Acro Flatworms

dwref · Sep 16, 2016

Well I just got the great news I have Acro Eating Flatworms.
After doing some reading, they are saying the only true way to rid your tank is to remove the acros & quarantine them for 6-8 wks. My tank is full of Acros. I do mean full.
Anyone have another way of ridding these pests??
Please Help

bif24701 · Sep 16, 2016

Can you dip them?

reeferfoxx · Sep 16, 2016

dwref said:
Well I just got the great news I have Acro Eating Flatworms.
After doing some reading, they are saying the only true way to rid your tank is to remove the acros & quarantine them for 6-8 wks. My tank is full of Acros. I do mean full.
Anyone have another way of ridding these pests??
Please Help

@twilliard can help?

I believe his method is to use H2O2 to kind of sedate the worms. Then use an air line hose to remove them. You don't want to kill them as they release a poison.

Melev has some info on his website also http://www.melevsreef.com/critters/flatworms

HmoneyReefOkc · Sep 16, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
@twilliard can help?

I believe his method is to use H2O2 to kind of sedate the worms. Then use an air line hose to remove them. You don't want to kill them as they release a poison.

Melev has some info on his website also http://www.melevsreef.com/critters/flatworms

I think you are referring more to red planaria than AEFW in regards to the H2O2...

reeferfoxx · Sep 16, 2016

HmoneyReefOkc said:
I think you are referring more to red planaria than AEFW in regards to teh H2O2...

Yes. I am more familiar with red planaria. Are AEFW resistant to oxidizers?

twilliard · Sep 17, 2016

I have no had the opportunity to do any trials with AEFW. What I do know i that they do tend to have a much stronger hold to the host.

luke33 · Sep 17, 2016

I went through Aefw yrs ago and the first thing to say is don't freak out. Chances are most of your sps are still ok. Get some bayer and start dipping every week until you don't see any, then after that dip for 2-3 weeks after. If you can't dip some of the sps your risking their death or another outbreak.

bif24701 · Sep 17, 2016

luke33 said:
I went through Aefw yrs ago and the first thing to say is don't freak out. Chances are most of your sps are still ok. Get some bayer and start dipping every week until you don't see any, then after that dip for 2-3 weeks after. If you can't dip some of the sps your risking their death or another outbreak.

Yup, don't freak. Honestly it only took one dip for all my stuff to be free. Bayer 10ml/4oz, 10 min, blasted them with a turkey baster.

dwref · Sep 18, 2016

Pretty hard not to freak out other this, as I have a lot of Acros.
But do want to say thanks to those who gave me suggestions on how to handle this.

Thanks everyone

Pruett-nc · Sep 18, 2016

Is there not a wrasse or nudi that will eat these . There has to be a predator for them .

dwref · Sep 19, 2016

I have 2 wrasse in my tank now, going to try a six line. But from what I have read, no there isn't!!??

happyhourhero · Sep 19, 2016

You have to just bite the bullet and strip out all the acros and leave the DT fallow and dip/treat the acros in another tank. From the extensive research I have done, it seems to be the only sure fire way. I just had pull all of mine a week ago. You could prob exhaust other options and drag everything way out if you wanted. I personally just decided to get the thing over with and do the deed. Had to pull rocks and scrape of encrusting with a paint stripper. To say it sucked would be an understatement.

dwref · Sep 21, 2016

A friend of mine told me that you can use dog Gard pills to get rid of these pests.
Anyone ever here of that??

Thanks

dwref · Sep 21, 2016

Sorry, that would be the Heart Guard Medication.

bif24701 · Sep 21, 2016

dwref said:
Sorry, that would be the Heart Guard Medication.

I think they are talking about interceptor and that is a good in tank treatment for red bugs, not AEFW.

dwref · Sep 22, 2016

Well it is actually a pig worm product. it is called Levamisole. Waiting on instructions on how to use it, dose, water change, carbon, etc.

happyhourhero · Sep 22, 2016

dwref said:
Well it is actually a pig worm product. it is called Levamisole. Waiting on instructions on how to use it, dose, water change, carbon, etc.

That would be awesome if you discovered a reef safe in tank treatment for AEFW. Would save a lot of trouble.

ksc · Sep 22, 2016

I used to dip sps in Levamisole, it worked great. Unfortunately it doesn't work in a reef tank because the dose needed to kill the worms will also kill too many other things.

happyhourhero · Sep 22, 2016

ksc said:
I used to dip sps in Levamisole, it worked great. Unfortunately it doesn't work in a reef tank because the dose needed to kill the worms will also kill too many other things.

Ah...so its just another dip.