Considering starting again...

[Dominic Prezwanski]

So, I’m almost at the point of tank 2.0

I have had my tank fallow for 5 weeks now due to ich, things are going well.

I bought some extra snails from a reputable fish store and since I’ve noticed these flatworms. I’ve done a bit if research and from what I see they are a pest that eat acros, and might be the reason my plate coral is going pale?

Anyway I’m away for almost a month coming up and am considering just starting fresh and doing everything correct the first time.

It’s a little shame as my anemones are thriving and I have a tank bursting with copepods that I’m sure my fish would seriously enjoy come home time...

Anyway... thoughts or suggestions?

Dominic

 

[Ammocan]

Keep it going, Adapt and overcome. You never stop learning in this hobby (and never stop spending money). I lost all of my fish to velvet because I got in a hurry. Lesson learned.

 

[Dominic Prezwanski]

Keep it going, Adapt and overcome. You never stop learning in this hobby (and never stop spending money). I lost all of my fish to velvet because I got in a hurry. Lesson learned.

Don’t I know it!
However starting over would cost money and I have learnt a lot!

I’d rather keep it going but I Feel whilst there are no fish and manageable amount of coral, I could get rid of these pests?

Are these flatworms the bad ones?

 

[XNavyDiver]

Those look like ghost flatworms, and as far as I've heard they're harmless.

 

[Dominic Prezwanski]

Here’s a pic in a bit more day light for a better idea of color.

I’m wishful that they are ghost flatworms - this would make sense with the amount of pods I currently have.

This is the refugium by the way.

 

[ncaldwell]

Are they rust colored? I have those to in my sump from time to time. The fish eat them so they come and go. I'd think it unlikely those are acro eating flatworms so far away from food

 

[Tahoe61]

Siphon them out, they are not acropora eating FW. Rather than restarting it's much easier to do simple interventions. Acropora eating FW only eat acropora, they would have no untoward affect on an the plate coral.
Siphon them out, daily as needed.
What color are they red or green or brown?

 

[PatW]

There are a pot load of species of flat worms. If the worms are running around in your tank, they probably are not Acro eating flat worms. The Acro eating flat worms in all likelihood eat only Acro corals. So if they are cruising around, they are probably eating something else.

 

[splix]

flatworm exit is incredible. My friend went fallow and his tank became overrun with red flatworms, and I'm talking about an amount that you almost couldnt see rock, just flatworms. There were too many for his fish to control once they were re-introduced. He tried flatworm exit while I was over and we were both blown away. They literally all started to die and release from the rocks within 20 minutes. Just make sure you have a fresh carbon reactor ready, along with a siphon. Once they start dying you need to get them out. It was crazy though, I've never seen anything work so quick and was reef safe.

 

[tankstudy]

flatworm exit is incredible. My friend went fallow and his tank became overrun with red flatworms, and I'm talking about an amount that you almost couldnt see rock, just flatworms. There were too many for his fish to control once they were re-introduced. He tried flatworm exit while I was over and we were both blown away. They literally all started to die and release from the rocks within 20 minutes. Just make sure you have a fresh carbon reactor ready, along with a siphon. Once they start dying you need to get them out. It was crazy though, I've never seen anything work so quick and was reef safe.

Once you hit the right dosage, they die pretty quickly.

 

[Ranjib]

You can, but you have to deal with things like this. Check what are natural predators for them . I have some of these flat worms in my zoa heavy tank . You can introduce a wrasse to control them , I think

 

[Maritimer]

My target mandarin also loves her some red flatworms.

~Bruce

 

[Dominic Prezwanski]

Thanks all! My tank is currently fallow for ick irradiation.. so I can’t introduce mandarin or wrasse.. I assure you they will be there in 4 weeks time !!!!

Super glad they’re managable and not the Acro type.

They are rust coloured and are seen considerably more in the refugium section.

I’m going to monitor for the next few days and possibly use flatworm exit.

 

[lbacha]

I have the same flat worms in my sump, I see them every so often in my DT but not that often. I have extremely high flow in my DT and have heard that keeps them in check a bit. I may add a 6 line just to help keep them in check