Aiptasia Anemones: Are They All that Bad for Your Marine Tank?
Conscientious reefers/aquarists have employed one or more methods, more than once at trying to rid their tank before they get out of hand. Running the gamut from adding Peppermint Shrimp(Lysmata Wundermanni), to using vinegar, lemon juice, using Joe’s Juice, employing a pasty concoction of kalkwasser and a little water, to taking out the piece of live rock infected with the anemone and scrubbing it or rinsing it under fresh water. Sometimes these methods work, sometimes they work for a short period and then return, but altogether we find ourselves scratching our heads as to the reason why we get them or are not able to keep them under wraps ultimately riding them once and for all.
Aiptasia anemones are found prominently in all tropical and sub tropical regions worldwide. They can be found in intense light biotopes or under subdued lighting such as in caves, nooks or crannies or underneath corals. They do contain zooxanthellae, which is a dinoflagellate that lives with in the tissue of hermatypic and symbiotic soft corals corals as well as anemones and Tridacna Clams. They form a mutualistic relationship with their host and offer their host nutrients through the process of photosynthesis and give their host the brownish/yellow, green color. Because of this, these light dependent animals require sun or artificial light to survive.
Aiptasia anemones can reproduce very quickly and infestation is quickly to result. These anemones can reproduce both sexually or asexually. They seem to reproduce and thrive under conditions where excess nutrients in the form of nitrates, phosphates, and dissolved organics accumulate mainly through overfeeding. Silicates, microalgae, Mojano anemones and decreased water parameters are often times associated with this.
This particular anemone Can wreck havoc on neighboring animals such as motile invertebrates that come in contact with them. Also zoanthids, corals, sponges, gorgonians and other inhabitants can feel the wrath provided by the aiptasia anemone when it releases dangerous white threads from its mouth also known as acontia. These stinging threads, when they land on neighboring animals and can injure if not kill the animal they touch.
Ok, enough of the negativity displayed by these animals and on to the good that WE as conscientious reefers can gain by adding these anemones to the equation. Anemones, in nature are great filter feeders, removing nutrients from the pelagic areas(water column) of our tanks and water surrounding our reefs. Because of this, we can employ these filter feeders in a separate part of our tank such as a refugium to enable us to implement another form of filtration in the form of biological filtration.
I have added these anemones to my stingray tank and small reef tank with great results. I also do not run a protein skimmer on my small reef tank, relying on small weekly water changes, as an experiment using just the aiptasia anemones and small feedings periodically to my various Octocorals, Niger Trigger, Pacific Long-Tipped Anemone, Percula Clownfish, Six-Line Wrasse and Azure Damsel. Keeping these anemones in a refugium will allow aquarists the opportunity to employ the benefits of these filter feeders and not have the negative impact of these anemones overgrowing in a reef tank and also stinging the animals housed in the main tank. Being able to monitor and control these so called ” nuisance” anemones in a small, separate and confined area will ensure that your tank does not get over run by these potent stinging anemones.
