Flatworms

Mr31415 · 01/15/2008, 11:15 AM

What does an explosion of flatworms in my sump suggest? This is in my 480g predator tank with LR and soft corals. I have a reverse lit refugium in the sump area with cheato and LR rubble, and millions of pods.

I discovered a week ago that in a matter of days my glass pane in the sump is covered with flatworms - have not seen one in the main display though (I have wrasses in there).

Why is this? Are the flatworms evil?

Entropy · 01/15/2008, 12:04 PM

I am not sure if I would say evil, but they can be annoying! I would just drop a sixline in there and they will be gone shortly.

gman08016 · 01/15/2008, 12:05 PM

Did you add any new coral or rocks.Normally they hitch a ride on corals and rocks.I had a bad outbreak in my 150 from a new coral.I used faltworm exit it took 2 doses put did get rid of them.

Mr31415 · 01/15/2008, 12:09 PM

Nope have not touched the system.

chin · 01/15/2008, 12:12 PM

Flatworms are so annoying and hate them w/ a passion. They were hitchhikers off of a mushroom rock I bought. I rid them of my tank using a mixture of wrasses; six line, radiant, and yellow coris

K' Family Reef · 01/15/2008, 02:10 PM

they were included in w/ some chaeto i purchased once (who would have thought to qt chaeto???)

dsanfilippo · 01/15/2008, 03:54 PM

...flatworms suck

sditch · 01/15/2008, 04:22 PM

I heard they can release toxins or nitrates when treated ? anyone know anything about that?

Mr31415 · 01/16/2008, 12:17 AM

Yeah they say if you use flatworm exit you need to siphon their dead bodies off and do water changes, as their dead bodies releases some toxins.

Fiziksgeek · 01/16/2008, 06:54 AM

I've posted this elsewhere, but here it is again:

Registered: Jun 2005
Location: Tariffville, CT
Occupation: Laser jock
Posts: 1239

This is how I successfully took care of flat worms in my 210.

1. Bought 3 bottles of Sailfert's Flat Worm Exit
2. Make up some dip tanks and treated many of my corals discarding the water and dead flat worms. Mushrooms and LPS seemed to harbor the most worms in my case.
3. Returned all corals to the tank and treated the entire display.
4. Add a good amount of carbon per FWE instructions
5. Did a 20% water change at 18 hours and 48 hours post treatment.

Here is a video of the worms freaking out...right before they die..

chin · 01/17/2008, 02:12 PM

Had a friend use FWE before, wiped out their tank. But I believe it was his fault b/c he didnt siphon out the majority of the flatworms, just dumped in the FWE. There were a lot more flatworms in the tank than he thought.

luke33 · 01/17/2008, 02:35 PM

I had an explosion for a couple mths, got a mandarin and a 6line, problem went way. As long as your main tank doesn't get them everywhere i wouldn't be to worried and i bet there population dwindle's down as well. Just keep an eye on them for a few mths

01/15/2008, 11:15 AM	#1
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Flatworms What does an explosion of flatworms in my sump suggest? This is in my 480g predator tank with LR and soft corals. I have a reverse lit refugium in the sump area with cheato and LR rubble, and millions of pods. I discovered a week ago that in a matter of days my glass pane in the sump is covered with flatworms - have not seen one in the main display though (I have wrasses in there). Why is this? Are the flatworms evil?

01/15/2008, 12:04 PM	#2
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I am not sure if I would say evil, but they can be annoying! I would just drop a sixline in there and they will be gone shortly. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

01/15/2008, 12:05 PM	#3
gman08016 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 137	Did you add any new coral or rocks.Normally they hitch a ride on corals and rocks.I had a bad outbreak in my 150 from a new coral.I used faltworm exit it took 2 doses put did get rid of them.

01/15/2008, 12:09 PM	#4
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Nope have not touched the system.

01/15/2008, 12:12 PM	#5
chin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 80	Flatworms are so annoying and hate them w/ a passion. They were hitchhikers off of a mushroom rock I bought. I rid them of my tank using a mixture of wrasses; six line, radiant, and yellow coris

01/15/2008, 02:10 PM	#6
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	they were included in w/ some chaeto i purchased once (who would have thought to qt chaeto???)

01/15/2008, 03:54 PM	#7
dsanfilippo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 151	...flatworms suck

01/15/2008, 04:22 PM	#8
sditch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston,Texas (USA) Posts: 750	I heard they can release toxins or nitrates when treated ? anyone know anything about that?

01/16/2008, 12:17 AM	#9
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Yeah they say if you use flatworm exit you need to siphon their dead bodies off and do water changes, as their dead bodies releases some toxins.

01/16/2008, 06:54 AM	#10
Fiziksgeek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxford, CT Posts: 1,565	I've posted this elsewhere, but here it is again: Registered: Jun 2005 Location: Tariffville, CT Occupation: Laser jock Posts: 1239 This is how I successfully took care of flat worms in my 210. 1. Bought 3 bottles of Sailfert's Flat Worm Exit 2. Make up some dip tanks and treated many of my corals discarding the water and dead flat worms. Mushrooms and LPS seemed to harbor the most worms in my case. 3. Returned all corals to the tank and treated the entire display. 4. Add a good amount of carbon per FWE instructions 5. Did a 20% water change at 18 hours and 48 hours post treatment. Here is a video of the worms freaking out...right before they die..

01/17/2008, 02:12 PM	#11
chin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 80	Had a friend use FWE before, wiped out their tank. But I believe it was his fault b/c he didnt siphon out the majority of the flatworms, just dumped in the FWE. There were a lot more flatworms in the tank than he thought.

01/17/2008, 02:35 PM	#12
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I had an explosion for a couple mths, got a mandarin and a 6line, problem went way. As long as your main tank doesn't get them everywhere i wouldn't be to worried and i bet there population dwindle's down as well. Just keep an eye on them for a few mths