Aiptasia in the overflow!

[Sprattoo]

Ugh!

I have a sweet 75G berlin style set-up with overflow and a 20G 'fuge/ sump setup. DSB, I don't know... but plenty of LR 1 yellow Tang, 2 tomato clowns, a bunch of Corals. So much pulsing Xenia and star polyps (or pipe organ) that I'm considering sticking my weed whacker in there to thin them out.

2 175W 10K MH and 2 65W actinic PC's everything looks great!. I have a good sized peppermint shrimp in there and he does the most WONDERFUL job of keeping all the aiptasia gone. He hasn't even harrassed my Condylictus. So I thought I was nice and aiptasia free forever. After all I figured if he cleaned them out, they couldn't spread.

Now theres a bunch in my overflow box! and of course now one in my sump, probably in the 'fuge if I took the light off and looked. the overflow box has another sort of wall-barrier inside the first that they are growing in. My peppermint shrimp can't reach them. I also don't dare buy another shrimp to live in the overflow as he might get sucked down the pipe, then if he gets into the sump (where i saw the other aiptasia) he might get chewed up by my return pump. My corals and main tank are quite safe as the original peppermint shrimp is quite big, fat and always hungry. but I don't want them covering the rest of my set-up.

I can't get my hands on ANY syringes anywhere and even if I could, I don't think I could reach the ones way down in that 1/2 inch gap of the two overflow walls to inject them with kalk or boiling water. :x

What should I do?

 

[Len]

Can you drain the overflow and let the buggers dry out? Just make sure you have circulation in the fuge and sump during this time. Another trick that might work is to firmly attach a razor blade to the end of a hard pvc tube that is then connected to some vinyl tubing. Scrap off the Aiptasia while simultaneously siphoning the pests away.

 

[Sprattoo]

I had thought of this drying out Idea. How long can they live out of water?

I can drain most of the overflow. The bottom has some big fat worms and a good deal of mysis living and breeding there. I wouldn't be able to scrape anything out of that little overflow gap. I dont even know why it's there!! theres a nice high wall with water inlet places, then a half inch gap where it looks like a second, but smaller overflow wall is. Either way it makes a lovely hiding place for them that nothing, not even I could reach.

My 'fuge/sump only sits 4-6 inches off the floor (poor planning on my part maybe) but I don't think I could get enough syphon to suck him out... however just scraping him to let his parts get eaten in main tank might work.

Err. I just tried it... Theres holes in the outer wall about halfway down... so I can't dry them out without draining like half the water out of the tank!!!

Anyone got a long syringe? like a six inch one?

 

[Anonymous]

NO! You have to siphon all of the body out, or else it will just reattach somewhere else. Drying might take a long time...I mean these guys survive on damp LR for a week or so. If you do go this route a hair dryer directed at them (or a stick lighter would be even better) will help.

 

[Sprattoo]

neither would do. Cant get the water level down that far. Dang! I thought this overflow design was great until now. I can even see the purpose of the lower inlet holes.. better water circulation.. brings all sorts of good critters right up through the fateening aiptasia.

Matt's right. Aiptasia reproduce by pedal laceration. scraping one would only introduce 100 more if I miss the smallest shred. these are the guys you can put in a blender to make an army!

The nurse at my work says theres no way she can give me a syringe without risking her liscence. It's funny that I bought a gun with very little effort, but can't get a syringe to save my life!

 

[fishboy19]

Have you tried a pharmacy? I get all mine there. I haven't asked for a 6 incher though...Just a thought

-Matthew

 

[Sprattoo]

will try pharmacy tomorrow.. thanks for the idea.

 

[paats]

I Go to a local pharmacy and buy insulin needles.I use pliers to pull the needle out and it leaves a nice opening to kalk bomb them with.I`ve not been able to get a large enough bore needle to inject kalk into them,I just lay a big gob on them and they melt away. Luck.

 

[No_Floaters]

You can go to any feedstore that deals with livestock or pets (like a Tractor Supply or vet) & get syringes with needles for less than $1 each.

 

[acromoron]

I dealt with mine using rigid thin tubing--like you would use in an old undergravel filter for the airstone. The Kalk paste can be drawn into the tube, held there by capillary action with your thumb over the end, then deliver it straight into the mouths of the devils. I've read that a little cyclopseeze or other smelly fish food mixed in makes them suck the kalk in, haven't tried that yet...

John

 

[Sprattoo]

I have no kalk but had heard boiling water injected right into them works. I will be picking up some kalk though if that doesn't work.

Thanks for the advice I will try feeding them kalk I think. and I'm headed off the Blue Seal feed store, and have found a CVS that has a reef owning employee.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW if they're on rocks a completely foolproof way to kill them is to use a small propane torch lighter like potheads and cigar aficionados use. Just torch the spot on the rock they're on. Easy, localized, and 100% effective. I've never understood the whole kalk paste thing.

 

[tgfrench]

Petsmart carries them in their large animal dept.

 

[ricky1414]

I have used those marinade injectors you find in Target and such. I found one that was entirely plastic with a plastic injector. Worked until I picked up Joe's Juice.

 

[Sprattoo]

Walmart pharmacy hooked me up with a diabetic needle for .13 cents!

I have no kalk.. I got one with an injection of calcium. it went all strngy like, then slimy....

trying to get the rest. As soon as i try to incect, they retract way back down the overflow gap .

 

[Sprattoo]

As a note to tie this topic off....

With my diabetic needle in hand... I injected the ones I could get at with small amounts of white vinegar
(I have 100G of water I wasnt too worried about 1/4 tsp of vinegar dropping my well buffered PH).

I am happy to announce the vinegar did the trick! Once they recoiled I could inject their blob of a base. next day.. plblblbl gone