my quest for an aiptasia-free reef tank

What happened?

2007-04-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, the tank had a bad "crash." Macro Algae escaped from the refugium and into the tank. The lighting as well as the (assumed) increase of Nitrates cause the tank to go haywire.
Wiping the tears, I am rebuilding. However, my quest for an aiptasia-free tank unfortunately became my quest for any reef tank.
stay tuned...

progress report + 73 days

2007-02-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Did you think that I went away?? Well, I thought the Berghia did. I hadn't seen one in over a month. But then I caught one - even in bright daylight.

Better yet, upon closer examination, there were two!

In the second photo, the red arrow shows yet another egg spiral. Blue shows the second Berghia.

I have not seen any evidence of baby Berghia, though, and I would have thought I would have by now.

I am just happy that they are still living, and have to make the assumption that if I see two, there must be more in the tank (in areas not visible).

Now, when am I going to see some damage to the aiptasia???

progress report + 41 days

2007-01-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

New egg spiral !

Seems the mating three days ago led to some eggs! Let's hope some of these produce more aiptasia eating Berghia... Stay tuned!

progress report + 40 days

2007-01-17T01:59:00.000-08:00

Berghia on the sand!

For the first time, I just saw Berghia on the sand. It appears it was eating the small aiptasia which are throughout the sandbed. Another Berghia can be seen in the background, on the live rock at left. Sorry for the poor focus job. Don't forget to click on the photo for a larger size.

progress report +38 days

2007-01-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

Well, last evening I decided to turn off all pumps and water circulation for some maintenance. Two Berghia were out and about. This morning, in their usual hiding place, they were a bit more "intimate."

I'll check back to see if this leads to any egg spirals - something that I haven't seen for a few weeks.

It is also worthwild to mention that I spotted 3 Berghia last night, not just these two. One hides around the back of this rock, while these two hide up in the crevices where I always photograph them.

Someone in one of my Reef Central posts http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1016207
commented that if the Berghia have made it this long, they are definitely eating. I'll try to photograph them eating and post it for you to see.

progress report +34 days

2007-01-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

I do not believe my eyes!

The lights just turned off in the tank, and out zoomed a Berghia going to munch on some aiptasia! Look below and see it eating (you can click on the photo for a larger version).

Now the one above is just one of two Berghia I saw today. Look at the next image in which the Berghia from above can be seen on the left, and the same Berghia from yesterday's post is still in the crevice under the rock.

I am a believer, but it took one month to see the Berghia eating.

progress report +33 days

2007-01-10T14:25:00.001-08:00

Well, I was a bit disturbed to come back from Christmas Holidays and see no improvement to the aiptasia situation.

Almost two weeks had passed, and I saw no improvement, no egg spirals, and no Berghia.

But then today, after several intense hours of looking, I saw one Berghia (or possibly two) - just to the right of center of the photo.

They are still under the same rock that I introduced them into the tank on, over a month ago.

Unfortunately, I see no juvenile Berghia and no evidence that the Berghia are eating the Aiptasia. I am sorry if this Blog is a continuous rant about my doubts of the capabilities of Berghia. Hopefully, I'll be wrong - and you'll be there to share in my surprise.

progress report +21 days

2006-12-28T18:01:00.000-08:00

Some more egg spirals can be seen, but the earlier ones have either been eaten, moved, or hatched. I hope the baby Berghia can find some food. There are sure a lot of aiptasia there for them.

This is the underside of one of the arch-shaped rocks. You can see tube worms, as well as a Berghia and egg spiral.

progress report +12 days

2006-12-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Looked into tank and can spot 3 easily in the middle of the day. They are hiding. Noticed a new egg spiral, too close to edge of tank to use the underwater housing. Also, very close to the sand bottom.

I haven't noticed any difference in the Aiptasia. Hoping the population of Berghia will soon increase. I am told it takes about two weeks for the eggs to hatch. I'll come back to this area then.

Any reef central members have any comments to the blog, please feel free to post them here, or in my thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=995668

progress report + 8 days

2006-12-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

Well, after one week it appears the Berghia are still hiding. I would have expected them to do a bit more damage (reference the top photo). Perhaps they are too busy doing the "Funky Cold Medina". At night, with a maglite and some patience, I can spot 6 of the original 10. They seem to hide in the same places, which makes me wonder, are they eating?

In the final photo for today's blog entry, you can see what I believe to be two Berghia taking turns having fun with their Hermaphroditism :-)

The egg spirals reported earlier have disappeared. Perhaps the yellow tang had fun with them?

Welcome

2006-12-13T03:27:00.000-08:00

One of the worst battles I've faced in maintaining a coral reef tank is the invasion of the nasty pest "glass" anemone, a.k.a. Aiptasia. Once they get into a tank (I assume on some live rock or other hitchhiker means) they start enjoying the perfectly balanced water and lighting conditions you made for your corals / fish. Steven Pro refers to Aiptasia as the "tough little Dandelion of the aquarium hobby." And that they are, an invasive weed.

I've tried all sorts of methods, most involved injecting various liquids into each Aiptasia. But my 40 gallon tank has hundreds, if not thousands, and this task seemed only to make the population grow (most likely due to reproduction by fragmentation of the small pieces of Aiptasia that missed the siphon of my vacuum during the process).

So in comes the Messiah - I hope - the Berghia Nudibranch (a.k.a. Berghia Verrucicornis). These expensive, tiny little slugs eat only Aiptasia. I purchased mine from Lisa and Kevin, at Salty Underground. If you look to the left of the Berghia in this photo, you can see the spiral egg typical of the Berghia.

This Blog will be a photo journal of their work.