Flat Worm Problem - even after flatworm exit

[chriscummings83]

I have a 76 G tank and hundreds of flatworms. I didn't know what they were at first so I did nothing. I have now since took as many worms as i can out of the tank with a hose, and then dosed it 80 drops and it started killing the flat worms. 5 days later flat worms start to come back just as many or a little less than before.

My tank is having a ich problem but also the LFS has a yellow wrasse. So I might buy the wrasse and let them keep him for a couple weeks.

Anything else I can do. I dosed again today, and we'll see how well it goes.

[spleify]

I had to dose 3 times, at 4 times the recommended dosage before I was able to rid my tank of them. I havn't seen a single one now for at least 8 months. A wrasse in the display will definitely help eradicate some of them. But I would suggest dosing heavier and follow the rest of the directions closely.

HTH

Spleify

[chriscummings83]

I dosed a lil more than need, said 4 per 5 gallons, Did 80 for 76 gallon, they started to die, and I threw carbon in there. After 3 hours I did a 15 gallon water change.

[SWaquariast]

If the chemicals dont work use a blue nudibranch. I even had my flatworm problem cleared up in my 20g by 2 cleaner shrimp I watched them completely cleared up. I could of been the lucky one.

[MileHighFish]

I just bought a pinstripe melanurus wrasse, for my monti eating nudi's I have read they are very good for flatworms. Check out "Blue Zoo Aquatics" good price and their descriptions says the eat flatworms with ease

[Pike614]

I had a similar issue, until I added a 6 line wrasse......he devoured them, no chemicals needed!!

[EMV7904]

Originally posted by Pike614
I had a similar issue, until I added a 6 line wrasse......he devoured them, no chemicals needed!!

Glad to hear that! I have flatworms (trading with someone locally and I didn't QT the coral - ouch) and so I bought a 6 line wrasse 2 nights ago. I was hoping he would take care of the flatworms but wasn't sure. I'm pretty excited to see you have had sucess with the method I am trying!!

[Don-Coraleone]

throw in a yellow corris wrasse. i had the same prob and just one took care of them all.

[chriscummings83]

Now I have read alot about the disease with Flat worms, that they find a host (fish) and then keep reproducing and can take several months to get rid of? ANyone have any solid info

[EMV7904]

???

From what I know (and that may not be much lol) flatworms don't bother fish at all. They are photosynthetic pests that cover coral and use up the light that the coral should be getting. I guess they go for mushrooms pretty quick. They reproduce like mad, again depending on the lighting.

[spleify]

I never heard of them attaching to fish either.

Most flatworns don't directly hurt corals and feed on them. They( like mentioned) will crawl on the corals and basically starve the corals of light and oxygen. In turn irritating them indirectly.

Wrasse's are great, for you're display, but if you have a sump, or refugium, they WILL be in there too. Flatworns are very small and sneaky, just because you can't see them in the display, doesn't mean they arn't in there. They know there are predators(wrasse) in the tank seeking them out, so they will hide from them.

Flatworn exit works, when WAY over dosed, and repeated a few times.

JME/O

HTH

Spleify

[MMOORE0324]

The melanurus wrasse works well for flatworms. Each case of flatworms is different. One big problem with flatworms is that they leg eggs and I don't think that flatworm exit kills the eggs. So some coral colonies may need to be removed and the eggs scraped off the coral. So between wrasses, flatworm exit, and scraping... you should be able to rid them. But as spleify said, they will be in the fuge and sump... oh and make sure that as soon as they die.. you siphon them out. Once they die they can break apart very easily and they release a very harmful toxin. I think it says on the box to do a 25% change right after treatment.

[iamthereefguy]

I don't like using chemical on my tank. I try to avoid chemical if all possible. Wrasse works wonder on FW. 6 line, Mystery, Leopard or Radiant etc. will takes care of you FW problem. I like the Leopard and Radiant because they look good and will not bother other wrasses even get along with it's own kind. They forage all day long. It's nice to see them move around the tank all day. Plus they are known to eat the pesty nudi as well. Good luck in solving your problem.

[fishysteve]

6 Line took care of mine too. I haven't seen one in years.