Pickling Lime...?

[postie]

OK...I have gone out to the store and when I spotted some pickling lime, I bought it. It is my intention to fill a hyperdermic needle and spend the next month or so injecting aptasias. I MUST get rid of the million or so aptasias in my tank. Can't use peppermints since I have a lionfish, and can't seem to locate a Berghia nudibranch, boiling water just makes the aptasia laugh at me, and I'm afraid to use vinegar...so will plain pickling lime work or am I about to create a disaster? All opinions appreciated......[img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

------------------
Through perseverance, even the snail made it to the ark.
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Hub/4898/salt.html

[Ninong]

Hi postie ~

Pickling lime is pure food grade Calcium Hydroxide (Kalkwasser), so yes it will work.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

------------------
Irrational Exuberance!

[postie]

KEWL! Tomorrow will be a busy day [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Are there any suggestions as far as how many aptasias to eliminate at one time...should I just do a few at a time so as not to put too much pickling lime in at once?

[Ninong]

I don't think you have to worry about that. You will only be using a tiny amount in each anemone, so it shouldn't raise your pH much at all. Of course, I'm assuming you aren't going to stick 100 of the little beasts. [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img]

Another thing that works, is hydrochloric acid, but in that case it's best to only do two or three per day so that you don't lower your pH.

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

------------------
Irrational Exuberance!

[postie]

My guess is there are not 100 of them, more like thousands! I've tried many things...boiled water, the Stop Aptasia product, etc...and they only multiplied (and multiplied and multiplied). Finally, my reeftank is stocked with some variety and looking very pretty except the thousands of aptasias..........!

[omegatron]

Okay reefland bbs is going nuts. I posted the first response here and now it is gone? whats gives. Alvin did you delete me so you could have the first word [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

Damn I hate computer glitchs

Chuck

------------------
DIVE IN AND VISIT ME:

Omegatron's Reefs

Administrator at Reefboard

[Aframomum]

Hi there,
I have a suggestion for you that works in case you have problems injecting the apstasia - they sure can withdraw quickly (this also works for those small, new ones too)! Instead of just drawing up the clear decant after the precipitate falls out, draw up the mixture while it is still mixed (it will be alittle thicker). Turn off your circulation pumps so that you have no water movement to blow away the mixture once you administer it. Then just deliver the kalk mixture on top of the anemone; it will slowly fall on top of the tentacles until the anemone slowly withdraws back into its 'lair'. You basically want to add enough to cover the anemone and its hole. Normally I leave my pumps off for about 5 minutes while I do this, you can feed other corals during this time, if you feed. (It is a good idea to do this after lights off and try not to get too many anemones at once for obvious reasons - I do not know the pH strength of this 'paste' and since I don't have a pH meter to constantly monitor I am cautious when doing this.) But it is very effective at getting those anemones that are too quick for the syringe method. Good hunting!
Mark

[omegatron]

The PH of Kalk whenever I mix it up is 14.3 It is a very base solution as opposed to acidic. Aptasia can be tricky. I have definately killed a few using this method, however there are just the same amount that have lived from using this method. it my opinion unless you put a copperband or peppermint in there these chemical measures are 50/50

Chuck

------------------
DIVE IN AND VISIT ME:

Omegatron's Reefs

Administrator at Reefboard

[Ninong]

Originally posted by omegatron:
Okay reefland bbs is going nuts. I posted the first response here and now it is gone? whats gives. Alvin did you delete me so you could have the first word [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

Damn I hate computer glitchs

Chuck

Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. I do not remember seeing any post from you on this thread, perhaps you are thinking about another thread--the Aquacon Update. You will notice that my reply was registered within 3 minutes of the orgininal post.

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]



------------------
Irrational Exuberance!

[NCF]

If you look in the Trade forum of this BB you can find a guy selling the eggs of the nudibranch, and instructions to hatch them...

You can try another suggestion:

Get one of the opoxy resins they sell to attach corals. Do a mix. Disturb the anemone you want to kill, so it retracts into the hole, and then seal the hole with a little epoxy... Move on to the next anemone... A horryble death[img]/ubb/eek.gif[/img]... just what they deserve[img]/ubb/mad.gif[/img]....

[postie]

I did consider the nudibranch eggs, but there are 15-25 eggs on a strand. Not to say I could hatch them all out, but hopefully more than a few would hatch. I can't imagine myself trying to keep multiple nudibranches alive. Especially after the aptasia was gone...one, I might be lucky enough to remove from my tank and share with others, but multiple nudibranches would just be an invitation to death with my time schedule. The babies also have to be slowly acclimated to eating the aptasia by introducing teeny tiny aptasia one or a few at a time til the nudibranch is large enough to introduce into my tank...I simply don't have time to "raise" them.

As far as sealing up the holes...I would have no holes left in my live rock! Also, my tank is deep and I cannot reach the bottom rocks...the syringe will give me an extra few inches reach with the pickling lime. I'm going to try it with the 20-gallon first...if there are adverse affects, it will affect a 20 quickly and I'll be able to react before I disturb my reeftank. My next option, if this does not work, will be to put a copperband butterfly in the reef...and I know the Sailfin will not appreciate that!

Thanks everyone for helping...feel free to add anything else I might need to consider. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[ERRN7]

Postie it was good to meet u last night at the reef meeting. Hopefully it will take off. I hope your hunt is successful. Email me when u have time to swap some info.

------------------
"Rampart Emergency this is Squad 51"

[Doug1]

I dont envy you the task of dealin with all them aptasia in a tank with a lionfish. Needles to say be careful around it. They can get quite tame but if threatened will go to defensive mode
Take my word you dont wanna deal with that

------------------
Reef as though your life depended on it, yours might but the seas does
Visit www.thereeftank.com User friendly and flamefree Doug TheReefTank admin

[postie]

Well, my lion is a real sweetheart....whenever I need to do anything on the inside of my tank, he goes to the farthest hiding place he can find. I have no fear of getting stung, however, I do make sure I know where he is at ALL times that my hands are in the tank. Although I know he runs away, no need to risk an accident. I'm very fortunate that he does hide rather than being curious or aggressive...that would make tank maintenance a bit more of a pain...still, he has all my respect! [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

------------------
Through perseverance, even the snail made it to the ark.
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Hub/4898/salt.html

[Schottman]

you might want to see if your LFS will take your lion fish or put him in your quarintine tank and get enough peppermint shrimps to get rid of these all then bring back your lionfish [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] and sell the shrimp to someone [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Schottman [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[popcorn]

You might be surprised at how effective the kalk can be. We had a bit of a problem, albeit not as bad as yours. I'd recommend shaking up the mix and using the thicker layer. (Not right at the bottom, though.) Try to nail the aips right in the stalk and inject. You'll know when you hit one. They can be tricky, but the big ones are not that hard to get. Patience is a key. (Oh, and I use the pickling lime, too. It's soooo much cheaper.)
Good luck.

------------------


[This message has been edited by popcorn (edited 03-04-2001).]