obrien.david.j Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Victim 2, Fifth Morning (Sat AM) I can still see three, remaining in the cracks. I'm thinking the shrimp have been well fed, and aren't going as aggressively at this point. thoughts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonGrownReef Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 1 hour ago, obrien.david.j said: Victim 2, Fifth Morning (Sat AM) I can still see three, remaining in the cracks. I'm thinking the shrimp have been well fed, and aren't going as aggressively at this point. thoughts? It makes sense. I believe the reason we don't see more widespread success with peppermint shrimp is because they are usually kept and fed in our display tanks and have no need to eat the aiptasia. Yours just had a ton to feast on. They've obviously got a taste for them, so hopefully you won't need to do anything else other than wait. It's been fun watching the progression! Thank you for documenting this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 7 minutes ago, OregonGrownReef said: It makes sense. I believe the reason we don't see more widespread success with peppermint shrimp is because they are usually kept and fed in our display tanks and have no need to eat the aiptasia. Yours just had a ton to feast on. They've obviously got a taste for them, so hopefully you won't need to do anything else other than wait. It's been fun watching the progression! Thank you for documenting this! I have the same theory why my filefish and copper banded butterfly fish haven't decimated the Aptasia in the main display tank... Because I feed heavily. Or feel like I do. I got through one sheet of paper size packet of frozen LRS food every 8 days. (I cut the packet into 8th's, and feed 1/8th a day) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Victim 2, Sixth Morning (SunAM) Rotated and separated the rocks yesterday. This morning, I can still see one Aptasia hunkered in a hole - but it's time to call this quits. I'm leaving this rock in and... Today we'll move in Victim #3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 Victim(s) 3 Decided to pull four rocks out this time. Victim 2 are still in the shrimp tank, but felt the shrimp need some new food too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 Victim(s) 3, First Morning (Monday) There's enough rock, I may need two pictures to get the overall perspective and watch the densest section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 Victim(s) 3, Second Morning (Tuesday) Observation of the day First Morning Aptasia were out like they owned the tank. This morning - They're acting harassed. Slightly closed up, withdrawn, not comfortably expanded to own the world. Go Shrimp Go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 Victim(s) 3, Third Morning (Wednesday) There's no doubt, Aptasia are being picked on - and eaten Although the photo doesn't show it perfectly, I've cropped into the shrimp dead center of the highest rock When he moved out of the way, there were Aptasia Guts all over # SoSatisfying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 Victim(s) 3, Fourth Morning (Thursday) Aptasia have receded. They're there. Just not open and proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 (edited) Victim(s) 3, Fifth Morning (Friday) 5 days seems to be the magic number. Bulk Aptasia are gone. a few well tucked stragglers must still be there, but I can't see them this time This weekend is likely time to announce the lucky winner of Victim 4 status Edited January 28, 2022 by obrien.david.j 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Victim(s) 3, Sixth Day (Saturday) Feels like today should be a before and after compare day It is also worth while to say, this process is not perfect. I'm happy the bulk aptasia are knocked down But an escapee on Victim 1 has shown up, which has been returned to the main tank. Victim 1 - in main tank MUCH better than when it started, but not 100% cured (and yes, those are dino's all over the gravel - thank you for asking. Specifically LCA, which I'm currently fighting too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Did not add Victim 4 today. Borrowed the shrimp tank space to temporarily hold the grow out tank occupants, which has developed a thick layer of diatom algae. something like coscinodiscus (ID'd by R2R helpers) https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/id-please-coating-flat-surfaces-thin-matt-scope-pictures-included.887878/ Drained, removed, scrubbed in driveway, and reinstalled today. Frag tank looking better. Shrimp tank restored to the shrimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 2, 2022 Author Share Posted February 2, 2022 Victim(s) 4, First Morning (Wednesday) Got next large pile of rocks moved to the Shrimp tank last night Attached are the baseline photos from the first morning. Aptasia are open and out, not feeling the effects of shrimp... Yet. Special Note: Victims 2 and 3 rock piles are still in this tank. In theory, shrimp should be hungry and be eating on V4 rocks. But the others are still there too. (I'd like to glue some of these rocks back together into a rigid structure before returning to display tank) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 Victim(s) 4, Second Morning (Thursday) Second morning, still following same trend as past victims - Aptasia still comfortably open, acting unphased But... also still following same trend as past victims - I can see Peppermint shrimp huddling underneath these rocks. Getting Ready (que the theme song from Jaws. think like you're an aptasia, and the shrimp are great white sharks - ready to Eat You!) duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 Follow-up mid day I never realized just How Many aptasia there where on this rock, until I was looking closer over lunch today. Turned on the white lights. Attached is close up of one section of rock, AND a crop of the center of the same photo. Look at those little tiny ones!!! These pictures could be used in an instructional video. Don't let Aptasia get out of hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 4, 2022 Author Share Posted February 4, 2022 Victim(s) 4, Third Morning (Friday) Hmm, I was expecting to see aptasia less open - after being bothered by shrimp for 24hrs I *see* shrimp on top of the rocks, and more under the rocks... duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Have you tried adding Berghia to the treatment tank? It seems like a group of them might do the job a little more quickly than the shrimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 On 2/5/2022 at 10:01 AM, Lexinverts said: Have you tried adding Berghia to the treatment tank? It seems like a group of them might do the job a little more quickly than the shrimp. I have done Berghia in the past, with great success. This time around, I seem to melt them faster than I could encourage their success. (I tried two batches earlier, and have a couple of theories what I did wrong - but the aptasia have gone Crazy - and felt I needed a technique that could knock them down faster, at least initially.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 Victim(s) 4, Fifth Afternoon (Sunday) We were out for the weekend, so no Sat/Sun morning pictures. But Sunday afternoon checkin, and the Shrimp Have Been Busy. There are still some Aptasia visible, but amazing how the bulk are either in hiding or gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 Victim(s) 4, Fifth Morning (Monday) Just keeping photo documentation up to date. Looks the same this morning, as last night. a bunch of shrimp are on the rock this mornig, in different spots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 Victim(s) 4, Sixth Morning (Tuesday) We've moved to the phase were I can't find any aptasia remaining. A few are likely left in some crack/crevis. But 6 days seems to be the trick to Bulk Eradication. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 Victim(s) 5, First Morning (Wednesday) New phase of the experiment. I'm out of bare rocks from the main tank. Starting to bring in rocks with various corals. One has easy SPS, one is a ricorda rock, and last a gorgonian rock. Shrimp are supposed to now be trained to like Aptasia, Not Coral! Okay, these rocks went in late last night (white pictures). First thing this morning (red pictures), and check out the three shrimp just enjoying themselves at the top of the purple monti digitata. (last photo) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 Victim(s) 5, Second Morning (Thursday) As expected, 2nd morning is boring. Aptasia are still loud and proud. On a positive note, corals don't seem bothered. How many of us have heard a story of a peppermint shrimp that's gotten a taste for someones corals and ... It's Got To Go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 Victim(s) 5, Third Morning (Friday) Third Morning, and Some Removal visible! (Left side reduction picture included, Right Side w/Ricordea looks like no change) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 Victim(s) 5, Fourth Morning (Saturday) Aptasia reduction continues. This morning the Aptasia under the Ricordea are missing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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