Flatworm Solutions?

fishyman19

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I've got a little 8 gallon mixed reef tank at work. Noticed today when I put a couple SPS frags in that I've got the little brown turds otherwise known as flatworms. I know flatworm exit is a possible solution but I'd prefer not to use it if I don't have to, I saw the siphon as a possible option as well but that only stays them off for a while. Is there a fish or something out there that I could put in the tank to help get rid of them? They aren't horrible right now but I've seen the horror stories haha. The only fish inhabitants in the tank is a Yasha Hase Goby and I've got a Pistol Shrimp with him, then a Anemone Shrimp, Porcelain Crab and 2 sexy shrimp plus a couple snails for clean up crew. Tank is accessible enough that I could add a fish for a while to get rid of them then pull it out and put it in my reef tank at home or take it back to the shop. Just curious of my options.

Thank you for the help in advanced!
 
Unfortunately in such a small tank your options are limited but conceivably you could add a damsel for a short period of time to eat them, you might need to train the damsel to eat the FW by taking a turkey baster and blowing the FW off surfaces, hold feedings to the fish for a day so the fish is hungry. A wrasse would be ideal but the tank is far too small except for possibly a possium wrasses short term.
Have you narrowed down the FW id?
 
After looking them up online I think I've narrowed mine down to the red-brown colored ones. They haven't moved to any corals except my Ricordia mushroom which is nice, they are just exploring the rocks and the sand in some spots. Doesn't seem to be too many of them but we all know that's not the case haha.

My local LFS always gets really small Yellow Corris and Leopard Wrasses, you think I'd be able to keep one of them in the tank for a while till they got rid of them then move them to my 90 gallon at home? I do love the Possum Wrasse! I've got one in my home tank. Super cool little guy. What Damsels eat them? I've also read that the Blue Velvet Nudi eats them as well. I just don't see them very often.
 
Yellow Tail Damsel and Blues have worked for me in the past. If you use a wrasse there has to be a lid in place.
 
Huh I will look into a Yellow Tail Damsel. Oh trust me you I know of the lid with wrasses lol. I've got 7 of them in my show tank at home and they even jump into the mesh lid I've made. The office tank has a glass lid that I put on sometimes. Thank you for the help btw
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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