The final word in Aiptasia?

[candycane]

I actually borrowed rocks SMOOTHERED in Aiptasia to check this new stuff out. I purchased a used 120 gallon and just completely covered the entire tank in Aiptasia.
Red Sea Aiptasia-X. I tried this stuff on several hundred Aiptasia and was EXTRAORDINARILY impressed. The issues that I had with other methods of eradicating Aiptasia via means of injection were either the chemicals burning things like surrounding corals or invertebrates. Not to mention the additional fact that most of the time the Aiptasia would pull itself back into its hole to protect the planula (larvae), which would then release and create even more.
After testing this stuff (injecting or squirting an Aiptasia then pulling it out to examine it under magnification), it seems to be COMPLETELY different. The chemical composition seems to almost form a glue type substance. Aiptasia are actually somehow attracted to it - I witnessed several of them curving and using tentacles to grab at the "paste". After they get it into their mouth, it somehow seals, like a weld, their mouth completely off, trapping the larvae inside and killing both the parent and the planula.
The kicker bonus was that even if I did squirt a very small amount on a littleneck clam (testing) or small coral frag, it didn't seem to have much of an effect on them at all. Nearly all of the invertebrates that I tested it on seemed to not care that it was even present. Whether this is normal or not for the product, I do not know. It claims to be completely “reef-safe” and not harm “sessile invertebrates”. However, both the littleneck clam and coral frags that I tested it on were in high flow areas.
Just thought I would throw this out there. I have NO IDEA what the long term effects are. But I was HIGHLY impressed with the short term effects and the complete eradication or Aiptasia all together. It seems like every issue that may have caused other chemicals to have their drawbacks, has been remedied.
It worked on the Aiptasia and a piece of rock with the two Majano on it that I was able to find.
Check this out: Watch how the Aiptasia about 59 seconds in IMPLODES. It seems it can't release anything because the mouth is sealed shut. That is NOT me in the video by the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3DZYdAD2Y
I don't have Aiptasia problems in ANY of my tanks, but I always think it is fun to set up new tanks just to test new products. I have yet to see even the smallest new Aiptasia form and it looks like I will be breaking down this "Aiptasia Testing Tank" within the next week or so.

 

[mr_x]

you can do the same thing with kalkwasser.

 

[fishygurl]

wow that looks cool, i guess i know what im buying if i ever get any aiptasia

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2674703
you can do the same thing with kalkwasser.
Kalkwasser doesn't have the same "adhesive" qualities. It doesn't seal the Aiptasias' mouth so that the planula don't escape and create more Aiptasia. With Kalk, Vinegar, Lemon Juice - ALL of them cause the parent Aiptasia to try to close off on it's own. Once the parent has been destroyed, the larvae just float out and create more (part of the time). This stuff seals the mouth and causes both the parent and larvae to both die off. That is why I find it so interesting.

 

[errattiq]

Definitely agree about the Red Sea Aiptasia-X. The anemones LOVE it and confuse it with food, and close up right around it. Corals didn't mind it at all either. A++ product.

 

[mr_x]

when i squirt a glob of kalk paste on an aptasia anemone, they close up on it as well, then they completely disintegrate. no baby anemone are going to live through it. i don't have any in my display. when i get a new coral that has aptasia attached, i kalk paste it, and then i never see another one. again, i think it has the same effectiveness.

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2675605
when i squirt a glob of kalk paste on an aptasia anemone, they close up on it as well, then they completely disintegrate. no baby anemone are going to live through it. i don't have any in my display. when i get a new coral that has aptasia attached, i kalk paste it, and then i never see another one. again, i think it has the same effectiveness.
Planula (larvae) live through Kalkwasser, Vinegar and Lemon Juice A LOT.
The only time I use excessive Kalkwasser is when I want to send my PH WAY up personally. That may just be me though.

 

[goldrush]

I used a Kalk paste. I injected it with a syringe high in the neck just below the "flower''. I had dozens of them and treated the reef over a week or so, so as not to "overkalk" the system. Every one I hit died and as well as any larvae because I haven't seen one since. Just my opinion (the only one I'm qualified to give).

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by goldrush
http:///forum/post/2676933
I used a Kalk paste. I injected it with a syringe high in the neck just below the "flower''. I had dozens of them and treated the reef over a week or so, so as not to "overkalk" the system. Every one I hit died and as well as any larvae because I haven't seen one since. Just my opinion (the only one I'm qualified to give).
Which is great that no new ones are visible yet. But Kalkwasser does not kill all of the planula. I would be suprised if it killed over half of them.

 

[mr_x]

i'm not talking about covering the live rock in a blanket of kalk paste. just the anemone. what studies have you done, or can link me to to prove that even though the parent anemone is burnt to a crisp from kalk paste, the larvae live on?

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2677328
i'm not talking about covering the live rock in a blanket of kalk paste. just the anemone. what studies have you done, or can link me to to prove that even though the parent anemone is burnt to a crisp from kalk paste, the larvae live on?
You mean short of spending about 90 minutes cutting away the Aiptasias' cave then injecting the Aiptasia only to see the larvae still having movement about 2 hours later with kalk paste? None. The planula usually survives about 70% also; so by saying half the time I am being gracious.
Think of it this way if you want PROOF. This might be the best way that I can explain it. You have to INJECT the parent correct? To get the kalk paste inside of the parent and kill it. What happens if you just squirt near the parent or just the side of the parent with some kalk paste? Usually comes right back. Why would getting a little bit on the planula, which is buried deep inside of the aiptasia, hurt the planula? Look at it that way. I guess you could pull the whole rock out, but you would probably need an entire lab with a GIANT microscope to sit there and inject EVERY ONE of the larvae one by one. What happens if you have one aiptasia right next to another and inject only the one - does it somehow kill the one next to the one that you injected? No.
Red Sea Aiptasia-X on the other hand seals the mouth so that the parent can't "hiccup" it out. Then in turn it forms like a bubble full of this chemical that eventually the larvae would most likely HAVE to take in (unless some accident popped the parent "bubble").

For Red Sea Aiptasia-X.

 

[mr_x]

i have never injected the parent. i've only put a glob right on top of it's mouth while it was open. the after it closes up with the bglob in it's tentacles, i put a glob over the hole it came out of. i've not had any survive after this treatment.

 

[candycane]

Even if you put some on the mouth, of course it will retract. I would too, LOL. Either way, it is still going into the body of the parent Aiptasia but NOT into the body of the planula. They can chill all day in the area where they are seperate from the parent Aiptasia (basically inside it at the base) and then come out when the Kalk has dissolved. Which you have probably mixed a batch of Kalk, it takes what? Probably about 15 seconds or so for that amount to dilute to the point where the larvae don't care.