Is this a copepod or zooplankton?

[gongshow1988]

Just trying to figure out what it is I am seeing all over my glass. Not sure if it’s a copepod or some sort of zooplankton species. Any help is appreciated!

 

[tbrown]

Looks more like a flatworm.

 

[Purpletang92]

That’s a flatworm

 

[KrisReef]

Not a plankton.

 

[gongshow1988]

thanks for the quick replies! Should I worry about them/need to do anything about it?

 

[Solo McReefer]

thanks for the quick replies! Should I worry about them/need to do anything about it?

You need to get them out

If you have acros, montis, or euphyllia

 

[gongshow1988]

You need to get them out

If you have acros, montis, or euphyllia

I have acros and Euphyllia. What is the best course of action to get them out?

 

[Solo McReefer]

Check all your animals for infestation

You're going to want to dip your corals

Get fish that have reputation for eating them

3 on the glass like that...out in the open. Not a good sign

 

[tbrown]

It depends on what type of flatworm you have. That looks more like a Ghost Flatworm as opposed to a Polyclad or AEFW...

Some wrasses and some Damsels will eat flatworms. I had a 125 with 3 ghost flatworms on the glass. I got 2 Springeri Damselfish and never saw a flatworm again after that. Polyclad and AEFW can be a lot harder to get rid of.

 

[tbrown]

You need to get them out

If you have acros, montis, or euphyllia

Check all your animals for infestation

You're going to want to dip your corals

Get fish that have reputation for eating them

3 on the glass like that...out in the open. Not a good sign

I'm not sure this amount of panic is warranted in this situation.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Zero amount of panic

 

[gongshow1988]

So don’t panic lol? All of my corals seem to be doing extremely well, obviously if I can do something to help get rid of any potential issues I’m all for doing so. I definitely prefer the more natural route vs dosing any sort of chemicals that I have read about.

 

[Purpletang92]

Woah woah woah , HOLD UP!!!!!, before you do anything REACTIVE please inspect your tank carefully, see if anything is being harmed/stressed, dropping chemicals in the tank and dipping corals will drive you nuts. You may be able to live with them tbh, get natural predators and remove what you can with a net manually. If your just noticing them, trust me they have been in there longer than you think!

 

[tbrown]

So don’t panic lol? All of my corals seem to be doing extremely well, obviously if I can do something to help get rid of any potential issues I’m all for doing so. I definitely prefer the more natural route vs dosing any sort of chemicals that I have read about.

Don't panic, but it's a good idea to grab a fish that'll eat them. Like I mentioned Springeri Damsels, several varieties of wrasses, Dottybacks... Just remember some fish get aggressive. Springeri Damselfish and Springeri Dottybacks tend to be non-aggressive or very low aggression. Six-line wrasses are a favorite recommendation from a lot of reefers but they can become quite murderous as they age. Halichoeres Leucoxanthus or Halichoeres Chrysus are good recommendations for a larger tank.

What size tank is it?

 

[gongshow1988]

Woah woah woah , HOLD UP!!!!!, before you do anything REACTIVE please inspect your tank carefully, see if anything is being harmed/stressed, dropping chemicals in the tank and dipping corals will drive you nuts. You may be able to live with them tbh, get natural predators and remove what you can with a net manually. If you’re just noticing them, trust me they have been in there longer than you think!

I may have worded my last post wrong but I meant to say I really prefer to not use any sort of chemicals. Would rather go the route of fish that eat them. But I would not doubt they’ve been in here longer than since I started noticing them

 

[gongshow1988]

Don't panic, but it's a good idea to grab a fish that'll eat them. Like I mentioned Springeri Damsels, several varieties of wrasses, Dottybacks... Just remember some fish get aggressive. Springeri Damselfish and Springeri Dottybacks tend to be non-aggressive or very low aggression. Six-line wrasses are a favorite recommendation from a lot of reefers but they can become quite murderous as they age. Halichoeres Leucoxanthus or Halichoeres Chrysus are good recommendations for a larger tank.

What size tank is it?

It is a 100 gallon display with a 45 gallon sump. I would love a melanarus wrasse which I believe I read would eat them but the wife would kill me if it ate her cleaner shrimp or blood shrimp lol

 

[tbrown]

It is a 100 gallon display with a 45 gallon sump. I would love a melanarus wrasse which I believe I read would eat them but the wife would kill me if it ate her cleaner shrimp or blood shrimp lol

He will. The flatworms for sure, the shrimp are definitely a possibility in the future. I have a Peppermint and my Melanurus and Leucoxanthus leave it alone. I'm not sure for how long though...

 

[Purpletang92]

I may have worded my last post wrong but I meant to say I really prefer to not use any sort of chemicals. Would rather go the route of fish that eat them. But I would not doubt they’ve been in here longer than since I started noticing them

I would advise against adding more fish tbh, yes they MAY eat the worms but you risk fish aggression in the tank and territory will be disrupted. IMO I would get an arrow crab or 2 and looking if you can find a velvet nudi

 

[gongshow1988]

He will. The flatworms for sure, the shrimp are definitely a possibility in the future. I have a Peppermint and my Melanurus and Leucoxanthus leave it alone. I'm not sure for how long though...

I hope for your sake it never becomes an issue! But thank you for the help!

 

[gongshow1988]

I would advise against adding more fish tbh, yes they MAY eat the worms but you risk fish aggression in the tank and territory will be disrupted. IMO I would get an arrow crab or 2 and looking if you can find a velvet nudi

I’ve actually been looking to add one more fish to this system just haven’t pulled the trigger.