Berghia Nudibranch - Aiptasia Eating

How to Care for Berghia Nudibranch

written by Dave Burr 

Feeding: Berghia Nudibranch feed exclusively on Aiptasia and are a great way to eradicate pesky Aiptasia from your aquarium. They will not harm any corals or other inverts in your aquarium.

Protection: Overflows and pump intakes can harm the Berghia Nudibranch. Use plastic mesh of filter material to protect it from those areas. Many Wrasses will also eat the Berghias.

Tip: To place the Berghia Nudibranch in your aquarium use a turkey baster with a large opening to place them in the aquarium near an Aiptasia.

Care Level: Easy
Reef Compatible: Yes
Diet: Carnivore - Aiptasia Only
Range: Western Atlantic, Caribbean
Family: Aeolidiidae
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.

Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.