Help! I have Flatworm!

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
Originally thought this was algae, turns out to be flatworm i think. What type is it, is it dangerous and how do i get rid of it?! Its over everywhere and recently my zoos.
Please Help!
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

hmmm how exactly do i do that then? they are EVERYWHERE!!

 

[sammystingray]

Do they have three tail points instead of two? a red spot? if so, they are bad, and they contain zooxanthellae, so they can receive food from light regardless of the food situation....You seem to have very limited corals at the moment......what exactly is in the tank, and I mean everything.

 

[josh]

Hello,
There are some people who are having good luck with a product called flatworm exit made by salifert. It's best to siphon them out of the tank now and use the product now before they get out of control.

 

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys thanks for the help,
Errrr i dont know about the three points, but they seem to have 1 red tail. Got any pictures?
I only have a clovepolyp/zooanthid at the moment, one button polyp passed away ages ago. Apart from that its what in my siggy.
Err if i was to hand pick them i would literally be there all week, there are millions of them and they have sprung up over night almost literally.
Im getting worried now
Thank

 

[thomas712]

Tim - you seem to have the worst luck.
Diatoms that wont' go away.
Flatworms that are multiplying rapidly.
When do the plauge of locust show up or frogs?
Flatworms are nasty sometimes, to my knowledge they reproduce by fission so they are practically immortal. Only stuff that I know of that knocks a dent in them is flatworm exit by salifert. Got a bottle right in front of me.
Thomas

 

[timsedwards]

Tell me about it! At least the diatoms are showing some very small sign of receeding, but i think thats going to be a 'be patient' kind of thing!
Yes flatworms are piggin' everywhere! Grrrr! OK im going to look for that flatworm remover from salifert. COuld you post a pic of it for me?
Anyone any idea on what type the flatworm is?
HOW DID IT GET INTO MY TANK?!?!?! Ive added nothing!!!!
Thanks!
Tim.

 

[wrassecal]

Originally posted by Thomas712
Tim - you seem to have the worst luck.
Diatoms that wont' go away.
Flatworms that are multiplying rapidly.
When do the plauge of locust show up or frogs?
Flatworms are nasty sometimes, to my knowledge they reproduce by fission so they are practically immortal. Only stuff that I know of that knocks a dent in them is flatworm exit by salifert. Got a bottle right in front of me.
Thomas
Took the words right out of my mouth. And I was going to ask how those T5's were working out for you. Not a good time I guess.

 

[timsedwards]

lol well i havent had the opportunity to see them in normality! One day, one day......
The only thing that keeps me going is seeing some of your tanks and me knowing that one day mine will be like that

 

[thomas712]

Tim - I have not used my bottle of flatworm killer yet so I have not opened it.
Salifert Flatworm Exit
reef safe
Treats upto 300 gallons.
I have heard many good reviews about it. But there are some specific instructions that I have heard about. Like when the flatworms are dieing they release a toxin, so you need to be prepared with a few pounds of carbon to run your water through, this is where a fluval or other canister filter is useful. Just suck them up as they die with the cansiter intake tube, use it as a wand and syphon them out. The carbon pulls out the chemicals, walla! done. But you have to find some way to get the dieing flatworms out.
There are no instructions on the outside of the bottle.
Thomas

 

[dsp]

I would be a little hesitant to use the 'Flatworm Exit'. I have heard that it does a great job killing flatworms, but what else might it be killing? The flat worms may also return in droves and the toxin they release when they die can be a very big problem. I feel that it is better to use something that continually preys on these things. Natural predators include several species of Wrasses, Pseudochromis and a certain species of nudibranch; c. varian (blue velvet sea slug), although these are very delicate. I have a Leopard Wrasse and a Sixline Wrasse that love to eat flatworms.
Research 'Flatworm Exit' carefully before using it! I have heard of people having great success with it when using carbon and removing the dead flatworms, but I have also read some horror stories.

 

[j21kickster]

i have heard of a few people using a velvet nudibranch to get rid of them- they are predators of flat worms- this site sells them- it might be something to look into

 

[yosemite sam]

I had flatworms a while back too and actually had really good luck with a six line wrasse. I never actually saw it eat any of them, but within a week of adding the fish, the number of flatworms was down to almost nil. Plus they are fun little fish.

 

[timsedwards]

OK I had also heard about nudibranchs but not about Sixlines or any other fish....
What are people's thoughts on them? Any particular type of nudibranch recommended?
Thanks guys,
Tim.

 

[j21kickster]

Originally posted by j21kickster
using a velvet nudibranch

 

[timsedwards]

lol thank you j21kickster!
Any experience with these? Any comments on their care?
Tim.

 

[virginia reef]

You can quickly kill them with a freshwater dip. This may help to dip any LR for up to 10 seconds, return it to the tank , then use the medication to kill them. Removal of as many as possible will reduce the toxicity of the kill.
You will be surprised at the color of the water used for the dip. BTW, be sure to try to get temp and pH of the dip water close to the tank water.

 

[timsedwards]

Hi guys thanks for the help again,
I wouldnt mind keeping it natural if possible, i.e. if there is a natural predator or something else that finds them yummy to chomp on!
I have just spoken to my LFS and when they ahve it apparently they use a Myxazin based product, which is primarily for freshwater, but will eradicate worms in saltwater apparently!!
Any ideas on Myxazin?
Thanks guys,
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

bumpity bump

 

[dockery07]

I used Flatworm exit this morning. I am still monitoring the tank but it looks like they are all dead. I already did my water change and have carbon running. I have a 6 line in the tank and it did not touch them