Need help with getting rid of red flat worm

[ifarmer]

I have to admit that my tank is infested with flat worm (red worm).

With a magnify glass, I was able to see them on the glass, on the corals and on the rocks. They sure are ugly looking .

what is the best way to get rid of them entirely? tips, suggestions and warnings are all welcome and much needed. I hate these invaders

Note: Going forward, I will dip every new corals. Does not matter where they came from (whether they were from your best buddy or from a long timer Manhattanreefers....)


thank you
Farmer

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Get a springer damsel or a malanarus wrasse and those two are eradication machines !!!

 

[mluz]

Had them in my tank about a year ago. I bought a Melanarus wrasse and it ate them all within a few weeks. Have not see one since then. My wrasse ate all my little feader dusters but did not touch any of the other invertebrates, cleaner shrimp, snails, hermit.

The other option is to use flatworm exit.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Natural predators are strongly suggested over chemicals

 

[Pseudo]

Flatworm Exit. All dead in a day. Predators eat the ones they can see and reach. You might have to treat twice. No ill effects on pods and other good stuff.

 

[Jim]

Wow, you're not having a lot of luck lately. First red bug now flat worms. I keep a melanarus just as a preventative fish. How is the interceptor treatment going? Look into using bayer as a dip on your future additions.

Good luck with these pests.

 

[Royal-aquatic]

Six line wrasse should do the job.

 

[albano]

Six line wrasse should do the job.

But can end up being an aggressive fish, that is hard to remove!

 

[NYreefNoob]

sixline wrasse, will clean it out in no time, but can be or become very aggressive towards flasher/fairy wrasses

 

[Jhoehlein]

Could try a Pink Streaked Wrasse, Pseudocheilinops ataenia. Similar to a six line with none of the aggression. They can be hard to come by though. Another option is a canary wrasse or yellow "coris" wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus. They stay reasonably sized relative to the other Halichoeres, and are extremely common in the trade.

 

[mluz]

Could try a Pink Streaked Wrasse, Pseudocheilinops ataenia. Similar to a six line with none of the aggression. They can be hard to come by though. Another option is a canary wrasse or yellow "coris" wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus. They stay reasonably sized relative to the other Halichoeres, and are extremely common in the trade.

That's the other wrasse that I have, between the melanarus and virus, no flat worms

 

[Jan]

Flat worm exit is great for killing planeria. Safe too. It's best to syphon them out first then do the treatment. The problem with the treatment is the toxin released from the flatworms when they die. It can get to harmful levels for other inhabitants. The FW's also get inside the rocks so it may take a couple or a few treatments. If you use the FW exit make sure you have enough mix ready for a large water change. don't wait too long between treatments. I had to treat my little pico 3 times.

 

[Dace]

but can end up being an aggressive fish, that is hard to remove!

+1