Confirmed I have flat worm problem!!

toyencounters · Aug 4, 2011

I found a few flat worms around my power head on monday. Today I took out about 30 from my reef rocks what a problem what now???

shimin · Aug 4, 2011

Mabe get some coral banded shrimp that's how I fixed my worms

fenderguy1 · Aug 4, 2011

Flat worm exit should do the trick..

toyencounters · Aug 4, 2011

I don't want to risk my expensive corals with flat worm exit!

philjust · Aug 4, 2011

i was told to get a 6 line wrasse. im going to the store after work to get one for flatworms.

fenderguy1 · Aug 4, 2011

If the directions are followed there should be no loss... But i can understand where your comming from.

swannyson7 · Aug 4, 2011

What type of flatworms...hopefully not AEFW?? Do you have any pics?

fab1971 · Aug 4, 2011

sixline keeps them under control.

toyencounters · Aug 4, 2011

What is AEFW??

thewackyreefer · Aug 4, 2011

Use FW exit, you'll be fine as long as you run some carbon and do a decent water change.

Russellaqua · Aug 4, 2011

Aefw= acropora eating flat worms

m and m · Aug 4, 2011

AEFW is the worse thing you can have IMO such a hassle. Acro eating Flate worms. I would look into a natrual pred before you go all chem on them.

toyencounters said:
What is AEFW??

thewackyreefer · Aug 4, 2011

m and m said:
AEFW is the worse thing you can have IMO such a hassle. Acro eating Flate worms. I would look into a natrual pred before you go all chem on them.

I disagree with this, natural predators are hit and miss and will never totally eliminate the problem. I suggest using FW Exit then making sure you dip all of your corals from that point forward.

kuyatwo · Aug 4, 2011

I agreaa do flat work exit if they are aefw. Don't get a six line wrasse they are to territorial. Melanarus wrasse is good flat worm wrasse

secretreefer · Aug 4, 2011

I heard if they're the red flatworm (not AEFW) you can put a led light in the corner of your tank and they're supposed to be attracted to it. then you can scoop them out with a net.

soccerbag · Aug 4, 2011

Well, let's see what type of FW's you have. If they were congregating around your powerhead, that does not sound like AEFW (and by the way, FlatWorm Exit does NOT work with AEFW!). It sounds more like Red Planaria worms. And Flatworm Exit would work well with them -although you would likely need to do multiple treatments in order for it to work. If done according to the instructions, it can work well. I, too, would recommend one of a few fish to help with the issue. There are many wrasses that will help with the problem. But there is not a fish out there that is guaranteed to eradicate any parasite with a saltwater tank.

Yellow Coris, Six line, Mystery, and Christmas (to name a few) are all known hunters of flatworms. Some will eat them off the rocks and some will only eat them if you "blow" them into the water column. Every fish is different. There are other fish that can assist as well but I would start with one of the above (if you don't want to use FWExit). Most Tangs, Angelfish, etc will eat them if they are suspended in the water column.

Marc discusses these on his website and there is good article on one way to help get rid of them. The link is below. If left untreated, they can reproduce to plague-like proportions. You will want to get to work on them asap. It is treatable. It will take some work and patience.

Melevsreef.com - Flatworms | How to eliminate them!

Hyprviperx · Aug 4, 2011

i had suggested on another thread a velvet nudibranch... they only eat flatworms... so they would probably take care of your prob, when you have the problem under control and there are none left then you can give it to a fellow reefer with a similar problem

macawmagic · Aug 4, 2011

I had AEFW years ago and killed them with flatworm exit. My neighbor had A LOT of planaria (the red flatworms) and when he used flatworm exit, the poison from the worms ended up nuking hiw whole tank. Be careful when using FWE and make sure you have enough carbon and a big enough water change ready just in case! There are def worse things that you could've had. I don't think flat worms are that hard to get rid of.