aptasia out of nowhere!

[zoogrl03]

I have had my FOWLR set up for three years now and have never had aptasia. All of a sudden, I have it! Where does it come from and how does it get there? I have not added anything new to the tank in quite some time. Also water params seem ok. How does it just pop up after years of not having it?

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zoogrl03 http:///forum/thread/386568/aptasia-out-of-nowhere#post_3396190
I have had my FOWLR set up for three years now and have never had aptasia. All of a sudden, I have it! Where does it come from and how does it get there? I have not added anything new to the tank in quite some time. Also water params seem ok. How does it just pop up after years of not having it?

It was probably somewhere that you just didn't see it (filter, etc). They can grow in complete darkness

 

[tangs rule]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/386568/aptasia-out-of-nowhere#post_3396205
It was probably somewhere that you just didn't see it (filter, etc). They can grow in complete darkness
+1 - you probably have had it alll along, but they likely stayed hidden out of sight - like on the backside of rocks and grew & multiplied enough so suddenly it seens there everywhere....Sadly, aiptasia can "breed" or "split off new ones" at about the same time they become visible or noticable to the human eye - so it's likely that for every ONE that you do see - there's another or 2 more you cannot. They are one of the most difficult pests to get rid of, as they'll infect your rock,substrate, refugium, sump, filters, macro alage, even grow on the tank glass itself.

 

[flower]

Kill the big ones with Joes Juise or Aptasia X and get a few Peppermint shrimp. That will take of them, and the shrimp are cool. I hope such a critter can be added to your tank, Some fish only systems have fish that eat shrimp.

 

[1guydude]

i hate this pest! Tang is right....every time i kill one (just yesterday 2 of em) about a week or two later i catch another just chillin on a rock all non shallot! Ahhhhhh