Help! I Wrecked My Tank - How To Get Rid Of Aiptasia
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Aiptasia are small, invasive anemones that can appear in reef tanks. They are often called glass or rock anemones. They reproduce rapidly and sting corals, causing stress and potential death to nearby corals. Aiptasia usually hitchhike their way into your tank on live rock, coral frags, or other tank additions.
If you find yourself fighting an aiptasia infestation, you're not alone as this is probably one of the most common reef tank pests out there. The good news, they can be eliminated from any tank with just a little persistence and the right solution.
Understanding how to get rid of Aiptasia starts with knowing what works and what doesn't. The approach should be tailored to the level of infestation and your particular level of experience. It goes without saying, the sooner you address the problem the easier it will be to get rid of them.
Chemical Remedies
All of the chemical remedies work similarly and involve covering or injecting the aiptasia with a special paste-like solution. Our favorite, for effectiveness sake, is the Frank's F-Aiptasia for its consistency is the easiest to use without spilling over onto neighboring corals. When using a solution like this, you need to address the problem right away because every individual aiptasia will need to be covered and killed. You also need to be persistent because you can only treat a handful of anemones at one time. Too much solution can irritate your aquarium so we only recommend this chemical approach if you're in the early stages of infestation.
Natural Remedies
- Berghia Nudibranch
- Aiptasia Eating Filefish
- Peppermint Shrimp
- Copperband Butterflyfish
For serious infestations, there is a much better option. Adding natural aiptasia predators to your tank is highly effective when done correctly. They can make quick work of even the most plague-level aiptasia outbreaks. Berghia Nudibranchs are hands-down the most effective because they are obligate aiptasia eaters, that is the only thing they will eat.
Generally speaking, you will get just a few Berghia to start and introduce them at night after all your fish have been fed. They will settle among the rocks and you probably won't see them for a couple of weeks. So long as aiptasia are readily available, they will begin to reproduce in your aquarium which is when you really start to noticeably see the aiptasia die off. Within 1-2 months, your aiptasia woes will be a thing of the past.
The only downside with Berghia they are tiny and must carefully be added to your aquarium. Additionally, once they run out of food (aiptasia) they will die off. They are fairly prolific and easy to maintain should you decide to set up a dedicated breeding tank, the hard part is keeping a sufficient supply of aiptasia to feed them.
Check out our article "The Aiptasia Hit Squad" to learn more about using natural predators to eradicate aiptasia in your reef aquarium.
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