good or bad flatworms???

guitarguru · 03/29/2006, 11:07 AM

For a while now i have had flatworms in my tank, but they are not the red ones, they are a tan/cream color. They have not attacked any of my fish, inverts, or corals ever since i started to see them (a few months ago). I wanted to know if they are bad, and if they arent should i still get rid of them.

P.S. Does anyone have any experience with the stuff called flatworm exit, and does it work?

Kenny

ONEMANBAND · 03/29/2006, 11:20 AM

A picture would help.

guitarguru · 03/29/2006, 11:27 AM

ill try, but they are to small, and my camera is to bad to get a clear shot.

guitarguru · 03/29/2006, 11:44 AM

heres the best i can do.

[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...h_DSCF1402.jpg[/IMG]

guitarguru · 03/29/2006, 11:51 AM

heres the best i can do.

[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...h_DSCF1402.jpg[/IMG]

guitarguru · 03/29/2006, 11:53 AM

srry for the double post

ONEMANBAND · 03/29/2006, 11:59 AM

hard to tell from the picture, FWE does work, might be better to be safe and dip your corals.

reefD · 03/29/2006, 12:00 PM

ok i have an issue when discussing this topic cause some people really have a hate for flatworms. dont get me wrong in large numbers they are a terrable thing to deal with but in my experience a few flatworms here or there of the right variety is no need to panic. i have had the tan ones for years. they cover some of my shrooms will no ill effect. they never spread to any other corals and i have sps too. no worries from them in two years of seeing them. i have tried to remove them in the past but dont want toi use flatworm exit or any other chemicals. i tried natural fish that eat them still no 100 percent removal. so i just gave it up and dont worry about them. they are not covering my whole tank but you can find a few here and there. no issues rfrom them in my experience all corals are happy and if everything is happy why break it?

ONEMANBAND · 03/29/2006, 12:08 PM

He has a 29 gallon tank and is upgrading soon, why not try to avoid adding a potential predator to a new system? Ive seen a few sweet systems taken out by red bugs and flatworms(not sure if same kind of flatwoms) its not a pretty site.

guitar_lord · 03/29/2006, 12:20 PM

Flatworms dont "attack" fish or inverts nor do they directly harm corals. They indirectly affect corals by overpopulation. Overpopulation leads to them covering/smothering your corals, and blocking out the sunlight that the corals need to survive.

Ive used FWE, and it has only worked partially. I've had to dose multiple times. I dont suggest that you use this method unless you have a great canister filter that you can load up with carbon, because when the flatworms die, they release a toxic poison that will kill fish and corals..

I purchased a 6 line wrasse and he has definatly been worth his weight in gold. Keeps the population under control, and I havent seen one since I put him in my tank.

(keep in mind that ALL 6 line wrasse's may not act the same way, but Ive had great success with mine. There are other fish alternatives that will eat flatworms as well so you might want to do some research)

They really arent a big deal, but personally I found them ugly to look at. I had them so bad that my sand bed was turning yellow/red - it was gross

Good luck

03/29/2006, 11:07 AM	#1
guitarguru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5	good or bad flatworms??? For a while now i have had flatworms in my tank, but they are not the red ones, they are a tan/cream color. They have not attacked any of my fish, inverts, or corals ever since i started to see them (a few months ago). I wanted to know if they are bad, and if they arent should i still get rid of them. P.S. Does anyone have any experience with the stuff called flatworm exit, and does it work? Kenny __________________ reef is love

03/29/2006, 11:20 AM	#2
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	A picture would help. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

03/29/2006, 11:27 AM	#3
guitarguru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5	ill try, but they are to small, and my camera is to bad to get a clear shot. __________________ reef is love

03/29/2006, 11:44 AM	#4
guitarguru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5	heres the best i can do. [IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...h_DSCF1402.jpg[/IMG] __________________ reef is love

03/29/2006, 11:51 AM	#5
guitarguru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5	heres the best i can do. [IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...h_DSCF1402.jpg[/IMG] __________________ reef is love

03/29/2006, 11:53 AM	#6
guitarguru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5	srry for the double post __________________ reef is love

03/29/2006, 11:59 AM	#7
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	hard to tell from the picture, FWE does work, might be better to be safe and dip your corals. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

03/29/2006, 12:00 PM	#8
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	ok i have an issue when discussing this topic cause some people really have a hate for flatworms. dont get me wrong in large numbers they are a terrable thing to deal with but in my experience a few flatworms here or there of the right variety is no need to panic. i have had the tan ones for years. they cover some of my shrooms will no ill effect. they never spread to any other corals and i have sps too. no worries from them in two years of seeing them. i have tried to remove them in the past but dont want toi use flatworm exit or any other chemicals. i tried natural fish that eat them still no 100 percent removal. so i just gave it up and dont worry about them. they are not covering my whole tank but you can find a few here and there. no issues rfrom them in my experience all corals are happy and if everything is happy why break it? __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

03/29/2006, 12:08 PM	#9
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	He has a 29 gallon tank and is upgrading soon, why not try to avoid adding a potential predator to a new system? Ive seen a few sweet systems taken out by red bugs and flatworms(not sure if same kind of flatwoms) its not a pretty site. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

03/29/2006, 12:20 PM	#10
guitar_lord Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London ON Canada Posts: 482	Flatworms dont "attack" fish or inverts nor do they directly harm corals. They indirectly affect corals by overpopulation. Overpopulation leads to them covering/smothering your corals, and blocking out the sunlight that the corals need to survive. Ive used FWE, and it has only worked partially. I've had to dose multiple times. I dont suggest that you use this method unless you have a great canister filter that you can load up with carbon, because when the flatworms die, they release a toxic poison that will kill fish and corals.. I purchased a 6 line wrasse and he has definatly been worth his weight in gold. Keeps the population under control, and I havent seen one since I put him in my tank. (keep in mind that ALL 6 line wrasse's may not act the same way, but Ive had great success with mine. There are other fish alternatives that will eat flatworms as well so you might want to do some research) They really arent a big deal, but personally I found them ugly to look at. I had them so bad that my sand bed was turning yellow/red - it was gross Good luck __________________ -Brian- Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef Last edited by guitar_lord; 03/29/2006 at 12:37 PM.