Just Saw a Flatworm

redstorm6 · Aug 24, 2019

Hey all!

I just got back into the reef keeping hobby after a 8 year break. I have a 40 gallon breeder mixed reef. No acros but a few easier montis for sps. Mostly Acans and Zoas.

I got some new coral a few days ago and I didn't dip the coral which is my fault. Now I've seen one large rust colored flatworm and two very small ones. I read these things are like roaches, if you see one you probably have many more than what you are seeing.

My question is I have some PraziPro and I'm wondering if I shouldn't try and nip this in the bud and dose it now. I hesitate because the tank is three months old and the corals are doing really well. Should I let this play out and see if it gets any worse or should I dose?

Thanks!

Amboss72 · Aug 24, 2019

Personally I wouldn’t dose anything at this point. When I see some of these guys I use a piece of refrigerator freezer line and just suck them out. If I see them on coral this method works great too. You can just run the freezer line down into your sump and into a fine filter sock. You can also turkey baster blast these little buggers into the water column and with a fine net just net them out. I’ll often blast them off and then have a diatomaceous earth filter or a micron filter running that sucks them in. Or if their numbers are significant on a particular coral just dip it. On some tanks I’ve used flatworm exit which seems to work pretty good but almost inevitably some show up again. I’ve also used golden wrasse, spotted mandarin and sixline wrasse. I’m in the favor of less medication and more of the natural approach. On another note try to keep your nutrients low. In a 40g tank you’ve got this!

redstorm6 · Aug 24, 2019

Thanks for the info!

I'm sumpless and going for a more natural approach myself so I'm glad to read this. I've siphoned out the three i've seen. I blasted one off a coral and my yellow tail damsel actually ate it.

Currently Ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate is between 5-10. So hard to tell with the API kits.....

I also have setup a refugium and I'm using dreaded Xenia for nitrate control. I only have four fish, 2 ocellaris clowns and two yellow tail damsels, so feeding is very sparingly.

I'm sure I'm freaking out for no reason.