flat worm problem

[nolifer]

Hi
Best way to remove flatworm from tank. Been using a tube to syphon them out tried silver belly and a Timor wrasse with no luck. Not tried flatworm ext yet I hear it don't work.
already lost goniopora to them.

 

[nezw0001]

Are these red planara flatworms?

 

[Katrina71]

@hdsoftail1065 has a thread documenting the use of Flatworm Exit, and the dangers associated with it.

 

[nolifer]

Are these red planara flatworms?

Yes, there red planara flatworms lost bubblegum montipora and goniopora too. I've only been pulling them out via siphon and doing this on the sand bad every 2-3 days it's knocked them back a bit but can't seem to shift them.

 

[DSEKULA]

I ended up catching some early and was able to remove the affect coral and dip it in flatworm exit. 1mL to 32oz of tank water is my dip ratio now I dip all coral this way, never had any issues it kills them in a minute dip, then just rinse in tank water. If you caught them before their plague proportions you could do that. If not you could always remove and dip heavily effected pieces or rock before auctual tank treatment it may help if you can get the majority that way and only have a small amount left to treat in the tank less risk of mass die off etc. GL

 

[SMSREEF]

Flatworm exit works. But be ready to do large (50-75%) water change after 30-45 min. And put a bunch of carbon in after treatment to soak up toxins.

When the flatworms die they release a toxin.

You will need to repeat one or two more times, but the large water change was only necessary for me when there is a large number of flatworms. I used just carbon after 2nd and 3rd dose.

 

[lapin]

Depending on the strain of red flat worms FWE can work. If you cant get them all after the 2 treatments needed, a Melanurus wrasse (the hunter) will help you keep them under control. Under control is the key here. It might also eat your snail and hermits if you have them.

 

[nolifer]

thank you for the reply's, will pick up some FWE this weekend and give it a shot still not convinced it's going to work but will give it a shout. will post back and let you know the results.

 

[Billdogg]

Any coral that can be removed from the tank can be safely dipped in temperature matched rodi water. About 15 seconds, swirling it around and 99% of the FW's will fall off dead. I used FWE to knock the back in the rest of the tank, and ended up with a pair of Blue Star Leopard wrasses that were more than happy to finish the job.

This is what came off my Elegance after a single 15 second dip in rodi

And yes, my wife was less than pleased with what I used her tupperware for, but hey - I washed it out when I was done!!!

 

[rkpetersen]

Any coral that can be removed from the tank can be safely dipped in temperature matched rodi water. About 15 seconds, swirling it around and 99% of the FW's will fall off dead. I used FWE to knock the back in the rest of the tank, and ended up with a pair of Blue Star Leopard wrasses that were more than happy to finish the job.

This is what came off my Elegance after a single 15 second dip in rodi

And yes, my wife was less than pleased with what I used her tupperware for, but hey - I washed it out when I was done!!!

Wow. Could you see them on the coral's tissue before doing the dip?
And was the coral looking unhappy before the dip?

 

[Billdogg]

I first saw them when post-processing some close up photos of the corals in my tank. They were obvious on this setosa. Once I knew they were there, I began to see them everywhere!

Before this, unless I looked through the correct spot in my no line glasses they just looked like out of focus smudges.