something is taking over my tank

[mad268]

help they look like a worm with a small lobster tail and they are brown . sometimes on my glass but mostly all over my live rock

 

[NYreefNoob]

flatworms, red planeria

 

[NYPDFrogman]

flatworms, red planeria

+1

 

[mad268]

what wrasse should i use as i dont want to use any chemicals

 

[waynotcars]

Man, thats a HEAVY infestation! I'm not sure any livestock is going to take care of that many flatworms. Time for a major breakdown and cleaning & dipping. Wonder what you introduced to your tank with that many flatworms?? You can't have been dipping your corals before adding to the tank.

 

[dubs]

i guess i seen things but i see alot of aptasia in the third pic any way even tho u dont dont want run no chemicals u might have to i think u need to run some carbon and some phosban/gfo its seems to me u have high phosphates and i still dont see no flatworms

 

[LongIslandAndy]

Man, thats a HEAVY infestation! I'm not sure any livestock is going to take care of that many flatworms. Time for a major breakdown and cleaning & dipping. Wonder what you introduced to your tank with that many flatworms?? You can't have been dipping your corals before adding to the tank.

I guess I would use Flatworm Exit before I broke down the tank, stressed all the inhabitants and most likely kill everything with an ammonia spike from disturbing the entire bacterial population. I have use this product numerous times on various systems without a hitch. It is a very safe product if you follow the directions. The type of flatworms that you have are harmless and more of a nuisance, but they are a PIA.

Good Luck

 

[Mattl22]

Dude get your self 2 bottels of flatt worm exit and follow instructions it's defiantly flatt worms I've used few 2 times it works great

 

[SIReefer]

Flatworm Exit definitely!!!!!!!

 

[NYPDFrogman]

i guess i seen things but i see alot of aptasia in the third pic any way even tho u dont dont want run no chemicals u might have to i think u need to run some carbon and some phosban/gfo its seems to me u have high phosphates and i still dont see no flatworms

HUH??? those are flatworms! please if you don't know don't give advice

I would not use flatworm exit with that many the die off will set off a cycle
I had a six line wrasse and an Argus wrase that would devour them.
I'd start off with a water change siphon out as many as I could add a natural predator ( my six line was great)
these are Nuisance more than anything else
remember anything that happens fast in a reef tank isn't good patience!

 

[dubs]

nypdfrogman dont quote me look at the thrid pic u moron those are aptasia and fyi flatworm exit do work if done right and there are more than one way to reefing not just ur idea i had a pretty nice tank for over 2+ year with no pest and the idea i give would help his water anyway even if its didnt kill the flatworn jerk off

 

[sig45]

I added a shrimp to my system and my flatworms basically are gone except in a few areas where the shrimp wont go. I don't know its name but it is big (3+inches) blood red with white legs. It picks at the detritus and small parasites including MEN (monti eating nudi). I got it at Fishtown in Queens about 6 months ago. No problems keeping with other corals or clam.

D

 

[NYPDFrogman]

nypdfrogman dont quote me look at the thrid pic u moron those are aptasia and fyi flatworm exit do work if done right and there are more than one way to reefing not just ur idea i had a pretty nice tank for over 2+ year with no pest and the idea i give would help his water anyway even if its didnt kill the flatworn jerk off

I quoted you again , look at the third picture it's covered with flatworms yet you call me a moron and a jerk off
tell me expert, did he say how big his tank was? what the inhabitants were? how old is tank is? yet your giving him advice without knowing. your tank is 2 years old Bravo! '
I have fish in my tank that are 5 times that age LOL

what wrasse should i use as i dont want to use any chemicals

OH and BTW I never said Flat worm exit doesn't work, but not knowing his tank that well I gave him different advice to avoid a crash.
maybe you should read some over my posts over the last 6 years I dont profess to be an expert but my track record speaks for it's self

BTW here is a couple of pictures to help you identify Flat worms in the future and a couple of links regarding
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fltwmid.htm
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html

was the "u" and the "s" in your screen name a typo?

 

[Paul B]

The type of flatworms that you have are harmless and more of a nuisance, but they are a PIA.

I have about as many as you. They are welcome to spend time in my tank, I consider them free livestock. It looks like you have the same type as I do and they don't go on the corals. I would not try to kill them for the reasons stated and eventually they will probably disappear. Could be months or years.
Good luck

FWIW, I don't see any aiptasia just a bunch of mojano's. Hard to tell, they are blurry but I don't want to get in the middle of you two guys conversation so have a nice day.

 

[jerl77]

hole $$$$ you got alot of them wow wow wow i have used flatworm exit
worked very well for me

 

[dubs]

my reef is 2+ i have had a fowler for more than 12+ year and i used raise triggers so dont think i am new to saltwater game but anyway like i said just dont qoute me making ur self look good carbon and phosban/gfo is good for any system

 

[sig45]

I would recommend natural predation ( eg wrasse, shrimp etc..) before chemicals. Its cheaper and more healthy for your sysytem. If all else fails and they are becoming a problem them go with the chemical treatment. IME chemicals have a tendency to stress the system and rapid die=off could be a water quality issue if your bioload is at capacity.

D

 

[Alex]

that is too many flatworms to safely use flat worm exit, siphon what you can out, then use a wrasse or two ( depends on the size of your system). a diligent siphon should get rid of many of them.

 

[Alex]

BTW gentlemen, I believe the name calling will only get this members thread closed.

 

[wonderballz]

Sig45 has a good idea. Natural predators first, and then if no luck, go for FWE. I thankfully have not had to deal with fw, but this advice seems sound

Sent from my EVO. That's right, you want one...