Flatworms!! Help!!

quickgray02 · 06/11/2010, 07:52 AM

So I just found out that I have flat worms and I would like to know what is the best way to get raid of them. My tank is a mix reef tank so I would need a reef safe treatment. Also, what is the best fish to buy to eat them.

Thanks

Chris

Captinshinyside · 06/11/2010, 08:05 AM

Six line
melaluna wrasse spelling may be off on it

thegrun · 06/11/2010, 08:51 AM

Fish may (or may not) keep them in check, but to get rid of them, Flatworm Exit works well. You may need to mix a little stronger than recommended, but I treated once in the past at their listed dilution with good results. Plan on performing a second treatment a week later. The key is to suck as many as possible out of the tank prior to treatment. The FWE does not harm corals, but the flatworms release toxins when they die so reducing their numbers prior to treatment minimizes the issue. Search this site for more information on FWE.

Eel Freak · 06/11/2010, 08:55 AM

I used a six line in my 125g... Granted, I still have flatworms, but they are certainly in check. The only time they return is when I put my shroom container in for my frags. They return only because the six line can't get into the container... I have also seen the Yellow Wrasse and the Green Wrasse control flatworms in similar sized tanks. Hope this helps and good luck!

Captinshinyside · 06/11/2010, 08:58 AM

I was never able to fond in fwe. I did find a pig dewormer that was supposed to have the same effect. I went with a stronger and more diverse clean up crew and those two wrasses I meantioned and I havnt seen a flatworm. They took them all out in about 3 weeks

Allmost · 06/11/2010, 08:59 AM

Mandrin goby

my first one got trained to take frozen so I recently got another one.

thegrun · 06/11/2010, 08:59 AM

The best remedy of all is to dip al corals and rock before adding to your tank. Better yet, dip the QT.

quickgray02 · 06/11/2010, 03:54 PM

What do I use for a dip on the coral?

92awdGSX · 06/11/2010, 05:18 PM

I use ReVive to dip all of my corals in now. There was a time when I didnt dip.....that lead to flat worms. I use flat worm exit and use a double dosage and it knocked them out in one treatment.

wrott · 06/11/2010, 06:22 PM

They will go away on there own w/ good water quality. Siphon out the ones you see, get them off of corals if they are covered. I freeked the first time I saw the red ones, but never treated, and I don't have any now, that was a couple of years ago. Most small fish will eat them IME. You can use a PH to blow them off of corals.

fstlane4me · 06/11/2010, 07:12 PM

I had tons of FW in my 55 mixed reef awhile back.I went with a yellow wrasse and they are mostly gone.I found the key for me to get him to start eating them was to feed after he buried himself in the sand.I guess he got hungry because they were gone in a couple months time.

platax88 · 06/11/2010, 09:18 PM

I've had red planaria flatworms as long as I can remember ... I just added a Melanarus wrasse and it is making quick work of them. He snacks on them all day. Oh and it is a beautiful fish also.

I would skip on the 6 line, I had one and never touched a single worm... he was an a-hole also and impossible to remove.

06/11/2010, 07:52 AM	#1
quickgray02 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 89	Flatworms!! Help!! So I just found out that I have flat worms and I would like to know what is the best way to get raid of them. My tank is a mix reef tank so I would need a reef safe treatment. Also, what is the best fish to buy to eat them. Thanks Chris

06/11/2010, 08:55 AM	#4
Eel Freak Fimbriated Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Space Coast Posts: 830	I used a six line in my 125g... Granted, I still have flatworms, but they are certainly in check. The only time they return is when I put my shroom container in for my frags. They return only because the six line can't get into the container... I have also seen the Yellow Wrasse and the Green Wrasse control flatworms in similar sized tanks. Hope this helps and good luck! __________________ I plan to procrastinate. Current Tank Info: 205g Mixed Reef - 3x Radion XR30w Gen 2, twin VorTechs, SRO-XP5000e, 50g estuary, 125g fuge, OM 4-way

06/11/2010, 06:22 PM	#10
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	They will go away on there own w/ good water quality. Siphon out the ones you see, get them off of corals if they are covered. I freeked the first time I saw the red ones, but never treated, and I don't have any now, that was a couple of years ago. Most small fish will eat them IME. You can use a PH to blow them off of corals. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

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06/11/2010, 08:05 AM	#2
Captinshinyside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 176	Six line melaluna wrasse spelling may be off on it

06/11/2010, 08:51 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Fish may (or may not) keep them in check, but to get rid of them, Flatworm Exit works well. You may need to mix a little stronger than recommended, but I treated once in the past at their listed dilution with good results. Plan on performing a second treatment a week later. The key is to suck as many as possible out of the tank prior to treatment. The FWE does not harm corals, but the flatworms release toxins when they die so reducing their numbers prior to treatment minimizes the issue. Search this site for more information on FWE.

06/11/2010, 08:58 AM	#5
Captinshinyside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 176	I was never able to fond in fwe. I did find a pig dewormer that was supposed to have the same effect. I went with a stronger and more diverse clean up crew and those two wrasses I meantioned and I havnt seen a flatworm. They took them all out in about 3 weeks

06/11/2010, 08:59 AM	#6
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Mandrin goby my first one got trained to take frozen so I recently got another one.

06/11/2010, 03:54 PM	#8
quickgray02 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 89	What do I use for a dip on the coral?

06/11/2010, 05:18 PM	#9
92awdGSX Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: palm bay Posts: 55	I use ReVive to dip all of my corals in now. There was a time when I didnt dip.....that lead to flat worms. I use flat worm exit and use a double dosage and it knocked them out in one treatment.

06/11/2010, 07:12 PM	#11
fstlane4me Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: VC,Ks Posts: 61	I had tons of FW in my 55 mixed reef awhile back.I went with a yellow wrasse and they are mostly gone.I found the key for me to get him to start eating them was to feed after he buried himself in the sand.I guess he got hungry because they were gone in a couple months time.

06/11/2010, 09:18 PM	#12
platax88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,961	I've had red planaria flatworms as long as I can remember ... I just added a Melanarus wrasse and it is making quick work of them. He snacks on them all day. Oh and it is a beautiful fish also. I would skip on the 6 line, I had one and never touched a single worm... he was an a-hole also and impossible to remove.