Lemon Juice for aptisia?
- Thread starter ebob954
- Start date
bigal0221
Member
Hi,
I have never tried this but hear it works great.
Items Needed:
1 Bottle or squeeze dispenser of Lemon Juice From Concentrate.
One 3ml Latex Free Syringe with a 0.5mm x 16mm needle. Your local pharmacist can provide you with the syringe and needle for about a half a dollar. Don't be surprised if your pharmacist asks you a few questions as to what you plan to use the syringe/needle for.
Procedure:
Remove the syringe and attached needle from the wrapper.
Twist the needle cover to tighten on the syringe.
Remove the needle cover. Shake the bottle (or dispenser) of lemon juice.
Fill the syringe with 3ml lemon juice by inserting the needle into the lemon juice and pulling back on the syringe plunger.
Insert the needle into (not through) the base (not the top) of the anemone.
Inject about .5ml of the lemon juice into the anemone. Withdraw the needle and proceed to the next one.
When you are finished, disassemble the syringe/needle, rinse in clean freshwater, dry, reassemble and store for future use.
Tips:
As with any sharp instrument, use caution when handling it and keep it out of the reach of children.
When you insert the needle into the anemone, it will normally withdraw, making the lemon juice still quite concentrated in the anemone tube. It is not unusual to see a white puff or string of white material emit from the anemone when you inject the juice.
A steady hand is needed to insert the needle into the anemone tube. The smaller the anemone, the more difficult the task. You may want to let the smaller anemones grow to a size which makes the task easier.
The small amount of lemon juice being used shouldn't affect the pH of your tank water, and if you have a fair amount of current in your tank the localized increased pH should disperse rapidly and have no affect on surrounding reef life. Ironically, when the lemon juice is injected into the anemone tube, the critter will close up and shrink, temporarily sealing the juice inside the tube.
If you have a very large population of aiptasia present, as a precautionary measure to prevent any possible pH imbalance from lemon juice overload, it is best NOT to treat them all at one time. Choose a small section of the tank to do first, wait several days to be sure all is well with the aquarium water quality, then move on and treat the next section.
I have never tried this but hear it works great.
Items Needed:
1 Bottle or squeeze dispenser of Lemon Juice From Concentrate.
One 3ml Latex Free Syringe with a 0.5mm x 16mm needle. Your local pharmacist can provide you with the syringe and needle for about a half a dollar. Don't be surprised if your pharmacist asks you a few questions as to what you plan to use the syringe/needle for.
Procedure:
Remove the syringe and attached needle from the wrapper.
Twist the needle cover to tighten on the syringe.
Remove the needle cover. Shake the bottle (or dispenser) of lemon juice.
Fill the syringe with 3ml lemon juice by inserting the needle into the lemon juice and pulling back on the syringe plunger.
Insert the needle into (not through) the base (not the top) of the anemone.
Inject about .5ml of the lemon juice into the anemone. Withdraw the needle and proceed to the next one.
When you are finished, disassemble the syringe/needle, rinse in clean freshwater, dry, reassemble and store for future use.
Tips:
As with any sharp instrument, use caution when handling it and keep it out of the reach of children.
When you insert the needle into the anemone, it will normally withdraw, making the lemon juice still quite concentrated in the anemone tube. It is not unusual to see a white puff or string of white material emit from the anemone when you inject the juice.
A steady hand is needed to insert the needle into the anemone tube. The smaller the anemone, the more difficult the task. You may want to let the smaller anemones grow to a size which makes the task easier.
The small amount of lemon juice being used shouldn't affect the pH of your tank water, and if you have a fair amount of current in your tank the localized increased pH should disperse rapidly and have no affect on surrounding reef life. Ironically, when the lemon juice is injected into the anemone tube, the critter will close up and shrink, temporarily sealing the juice inside the tube.
If you have a very large population of aiptasia present, as a precautionary measure to prevent any possible pH imbalance from lemon juice overload, it is best NOT to treat them all at one time. Choose a small section of the tank to do first, wait several days to be sure all is well with the aquarium water quality, then move on and treat the next section.
natclanwy
Active Member
Here is the issue with this method, although it is somewhat effective at killing the target anemone injecting the anemone stresses it before it kills it causing it to release its Planula Larva into the water before it dies which will populate other areas of your tank. A better method is to use a kalkwasser paste and let the aiptasia "eat" the paste this method is just as effective at killing the aiptasia but does so without stressing the anemone. You can find the ingredients to make kalkwasser paste at your local grocery store, look for Mrs Wage's Pickling lime in the area where they sell canning supplies. Mix 1 part lime with 2 parts boiling saltwater from your tank let it cool then turn off all of the pumps in your tank and use a syringe to treat the aiptasia. Leave the pumps off for 20min after you treat the aiptasia the turn them back on. Kalkwasser will effect your PH so start with a little and monitor the change in your PH and adjust the amount you use in one treatment accordingly.
darthtang aw
Active Member
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
fishrule
Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
I bought 9 peppermints for my tank, they don't even look at the aptisia let alone eat them. (Not intending to Hijack this thread) I left someone in charge of my tank when I went away for work. While I was gone he decided to buy me some coral for fun and got a shroom cluster that had a small aptisia attached. Well, I came home to a tank full of the stuff.
The Lemon Juice works, but I'm learning the hard way that it is also causing more aptisia to spread, so I'm going to try the above mentioned kalkwasser paste idea. I'll post my results in a few days.
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
I bought 9 peppermints for my tank, they don't even look at the aptisia let alone eat them. (Not intending to Hijack this thread) I left someone in charge of my tank when I went away for work. While I was gone he decided to buy me some coral for fun and got a shroom cluster that had a small aptisia attached. Well, I came home to a tank full of the stuff.
naclh2o nut
Member
8
Originally Posted by burch2006
http:///forum/post/2966200
the kalkwasser paste wont harm other corals in the same vicinity will it?
Just dosed two on a small rock in the middle of some green zoos. zoos look unfazed, but am watching for a few days before going after anymore.
Originally Posted by burch2006
http:///forum/post/2966200
the kalkwasser paste wont harm other corals in the same vicinity will it?
Just dosed two on a small rock in the middle of some green zoos. zoos look unfazed, but am watching for a few days before going after anymore.
natclanwy
Active Member
Originally Posted by burch2006
http:///forum/post/2966200
the kalkwasser paste wont harm other corals in the same vicinity will it?
It will if you leave it on the coral tissue for too long. If you accidently get it on the coral, just brush or blow it off the coral as quickly as you can and it will be fine. The only corals you really have to watch are zoas and palys because they will ingest it and die just like the aiptasia. I usually will brush the tops of the zoas and palys to get them to close up first then treat the aiptasia that are near them so that they don't accidently ingest the paste.
http:///forum/post/2966200
the kalkwasser paste wont harm other corals in the same vicinity will it?
It will if you leave it on the coral tissue for too long. If you accidently get it on the coral, just brush or blow it off the coral as quickly as you can and it will be fine. The only corals you really have to watch are zoas and palys because they will ingest it and die just like the aiptasia. I usually will brush the tops of the zoas and palys to get them to close up first then treat the aiptasia that are near them so that they don't accidently ingest the paste.
~krystal~
New Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2964577
Mix 1 part lime with 2 parts boiling saltwater from your tank let it cool then turn off all of the pumps in your tank and use a syringe to treat the aiptasia.
Do you inject it into the base like the lemon juice or how do you apply it?
http:///forum/post/2964577
Mix 1 part lime with 2 parts boiling saltwater from your tank let it cool then turn off all of the pumps in your tank and use a syringe to treat the aiptasia.
Do you inject it into the base like the lemon juice or how do you apply it?
jerryatrick
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
Peps are good for taking care of the smaller aiptasia. Most of the time they won't even bother with the larger ones.
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
Peps are good for taking care of the smaller aiptasia. Most of the time they won't even bother with the larger ones.
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
Peppermint's won't go anywhere near an Aptasia head bigger than a pencil head....
...but yes, they work wonders on offspring that try to develop.
http:///forum/post/2964928
Or go the natural way and buy a couple peppermint shrimp, they eat them in no time.
Peppermint's won't go anywhere near an Aptasia head bigger than a pencil head....
...but yes, they work wonders on offspring that try to develop.
scoobydue4
Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2968423
Peppermint's won't go anywhere near an Aptasia head bigger than a pencil head, sharpened....
...but yes, they work wonders on offspring that try to develop.
Mine do... or did, when I first put the shrimp in the tank. They took out some that where half the size of an adult shrimp. I have not seen any Aiptasia in my tank since I put them in. I never tried lemon juice because you can't remove the juice after you put it in the tank. If you use Joe's Juice, or Aiptasia-x, you can vacuum it out after application. I have noticed if you use Peppermint Shrimp, you want to get two or three of them because they seem to compete with each other, and go nuts on the Aiptasia. If you get just one, it might never touch it. I forget what kind but you have to get a certain species of Peppermint because they are not all Aiptasia eaters. Somebody will ring in with the Aiptasia eating species. So after all of that, I think the Peppermint is the best way to go because they will find Aiptasia in places you can't see, or reach if you where dosing with a chemical product. Just rember to feed the little buggers after the Aiptasia is gone!
http:///forum/post/2968423
Peppermint's won't go anywhere near an Aptasia head bigger than a pencil head, sharpened....
...but yes, they work wonders on offspring that try to develop.
