HELP... Do or Don't? (Zoa Frags from Tank w/ Flat Worms)

Johnny C · 01/29/2009, 01:33 AM

I know a guy locally who is breaking down his tank due to personal reasons. He has a BEAUTIFUL setup with lots of different types of corals. I'm looking to build up my zoa collection but the problem is that his tank is infested with these flatworms. I've read a bit about them and apparently that specific type tends to be harmless. I don't usually dip and not sure how to do it but would be willing to do so if it was well worth it.

ANY/ALL advice is GREATLY appriciated. If I'm going to get them it will be on Friday so the sooner I know, the better. Thanks!

L98-Z · 01/29/2009, 06:22 AM

Sure, just tell the person to drop $20.00 off the cost so you can buy some flatworm exit. Then perform a very good QT.

KRASHPD · 01/29/2009, 07:01 AM

Seriously, dipping corals is not a big deal and a monkey could do it. Get some Revive or Tropic Marin's Pro Coral Cure and dip the zoa's. If you can, put them in a temporary tank for a couple days with a light and then dip them again. The temporaty tank can be just a rubbermaid container with a PC light over it and a powerhead in it. Zoa's are pretty hardy and usually have no problems being dipped. You should actually do it with all your corals if you don't do it already. After that you are probably safe to put them in the tank with no flatworms.

Jeremy Blaze · 01/29/2009, 07:52 AM

Flatworm Exit works well. Just dip them all before adding to the tank.

Tswifty · 01/29/2009, 10:14 AM

Just dip the corals.

Johnny C · 01/29/2009, 06:43 PM

BUMP.

sunfish11 · 01/29/2009, 07:02 PM

As they said just dip the coral in flatworm exit by Salifert. I usually do a double strength and haven't seen and adverse effects to coral. Let the coral sit in the solution for 15-30 minutes and you are fine. If you really want to keep FW out of your tank then you should do this with all frags. You can't always see them.

Lisa

mfinn · 01/29/2009, 07:09 PM

Flatworm Exit does work very well.
Get the corals and do the dip.

GoingPostal · 01/29/2009, 07:24 PM

Honestly for zoas you could just freshwater dip, that will drop the flatworms off as well and doesn't cost a thing. FE works well too, I would take a baster and baste the heck out of the frags to get any hiding in crevices and rock. They are ugly but harmless, problem is once they are in your tank it may take a few doses to get rid of them fully.

L98-Z · 01/30/2009, 06:22 AM

I thought Flatworm exit only kills the live ones, any eggs (do they have eggs?) will still be around, and thus capable of being introduced to your tank.

If not, that makes things much easier.

tims28gnano · 01/30/2009, 07:37 AM

i had a frag covered by them, did a fresh RO/DI dip for about 8 minutes. cleared all flat worms and brittle stars ans such. unfortunatley it did kill a few - - - ok, a lot, of the colony. but about a month later and i have faith that it will repopulate!

good luck!

Bernie21 · 01/30/2009, 08:40 AM

I RoDi Dip all of my Zoas, and never have any adverse effects on them, I swear Zoas are bullet proof...
I would get them, ask for a lower price though & make sure you QT em before they go to the DT, its hard to treat once they're in there already...

Amoore311 · 01/30/2009, 09:20 AM

No reason not to get them. Flatworm Exit anything that goes into your tank. All it takes is 1 or 2 drops in an acclimation bucket and you're good to go.

View Poll Results: Should I risk buying a few zoa frags from a tank with flatworms?
Yes, Go For It!	9	64.29%
Serious Risk- Definatly Not!	1	7.14%
If The Price Is Right...	4	28.57%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

01/29/2009, 01:33 AM	#1
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	HELP... Do or Don't? (Zoa Frags from Tank w/ Flat Worms) I know a guy locally who is breaking down his tank due to personal reasons. He has a BEAUTIFUL setup with lots of different types of corals. I'm looking to build up my zoa collection but the problem is that his tank is infested with these flatworms. I've read a bit about them and apparently that specific type tends to be harmless. I don't usually dip and not sure how to do it but would be willing to do so if it was well worth it. ANY/ALL advice is GREATLY appriciated. If I'm going to get them it will be on Friday so the sooner I know, the better. Thanks! __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

01/29/2009, 07:01 AM	#3
KRASHPD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 1,185	Seriously, dipping corals is not a big deal and a monkey could do it. Get some Revive or Tropic Marin's Pro Coral Cure and dip the zoa's. If you can, put them in a temporary tank for a couple days with a light and then dip them again. The temporaty tank can be just a rubbermaid container with a PC light over it and a powerhead in it. Zoa's are pretty hardy and usually have no problems being dipped. You should actually do it with all your corals if you don't do it already. After that you are probably safe to put them in the tank with no flatworms. __________________ "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked" - Warren Buffet

01/29/2009, 07:52 AM	#4
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	Flatworm Exit works well. Just dip them all before adding to the tank. __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

01/29/2009, 10:14 AM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Just dip the corals. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

01/29/2009, 06:22 AM	#2
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	Sure, just tell the person to drop $20.00 off the cost so you can buy some flatworm exit. Then perform a very good QT.

01/29/2009, 06:43 PM	#6
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	BUMP. __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

01/29/2009, 07:02 PM	#7
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	As they said just dip the coral in flatworm exit by Salifert. I usually do a double strength and haven't seen and adverse effects to coral. Let the coral sit in the solution for 15-30 minutes and you are fine. If you really want to keep FW out of your tank then you should do this with all frags. You can't always see them. Lisa

01/29/2009, 07:09 PM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Flatworm Exit does work very well. Get the corals and do the dip. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

01/29/2009, 07:24 PM	#9
GoingPostal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,517	Honestly for zoas you could just freshwater dip, that will drop the flatworms off as well and doesn't cost a thing. FE works well too, I would take a baster and baste the heck out of the frags to get any hiding in crevices and rock. They are ugly but harmless, problem is once they are in your tank it may take a few doses to get rid of them fully. __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer. *Jack Handey

01/30/2009, 06:22 AM	#10
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	I thought Flatworm exit only kills the live ones, any eggs (do they have eggs?) will still be around, and thus capable of being introduced to your tank. If not, that makes things much easier.

01/30/2009, 07:37 AM	#11
tims28gnano Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Jones Beach Posts: 343	i had a frag covered by them, did a fresh RO/DI dip for about 8 minutes. cleared all flat worms and brittle stars ans such. unfortunatley it did kill a few - - - ok, a lot, of the colony. but about a month later and i have faith that it will repopulate! good luck!

01/30/2009, 08:40 AM	#12
Bernie21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Miami, Fl... Posts: 2,161	I RoDi Dip all of my Zoas, and never have any adverse effects on them, I swear Zoas are bullet proof... I would get them, ask for a lower price though & make sure you QT em before they go to the DT, its hard to treat once they're in there already... __________________ Reefing is an addiction rehab doesn't work for... Current Tank Info: Downgraded to a 0 Gal non Mixed Reef - Direct sun watts & 1x moon Actinics. RIO 00 return, no skimmer Skimmer.

01/30/2009, 09:20 AM	#13
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	No reason not to get them. Flatworm Exit anything that goes into your tank. All it takes is 1 or 2 drops in an acclimation bucket and you're good to go. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex