Are these for sure flatworms before I dose Tank

syilk1 · 11/02/2006, 07:20 PM

Yesterday I posted some sub-par pictures and told was the dreaded flatworms but took better pictures and want to make sure before I toss some chemical in tank.

Paintbug · 11/02/2006, 07:21 PM

yep thats the bad ones!

Shagsbeard · 11/02/2006, 07:46 PM

When you kill these guys off, if you kill these guys off, make sure you remove as many as possible from the tank. The ammonia load will be intense if you let them all rot there. Be prepared with water for some major water changes, just in case. Have a very accurate ammonia test on hand, and test very often.

petoonia · 11/02/2006, 09:48 PM

I have the same thing. You should siphon as many out as possible before treating the tank. I've been siphoning them out using airline tubing, then I just dump the water back in (just be careful not to dump the worms back in) The worms usually stick to the bottom of the bucket. I do a little bit everyday, so far I havent had to use any chemicals.

Carman34L · 11/02/2006, 11:03 PM

one of the things is you cant just siphon them out. They will be there forever. The eggs need to be killed and any surviving flatworms need to killed. the only way to do so is to treat the tank. it is a situation that is dreadfull to be in but just siphoning them out will not fix the problem. On a side note, I have always had a few of those flatworms in my tank. But never in the quanities you have shown in your pictures. there are a few wrasses out there that eat them. they are a natural predator for "some" flatworms.

Carman34L · 11/02/2006, 11:04 PM

oh and be thankfull they are not AEFW, or Acro Eating Flatworms. they are next to impossible to get rid of. When you get them, you might as well just start over.

petoonia · 11/02/2006, 11:52 PM

I suggested siphoning them out to reduce the amount of toxins released when they die from the treatment of the tank. The more live ones you get, the less dead ones there are to poison the tank.

Flatworms do also have some natural predators as well.

Lyscer · 11/03/2006, 02:18 AM

When you siphon them out one thing you can do it use airline tubing as suggested but attach a sock to the other end and throw that end in your sump(if you have one) then you can siphon the little guys out all day and not have to dump any water, then just throw the sock away when you are done, and treat with FWE. The picture you showed is mild compared to the FW's in my tank so I'm fighting the same battle. I'm just waiting until I redo my plumbing to use FWE so that I can run carbon and do a water change seems like if you do that then in most cases it doesn't hurt your tank.

syilk1 · 11/03/2006, 10:21 AM

Thanks Guys

11/02/2006, 07:20 PM	#1
syilk1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 391	Are these for sure flatworms before I dose Tank Yesterday I posted some sub-par pictures and told was the dreaded flatworms but took better pictures and want to make sure before I toss some chemical in tank.

11/02/2006, 07:21 PM	#2
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	yep thats the bad ones! __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

11/02/2006, 09:48 PM	#4
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	I have the same thing. You should siphon as many out as possible before treating the tank. I've been siphoning them out using airline tubing, then I just dump the water back in (just be careful not to dump the worms back in) The worms usually stick to the bottom of the bucket. I do a little bit everyday, so far I havent had to use any chemicals. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

11/02/2006, 11:52 PM	#7
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	I suggested siphoning them out to reduce the amount of toxins released when they die from the treatment of the tank. The more live ones you get, the less dead ones there are to poison the tank. Flatworms do also have some natural predators as well. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

11/03/2006, 02:18 AM	#8
Lyscer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 675	When you siphon them out one thing you can do it use airline tubing as suggested but attach a sock to the other end and throw that end in your sump(if you have one) then you can siphon the little guys out all day and not have to dump any water, then just throw the sock away when you are done, and treat with FWE. The picture you showed is mild compared to the FW's in my tank so I'm fighting the same battle. I'm just waiting until I redo my plumbing to use FWE so that I can run carbon and do a water change seems like if you do that then in most cases it doesn't hurt your tank. __________________ 68 Cadlights Versa 24" x 8 ATI Dimmable Sunpower 2 x Gyre XF-130 DIY Arduino Uno Controller with temp probes and 8 outlets ran from web interface ReefOctopus Skimmer and Eheim 1262 return Current Tank Info: 68 Cadlights Versa

11/02/2006, 07:46 PM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	When you kill these guys off, if you kill these guys off, make sure you remove as many as possible from the tank. The ammonia load will be intense if you let them all rot there. Be prepared with water for some major water changes, just in case. Have a very accurate ammonia test on hand, and test very often.

11/02/2006, 11:03 PM	#5
Carman34L Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 644	one of the things is you cant just siphon them out. They will be there forever. The eggs need to be killed and any surviving flatworms need to killed. the only way to do so is to treat the tank. it is a situation that is dreadfull to be in but just siphoning them out will not fix the problem. On a side note, I have always had a few of those flatworms in my tank. But never in the quanities you have shown in your pictures. there are a few wrasses out there that eat them. they are a natural predator for "some" flatworms.

11/02/2006, 11:04 PM	#6
Carman34L Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 644	oh and be thankfull they are not AEFW, or Acro Eating Flatworms. they are next to impossible to get rid of. When you get them, you might as well just start over.

11/03/2006, 10:21 AM	#9
syilk1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 391	Thanks Guys