Injecting Aiptasia - what do I use, how do I get it?

[Anonymous]

Well I understand that the hands-down method of killing aiptasia is to inject them with kalk - I assume this involves using some sort of hypodermic needle.

Where can I get one? Is there an online location from which I can order one cheap? I check out a couple of medical supply sites, but there's a dizzying array of needles/syringes/etc. And they appear to only get sold in bulk.

 

[iomegas_reef]

At my local fishstore they have either shrimp or a snail that takes care of those. I'm not quite sure of the name of though.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who's wife is a nurse. Surely you know someone in the medical field, no?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who's wife is a nurse. Surely you know someone in the medical field, no?

No...

 

[Anonymous]

I have a friend with MS. She uses 2 sizes, 1 and 3 cc. She's nice enough to give me a couple when I ask. (she re-uses hers to save on plastic going into a landfill.)

Diabetics also use them. Although the insulin syringe I have is only 1/2 cc. (I found it on the street here in lovely NYC. (It's still in it's wrapper.)

B

 

[Anonymous]

Bingo, I think Mathguy's asking about the needles, not the syringe.

The syringe can be had at drugstores (oral syringes for babies), not sure about the needles.

Consider also using sodium hydroxide (lye)/water solution. Far more effective than kalkwasser in my experience, and a needle is not necessary, only the syringe: squirt it right on them. They have ciliated siphonoglyphs that will take up the precipitate.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually I have a graduated squirt-thingy (which I guess is a "syringe"), and have done the "squirt at them approach", but it doesn't work well - they always survive, and it leaves scorched earth around the area... I figured I'd give the actual injection method a try.

 

[Saltykirk]

I had no luck w/ the blowing in their face approach either. I tried the nudibranchs & I have seen no luck or the babies they are supposed to make. At 25.00 each, they are really tiny, about 1/4 inch. I had to squint to see them in the bag. Let me know if the hypo needle approach works.

 

[Reefman150]

I got mine from the pharmacy at the True Value store in town. They even let me pick the size I want. I told them what I wanted them for they were quite happy to help out. I think you can go to any pharmacy and get them if you don't look like a junkie! I too have had limited success with the injections and they were taking over my 150! I got lucky one night and caught my Yellow Tang and moved him to another tank so I could buy a Copper Banded Butterfly fish which has almost completely wiped them out in about 2 months. There were hundreds! It was so bad I was embarassed to show anyone the tank or take/show pictures! The Peppermint Shrimp I bought did nothing but nip at my Xenia. One tip I can provide that did help with the injections was to feed it a piece of Mysis just before the injection into it's stalk, otherwise they tend to shy away into their holes upon contact. Kinda like a last meal! :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

Well Bingo is kindly hooking me up with a needle for some good Aiptasia-killin'.

(Apperently NYC is awash in needles! )

 

[danmhippo]

I was going to suggest you stab yourself several times, make up a lovely story while you get a few days vacation in the hospital, and make sure you bring back a boxful of needles.

I am sure some fellow reefkeepers can share your.......ugh........wealth.

 

[Anonymous]

hey cheese,

is your seal 'em off with epoxy and leave 'em fer dead method not working anymore?

i thought that sounded like a winner.

 

[Anonymous]

hey cheese,

is your seal 'em off with epoxy and leave 'em fer dead method not working anymore?

i thought that sounded like a winner.

:lol:

Nope - they'd just turn up again an inch or two away... At least I temporarily inconvenienced them though.

 

[Anonymous]

I had more luck with peppermint shrimp. I used to use the kalk method, then I got the shrimp. I did have one that I had to nuke twice. Apparently he was armed as the shrimp wouldn't go near. My wife got me a needle and syringe from work at a dental office. I also use them for gluing acrylic.

Regards, Eric

 

[pardsie]

I have had success with 2 methods both using syringes. 1. Using concentrated lemon juice and 2. Using muriatic acid obtained from a pool supply store. Both of these work and do not require a lot to be affective. The fluid does need to be injected into the stalk of the aiptasia.

HTH
Pardsie

 

[Anonymous]

Would bionic alkalinity part work?

 

[Anonymous]

I had more luck with peppermint shrimp. I used to use the kalk method, then I got the shrimp. I did have one that I had to nuke twice. Apparently he was armed as the shrimp wouldn't go near. My wife got me a needle and syringe from work at a dental office. I also use them for gluing acrylic.

Regards, Eric

Trouble is I value all the little fauna in my modestly-sized tank. Those shrimp will eat all that cool stuff - In my first tank, I witnessed first-hand as a peppermint shrimp ripped apart and ate an innocent fanworm. I almost called 911, but I figured the cops would make a big mess apprehending & arresting the shrimp (and they may not even have had cuffs that small), so I grudgingly let it slide.

 

[AQUADOC]

I used a syringe and boiling hot water. They dissolved nefore my very eyes. right into either their hole or them.
AD-

 

[Anonymous]

Noob question: Why don't you just manually remove them?

Edit:::::::::::::::
Nevermind: I found this link:
http://www.aquarium.net/faqs/aiptasia.shtml

 

[Ocyurus]

I am deep hell, injections are not an option as there is not that much kalk in the world. I am removing fish and coral to an alternative tank tomorrow. The final weapon to these insufferable brown pains in my butt is drying out the rocks for a while enough to kill the anemones but (hopefully) not everything else. I would like to try predators first as I have nothing to lose, my question is this, what would be most recommended given my circumstances? Shrimp, fish, nudibranch? Something else? I need help.