blue velvet nudibranch

reefNetWork · 06/06/2006, 12:55 PM

Hey i am having problems with flatworms in my tank. they have not eaten any of my corals or done any damage but i do not want them in my tank. i am wondering if anyone has had good luck using blue velvet nudibrnaches to get rid of flatworms? thanks

Travis L. Stevens · 06/06/2006, 01:00 PM

It would work, but then the head shield slug would eventually die. Flatworms are the only thing that it eats. A proper way to get them under control would be to curb nutrient imports. They are feeding on excess nutrients left in the tank. If you can manage to calm this down and do water changes, the population will eventually dwindle and die.

Or you can zap them all now and use Flatworm Exit

reefNetWork · 06/06/2006, 01:03 PM

i would use flatworm exit but wouldnt the ammonia released from them hurt my tank? plus there are ALOT of flatworms. some days i suck out hundreds at a time then they just keep coming back. how long do you think it would take the nudibranch to eat all of them? thanks

Agu · 06/06/2006, 01:04 PM

Those nudis are attracted to pump/powerhead inlets like moths to a candle, where the quickly turn into puree.

I'd recommend another approach............

loosbrew · 06/06/2006, 01:17 PM

well, if theyre not doing any damage just leave em be. nothing like diversity in the tank if you ask me. I've had flatworms for as long as Ive had a tank. some fish will eat them, but at the end of the day its a losing battle, youll end up doing more damage to your tank just to fight som silly flatworms. now if theyre doing a lot of damage, then take natural methods. nudis do tend to go for PH's or overflows, six line wrasses are 50/50... nutrient export is a good method but any change in environment like that needs to be monitored closely as to not stress everything else out.

good luck.

luis

reefNetWork · 06/06/2006, 01:34 PM

thanks for everyones input. i think i am going to still get one just to keep them down in numbers. i dont have any powerheads in my tank so that wont be a problem. i will also do water changes and nutrient export. thanks

06/06/2006, 12:55 PM	#1
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	blue velvet nudibranch Hey i am having problems with flatworms in my tank. they have not eaten any of my corals or done any damage but i do not want them in my tank. i am wondering if anyone has had good luck using blue velvet nudibrnaches to get rid of flatworms? thanks __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/06/2006, 01:00 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It would work, but then the head shield slug would eventually die. Flatworms are the only thing that it eats. A proper way to get them under control would be to curb nutrient imports. They are feeding on excess nutrients left in the tank. If you can manage to calm this down and do water changes, the population will eventually dwindle and die. Or you can zap them all now and use Flatworm Exit __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

06/06/2006, 01:03 PM	#3
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	i would use flatworm exit but wouldnt the ammonia released from them hurt my tank? plus there are ALOT of flatworms. some days i suck out hundreds at a time then they just keep coming back. how long do you think it would take the nudibranch to eat all of them? thanks __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/06/2006, 01:04 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Those nudis are attracted to pump/powerhead inlets like moths to a candle, where the quickly turn into puree. I'd recommend another approach............ __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

06/06/2006, 01:34 PM	#6
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	thanks for everyones input. i think i am going to still get one just to keep them down in numbers. i dont have any powerheads in my tank so that wont be a problem. i will also do water changes and nutrient export. thanks __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/06/2006, 01:17 PM	#5
loosbrew Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 577	well, if theyre not doing any damage just leave em be. nothing like diversity in the tank if you ask me. I've had flatworms for as long as Ive had a tank. some fish will eat them, but at the end of the day its a losing battle, youll end up doing more damage to your tank just to fight som silly flatworms. now if theyre doing a lot of damage, then take natural methods. nudis do tend to go for PH's or overflows, six line wrasses are 50/50... nutrient export is a good method but any change in environment like that needs to be monitored closely as to not stress everything else out. good luck. luis