option.

[@QueenofReef]

Ooof wish I had some advice other than just diligent hand removal, that’s pretty much why I’ve avoided wrasses even though they’re my fav fish 🥲

[@bmwolfe2786]

Glad you got them. Also... Wreak havoc... For future reference 😉

[@wotarush1]

Awesome biddy well done , done a few motorcycle project , love it when it comes together

[@christopherteer3462]

Added 3 pep shrimp in my 210g. Then a butterfly a week later aptasia is in half. Copperband eats kinda we will see 3 weeks and still alive!

[@hemilton1982]

had the same problem till added peppermint shrimp…

[@SquireofSirHameldorf]

I LOVE AIPTASIA ! I have 2 beautiful saltwater aquariums (55's) but with no live coral (I have totally realistic synthetic corals from a company in Florida). I get aiptasia from any fish store for free which makes a gorgeous addition to my artificial reef tank (making it look that much more realistic). And there's never been any problems with my damselfish, clowns or invertebrates. 😁👍🏻

[@peterneedham9168]

Do you think the aiptasia are gone for good? Would hate to have the Berghia perish and then the aiptasia comes back.

[@QueenofReef]

I would say so! But can always be re-introduced, which if happens I hope the File Fish will step up and take over 🤞

[@CoralsReef24]

Peppermint shrimp is an excellent source of controlling Aiptasia when they are young. So add some to your aquarium.

[@The_Real_JimmyG]

I really hope mine work out. I put 3 in my 30 gallon.

[@QueenofReef]

Just give it a few weeks/month ! You'll see no improvement and then one day BAM it's all gone lol

[@tedvoskuil2827]

Why is aiptasia bad? Does it eat the fish? I'd think it would just signify a lot of extra nutrients in the tank.

[@tedvoskuil2827]

Do peppermint shrimp eat good anemones too?

[@BlackGoldReefing]

I have a full grown File fish and he/she has never touch aptasia. I too was a little disappointed, but he does have some cool Camouflage

[@QueenofReef]

He's kind of growing on me honestly 😅 But heard they can get nippy with corals from these comments so now I'm a bit concerned ?? Does yours nip?

[@BlackGoldReefing]

@@QueenofReef I have never seen mine nip on anything really. He/she sure loves Nori though. He/she actually eats it right out of my hand. Did you get your Nudibranchs from saltyunderground?

[@jjmccloud]

Do they eat even the bigger or taller aiptasia

[@QueenofReef]

Yep! Mine was massive

[@smokeandkippers]

Wrasse don't eat Berghia - they spit them out in my experience. I have a wrasse dominated tank and my Berghia did a great job in eradicating Aiptasia.

[@leem270]

With the aptasia x your not supposed to touch them you need to try and get it in the mouth before it starts retracting otherwise it spreads even worse which is why your aptasia issue got so bad.

[@QueenofReef]

Yeah I no doubt probably made some mistakes with that 🙈 I know it's a good product though

[@calisky7342]

I also have an auto immune disorder, I feel your pain (hug). Do you know the name of your red goniopora?

[@QueenofReef]

Aw I'm sorry to hear, I have fibro and RA and it's just the worst sometimes💔 I don't actually - it's a wild piece that I got from someone's tank I love it so much!

[@pblogic007]

You have to be really, really precise with aiptasia x. It's challenging.I hate doing it too. It's hard if you have a big outbreak.

[@JTBags420]

I just added 8 nudis to my 90g that is covered in aptasia 🙏

[@Cgraseck]

Great video but it’s wreak havoc. The ea sounds like the ee in reef 😉. Cheers, Chris

[@QueenofReef]

Wreek havoc ? 😂

[@jsaquaticX]

Nice tank 👌 👏 👍

[@mickromer6199]

Nudi's... copy that 👍 begginer reefer preparing for the worst, hoping for the best haha

[@samoryTure]

Just get some peppermint shrimp. They're about $10 each. Copperband are also great. They not only eat aiptasia but do eat bristleworm. Nudibranch is way too expensive.

[@starfighter1977]

It took my filefish a month to start eating aptasia. Once it started they were gone within 2 weeks.

[@QueenofReef]

I hope they don't come back - but if they do, maybe he can save the day 😂

[@starfighter1977]

@@QueenofReef when all the aptasia were gone, he starting nipping my torches and hammers. So I sumped him for a couple of weeks and then returned him to my LFS. Not long after that, the aptasia were back. I fully believe the file fish kept them in check.

[@paulearp3762]

My Nano tank was infested... Aptasia x just spread them, ....bergias completely removed them, so I thought,..... bergias vanished the Aptasia returned with a vengance, removed all fish, added filefish, I didn't feed it, so it had to eat was the aptasia, It's been on them for maybe 6 weeks, It didn't rid the tank of them, but I think it knows what to graze on. I've now put him in my new (Aptasia free) tank, It's eating fine with the other fish and hopefully if I get Aptasia in there it will know what to snack on.

[@Reefnow]

Love it

[@icazuchi]

My copperband wont touch Aiptasia... looks pretty though.

[@QueenofReef]

I wouldn't even be mad about it honestly 😂 Beautiful addition regardless

[@PokePackFire]

urchins eats berghia?

[@Va4444]

I need to tell my lfs about this. They have been fighting it a while now