ID needed--help!

td1415 · 12/16/2007, 08:11 PM

Can anyone help me identify these little creatures? They are all over my gravel and the bottom of each wall. They do not seem to be harming anything--corals, snails, crabs, or fish.

This picture is up close--you can see each creature is about the size of a piece of gravel.

Thanks for the help.

reefing102 · 12/16/2007, 08:14 PM

Flatworms. A good thing to get rid of them is flatworm exit

Reef'in Colorado · 12/16/2007, 08:28 PM

Those things will overtake your tank if you don't get rid of them. I learned the hard way

erendon · 12/18/2007, 09:50 AM

Try to get them out as fast as you can. I heard that when they make a massive die off they release toxins in the water. "Flat Worm Exit".

Sk8r · 12/18/2007, 09:53 AM

Follow instructions on Flatworm Exit...have spare water standing by in event of a tank crash and need to rescue your critters. The biomass during treatment can overwhelm your system. Get them out early, before they become that bad. Follow the instructions and hope you have a really good skimmer!

luke33 · 12/18/2007, 09:55 AM

I had them come on strong and i added a 6line wrasse and a green mandarin to my 125g. The flatworms are few and far between now.

td1415 · 12/18/2007, 12:16 PM

I looked that Flatworm exit up and it does sound pretty potent... it says it only takes 30 minutes. Holy cow. I was concerned about the massive die-off, and from all the recent comments that sounds like a significant problem.

Since I haven't had any problems related to them yet, would it be safer to start with a six line wrasse and see if that takes care of it?

erendon · 12/19/2007, 10:07 AM

I would. I would rather get a natural fix before I get a man made fix that is potent.

2crazyreefers · 12/19/2007, 10:20 AM

IMO looks like you got alot it is better to either maual remove all you can or put something in to eat atleast some of them. Then treat the tank to rid the rest followed by a big water change.

Frick-n-Frags · 12/19/2007, 11:40 AM

you can siphon a large% of them when they come out to "catch some rays"

I would highly advise one week of daily siphoning to decimate their numbers seriously, then flatworm exit if the sixline doesn't work after that. they siphon extremely easily.

td1415 · 12/19/2007, 08:02 PM

I've noticed that. I siphon out as many as I can every time I do a water change. I'll try more of that plus the sixline for starters, I think.

Thanks everyone. These are great tips.

plummike · 12/19/2007, 08:15 PM

I like the idea of siphon, water changes, sixline Wrasse. If you have that many a couple Coral Banded Shrimp may help also.

12/16/2007, 08:11 PM	#1
td1415 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 48	ID needed--help! Can anyone help me identify these little creatures? They are all over my gravel and the bottom of each wall. They do not seem to be harming anything--corals, snails, crabs, or fish. This picture is up close--you can see each creature is about the size of a piece of gravel. Thanks for the help.

12/16/2007, 08:14 PM	#2
reefing102 Who Am I Here? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 1,155	Flatworms. A good thing to get rid of them is flatworm exit __________________ Shane Life's a climb... but the view is great. ______________________________ Current Tank Info: 2.5 Gallon Nano

12/18/2007, 09:50 AM	#4
erendon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 444	Try to get them out as fast as you can. I heard that when they make a massive die off they release toxins in the water. "Flat Worm Exit". __________________ He who tries and fails is wiser than he who does not try out of fear of failure. Current Tank Info: 180 Gal Reef, DYI fuge/sump, 3x 250's, 1400 K phoenix.

12/18/2007, 09:53 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Follow instructions on Flatworm Exit...have spare water standing by in event of a tank crash and need to rescue your critters. The biomass during treatment can overwhelm your system. Get them out early, before they become that bad. Follow the instructions and hope you have a really good skimmer! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/19/2007, 10:07 AM	#8
erendon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 444	I would. I would rather get a natural fix before I get a man made fix that is potent. __________________ He who tries and fails is wiser than he who does not try out of fear of failure. Current Tank Info: 180 Gal Reef, DYI fuge/sump, 3x 250's, 1400 K phoenix.

12/16/2007, 08:28 PM	#3
Reef'in Colorado Reefer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Frederick, Co. Posts: 934	Those things will overtake your tank if you don't get rid of them. I learned the hard way

12/18/2007, 09:55 AM	#6
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I had them come on strong and i added a 6line wrasse and a green mandarin to my 125g. The flatworms are few and far between now.

12/18/2007, 12:16 PM	#7
td1415 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 48	I looked that Flatworm exit up and it does sound pretty potent... it says it only takes 30 minutes. Holy cow. I was concerned about the massive die-off, and from all the recent comments that sounds like a significant problem. Since I haven't had any problems related to them yet, would it be safer to start with a six line wrasse and see if that takes care of it?

12/19/2007, 10:20 AM	#9
2crazyreefers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Vt. Posts: 733	IMO looks like you got alot it is better to either maual remove all you can or put something in to eat atleast some of them. Then treat the tank to rid the rest followed by a big water change. __________________ My 4 part recipie for my acros = calcium - alk - flow & luck.

12/19/2007, 11:40 AM	#10
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	you can siphon a large% of them when they come out to "catch some rays" I would highly advise one week of daily siphoning to decimate their numbers seriously, then flatworm exit if the sixline doesn't work after that. they siphon extremely easily. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

12/19/2007, 08:02 PM	#11
td1415 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 48	I've noticed that. I siphon out as many as I can every time I do a water change. I'll try more of that plus the sixline for starters, I think. Thanks everyone. These are great tips.

12/19/2007, 08:15 PM	#12
plummike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: near Pittsburgh Posts: 271	I like the idea of siphon, water changes, sixline Wrasse. If you have that many a couple Coral Banded Shrimp may help also.