Where's a good place to get it and how much? Got some aptaisia that need killing...

Ira - Have you tried kalwasser paste? I got given some joes juice and had little success with it, I had better casulty rates with the kalk paste. Mix it into runny toothpaste and squeeze it into their mouth and if possibe cover their base with it, they melt, never to be seen again.

Pie

Joes Juice has worked wounders for me. Well worth the $35ish dollars spent on it. But i have heard that Kalk paste works just as well.

Dave

Haven't tried kalk because I don't have any. :lol:

The kapimana club meeting's at your place tomorrow, isn't it? Can I buy some kalk off you then?

IRA - Yeah I understand the meeting is at my place tommorow. I don't have enough Kalk to sell, but will give you enough to make an Aipstasia Death Mix if you want it. I have 2 Aipstasia I know of, maybee I can demonstrate the killing power of the kalk there and then (need an excuse to kill em, have been lazy).

Piez

Liz Donlan, the editor of Marine World magazine (available in New Zealand via the distributors, Redwood Aquatics - Bob note the free plug there) wrote an article on the stuff and said she cleared her tank of Aiptasia and only used 2ml of the stuff !! I dont know if its available retail here but I believe i have seen it on Marine Depot for $20US.

On the subject of Aiptasia (for future reference) do Copper banded butterflyfish REALLY eat it sufficiently to keep it out of the aquarium (or remove it if introduced after it appears) ? Ive read that to be the case. And what about other inverts - do they munch those too or are they selective ?

Cheers

Its here (check the banners at the top of this site), imported by Reef (Aquanet). Not sure which stores carry it.

Pie

jansens and hollywoodfishfarm stock it - not sure if they exist outside of the bombays though?

it's only $30 - $35 and i've had great success with it. had a good 20 or 30 aiptasia, now i have 2... which reminds me i must nuke those bastards tonight...

CB yes they will clear your tank of them, and feather dusters etc... if you get one that eats these guys

but you will struggle to feed them once they have eaton everything they want to eat.

only get one if you have the ability to remove it from your tank and feed it in a quiet environment, pref with lots of rock as well.....

RnB

Ahh, thanks mate ! Just what i DIDNT wanna hear, lol. (But feared would be the case). I had seen on video that they are difficult to keep but if they are that bad and fussy I will skip it - dont believe in keeping something just cos it looks nice if you cant cater to its need. Bit like seeing Mandarin Fish in a fish only aquarium with no bloody rock !! Grrr.

and not all copperbands have a taste for aiptasia. in fact, i researched them as i was wanting one myself and the general consensus is consider yourself 'lucky' if you get one that does

Chim

Lol - that figures. Just like i will probably get a dwarf angel that is a real muncher !!

Sodium Hydroxide (Draino) has work flawlessly for me. 1/6th the cost of Joe's Juice, safer and more efficient than kalk paste. Around $5 worth gets you enough to last you a lifetime of aiptasia nuking!

Layton,

Since it is you who has put the posting about Draino _ I will not question it.

But had i read that elsewhere i would have baulked at the idea. (Yes yes, there are plenty of others on here i trust too - don't get upset)

Does it not contain any other nasties that may be detrimental? I guess not since you use it with success. How do you apply it and it what quantities (as application and quantity seem to be specific with the other options).

Maybe i should say "patent pending on this idea", but have you considered the possibilities of rebottling and selling as "Miracle Aiptasia Cure" ??

Chris

Ha! Don't worry, you're not the only one who thinks i'm crazy using this.

Draino is "100%" sodium hydroxide, sure it's probably contaminated with other stuff, but the quantities you are adding are so small it's insignificant.

Why do I think it's safer than Kalk? well kalk does not dissolve much, so there is the potential for fish to pick at the paste, this could cause chemical burns for the fish, due to the low pH. Sodium hydroxide on the other hand is extremely soluble, forming a strongly alkaline solution, (pH close to 14) because it's so soluble, any which is not target injected near or in the aiptasia soon dissolves in surrounding water, being neutralised into sodium chloride (salt) and water.

It's also more effective than kalk because the localised pH is much higher.

Layton

Right, i must contact the patents office

So you just squirt it in the close vicinity of the aiptasia? What quantity? 1ml ? More/less ?

Sounds great !.

Thanks for the tip. Maybe we should set up a "hot tips" thread.

Hot tips sounds like a good idea, however I am not sure I could endorse using drain cleaner in a tank...

Piemania

Lol - Pies, I think you just have to look at the evidence aye. A respected and successful reefkeeper IS using it, to no ill effect. It even seems he has covered the chemical issues involved, and he DOES have a point regarding to solubility of kalk.

Im gonna trust Layton on that one. (Not that i will get Aiptasia is my tank when its finally setup - it wouldn't DARE)

I was only half serious about the "hot tips". Look at the 'debate' that has ensued regarding someons question on what they need to change their 4x2x2 tank into marines! I reckon by the time we got consensus on any hot tips there would be no fish left in the ocean, lol.

I have taken Layton’s advice on the Drano (as I have on may other topics) and it seems to have worked like a charm (cheap one at that!! 8) ).

One word of caution though, it seems to do as well a job on Mushrooms too!! So if you like the little mushies, be careful of where you squirt the Drano b/c they will be truly mush in a matter of minutes.

That was fine with me since I am trying to get rid of the little buggers, but I know there are heaps out there that love them.

I guess it would be best to be squirting this stuff when there is not too much turbulence in the tank? Or wouldnt that matter ?

Just squirt directly on it, preferably in it's mouth, less than 0.5mL is plenty. Turbulence doesn't matter too much.

Layton

also, try not to get the solution on your hands, it causes some nasty chemical burns if left unattended, drys out your skin and it cracks.

If you do get it on your skin (it will feel soapy and slippery) then wash with plenty of cold water. It won't do any harm.

Layton

Hmmm, I'd thought Draino was Calcium hydroxide...

Kalk is Calcium Hydroxide

Draino is Sodium Hydroxide