Mine do... or did, when I first put the shrimp in the tank. They took out some that where half the size of an adult shrimp. I have not seen any Aiptasia in my tank since I put them in. I never tried lemon juice because you can't remove the juice after you put it in the tank. If you use Joe's Juice, or Aiptasia-x, you can vacuum it out after application. I have noticed if you use Peppermint Shrimp, you want to get two or three of them because they seem to compete with each other, and go nuts on the Aiptasia. If you get just one, it might never touch it. I forget what kind but you have to get a certain species of Peppermint because they are not all Aiptasia eaters. Somebody will ring in with the Aiptasia eating species. So after all of that, I think the Peppermint is the best way to go because they will find Aiptasia in places you can't see, or reach if you where dosing with a chemical product. Just rember to feed the little buggers after the Aiptasia is gone!
number1gsxxr
Member
I believe Lysmata wurdemanni is the one that eats aiptasia
number1gsxxr
Member
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=329998 this post has good pics of each.
natclanwy
Active Member
Originally Posted by ~Krystal~
http:///forum/post/2968412
Do you inject it into the base like the lemon juice or how do you apply it?
Don't inject them, that is will cause them to release their larva plus they usually will expell the solution and come back within a couple of weeks. Just hold the syringe above the aiptasia and be careful not to disturb the aiptasia and slowly squeeze the syringe letting the paste fall onto the tenticles and oral disk they aiptasia should grab it and start eating it. Once it does then it's a gonner. There is no need to vaccum the paste or the aiptasia out after you are finished once you turn the powerheads back on the kalkwasser will disolve into the water and the aiptasia will disintegrate.
http:///forum/post/2968412
Do you inject it into the base like the lemon juice or how do you apply it?
Don't inject them, that is will cause them to release their larva plus they usually will expell the solution and come back within a couple of weeks. Just hold the syringe above the aiptasia and be careful not to disturb the aiptasia and slowly squeeze the syringe letting the paste fall onto the tenticles and oral disk they aiptasia should grab it and start eating it. Once it does then it's a gonner. There is no need to vaccum the paste or the aiptasia out after you are finished once you turn the powerheads back on the kalkwasser will disolve into the water and the aiptasia will disintegrate.
fishrule
Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2964577
Here is the issue with this method, although it is somewhat effective at killing the target anemone injecting the anemone stresses it before it kills it causing it to release its Planula Larva into the water before it dies which will populate other areas of your tank. A better method is to use a kalkwasser paste and let the aiptasia "eat" the paste this method is just as effective at killing the aiptasia but does so without stressing the anemone. You can find the ingredients to make kalkwasser paste at your local grocery store, look for Mrs Wage's Pickling lime in the area where they sell canning supplies. Mix 1 part lime with 2 parts boiling saltwater from your tank let it cool then turn off all of the pumps in your tank and use a syringe to treat the aiptasia. Leave the pumps off for 20min after you treat the aiptasia the turn them back on. Kalkwasser will effect your PH so start with a little and monitor the change in your PH and adjust the amount you use in one treatment accordingly.
Natclanwy,
You rock.
This method works great. It took me less than an hour to do all of the above kalkwasser paste method. All the aiptasia are dead and the Ph is still stable.
I strongly recommend this method for killing Aiptasia.
Thanks Again
http:///forum/post/2964577
Here is the issue with this method, although it is somewhat effective at killing the target anemone injecting the anemone stresses it before it kills it causing it to release its Planula Larva into the water before it dies which will populate other areas of your tank. A better method is to use a kalkwasser paste and let the aiptasia "eat" the paste this method is just as effective at killing the aiptasia but does so without stressing the anemone. You can find the ingredients to make kalkwasser paste at your local grocery store, look for Mrs Wage's Pickling lime in the area where they sell canning supplies. Mix 1 part lime with 2 parts boiling saltwater from your tank let it cool then turn off all of the pumps in your tank and use a syringe to treat the aiptasia. Leave the pumps off for 20min after you treat the aiptasia the turn them back on. Kalkwasser will effect your PH so start with a little and monitor the change in your PH and adjust the amount you use in one treatment accordingly.
Natclanwy,
You rock.
I strongly recommend this method for killing Aiptasia.
Thanks Again
natclanwy
Active Member
No problem, I have killed thousands of them in my tank so it is effective, but you will probably start to see some small ones start popping up. If the aiptasia has been in your tank for any length of time they usually will have several small anemones around their base that won't grow very fast but once you kill the parent anemone the smaller ones will grow very fast. This is what causes people to think that the kalkwasser paste causes the aiptasia to spread when in all actuality they have already spread before you treated the anemone and once you remove the parent anemone it removes the competition for light and food and the smaller anemones explode in growth. Keep an eye on them and treat any newly found aiptasia as soon as you see them to prevent them from forming new anemones around their base.