Glutton for punishment

[Dearth]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

Did these forums or books that you've read say why you should treat the anemone in an acidic saltwater solution? Is there some sort of microscopic parasite that it treats for?

If you're planning on re using the rock I'd recommend drying it out completely before placing it in your tank. Aptasia is very hardy and will probably survive a short freshwater dip.

The prevailing theme for what I had read on other forums was to make any parasites drop off as the acidic dip would shock them into releasing

As to the rock it is sitting in fresh water for a few days then will get a thorough drying before being introduced into the tank

[Borderjumper]

I've never heard of dipping anemones in a vinegar bath.. Doesn't sound right to me. People use vinegar to kill Aptasia, which is a kind of anemone.

[whatcaneyedo]

But what parasites? Porcelain crabs and sexy shrimp? Did they neglect to name anything? That sounds like really bad advice to me. Anemones can be pretty hardy and long lived in captivity once settled into a mature and stable environment (my sebae turns 9 next year). Most deaths happen early on from collection and shipping stresses (and later on from powerhead and pump intakes). All invertebrates are very sensitive to sudden changes in pH, temperature and salinity. Its best not to push their limits without a really good reason.

I too have used vinegar, lemon juice, calcium hydroxide and boiling water to kill anemones (aptasia).

What was the name of the book?

[Dearth]

I had 2 books both borrowed one dealt with fish and touched on corals

The other dealt specifically with corals and i dont remember exact name but started with "Coral reefs (something something)joy" but I do remember it was printed in 1997 and the person who Lent it too me no longer lives in town(moved to Texas). The book dealt a great deal with parasites on corals and anenome and ways to eradicate them and spoke great deal about ways to use vinegar to remove and destroy parasites

[xenon]

Never heard of that either.

That book is highly outdated. lol

[whatcaneyedo]

I've got The Reef Aquarium Vol 2 by Delbeek and Sprung (1997) which talks exclusively of the care for soft coral and anemones. It names a polychaete or two that might eat an anemone but says nothing of vinegar dipping. But as you've just witnessed polychaetes tend to hide out in the rocks near the anemone and not on the surface of them. I also tried several searches on RC for 'anemone vinegar dip', 'anemone vinegar pest', and 'anemone vinegar parasite' but all it turned up was ways of killing anemones.

Most of my 19 books came from the 1995-2005 era and little has changed. I'd expect something newer would probably have a little bit of information on LED lighting, organic carbon dosing and the care of non photosynthetic coral but the rest of the information would still be current and valid. Books from the 1980s and early 90's talked of skimmers as being some new and wonderful thing, suggested using under gravel filters and wet/dry trickle filters.

Originally Posted by Dearth

... but as to the possibly unknown critters I am playing by ear

In addition to aptasia watch out for flatworms, small crabs, red bugs, bubble algae, pyramid snails, sundial snails, hydroids, large grey bristle worms, mantis shrimp and majano anemones in this town. There are many tanks here that have or have had these pests at one time or another. Total Pet tends to get quiet a few of them as a result when people bring liverock back to the store.

[Reefgoat]

Dipping invertebrates in a dip meant to kill invertebrates seems like a very bad idea.