Harmless flat worms or concerning flatworms?

[SixtyFeetUnder]

Noticed these guys in the last few days. They are on the glass and the starboard bottom particularly in lower flow areas. Not sure if they are what people refer to as harmless white flatworms (they appear white on the glass), problem red flatworms (the appear brown against the white starboard), or detritus worms. They definitely move and appear to have the head shape of a flatworm. They appear to be about 1 mm in length. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Lor]

Hard to tell from the pics

Does it look like these?

Benign Flatworm | Melev's Reef

This tiny creature is a Flatworm - Amphiscolops sp. This type is virtually clear, and quite small. The rounded end is inflated like a sail, and stretches in the direction it wants to travel, then like a suction cup it grabs the glass and pulls the rest of its body that direction. This is a...

www.melevsreef.com

 

[Lor]

Or this (Bad)

Red Planaria flatworms | Melev's Reef

When I bought my 55g tank, it was infested with Flatworms - Red Planaria - which propagate via fission. They are known to increase rapidly, smothering the sandbed and corals. If they all die at once, that crash will wipe out a tank due to the toxicity of the flatworm juice. I vacuumed out 1000's...

www.melevsreef.com

 

[SixtyFeetUnder]

They don’t look quite that wide but a can’t get a better macro picture

 

[stanleo]

Acoel flatworms. They are photosynthetic and can reach plaque proportions. They will usually be found in low flow areas with high light. They can get bad enough to cover coral and starve them out. A wrasse is a good defense. Other than that, siphon them out when you see them. I have never used Flatworm X so I can't comment on its usefulness.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

I have these, they are not harming any of my corals but i would do something before they get out of hand. For example i got a sixline wrasse

 

[SixtyFeetUnder]

@stanleo They are mainly In low flow areas and they seem to be very much enjoying the T5 even lighting on bottom. Thank you for the advice. I just put in a six line. Any other wrasse you would recommend in a bare bottom system?

 

[stanleo]

@stanleo They are mainly In low flow areas and they seem to be very much enjoying the T5 even lighting on bottom. Thank you for the advice. I just put in a six line. Any other wrasse you would recommend in a bare bottom system?

A six line wrasse should do nicely as far as I know. I had them and saw them a lot before I got a ruby fin wrasse. I haven't seen any since.