Red flatworms!

Texas Reefer · Oct 8, 2015

I recently moved and my 14 gal AIO isn't doing well. Hair algae, and flatworms out of nowhere! In the space of 24 hours my torch completely disintegrated, and this (pic) hammer is half gone. In the pic is a piece of the hammer that I broke off because of brown jelly, and I found flatworms on it. Do you think the pink areas are eggs? What should I do?

rsav · Oct 9, 2015

Water change. Test all parameters. Could be any number of reasons.

twilliard · Oct 9, 2015

Are you able to catch a flatworm and post a picture for ID?
Does not look like eggs but different species breed in different ways.

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

They are just red rusty little blobs that slither over the coral. Not really any tail at all.

twilliard · Oct 9, 2015

Love your description!
So no v tail?
If they are egg layers then the eggs will be a clear cluster with white tinted eggs.
Are they at all like these ?
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/651

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

Posted a link but it didn't work

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

That didn't work either

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

not my pic

twilliard · Oct 9, 2015

A good reef safe solution that will allow you to collect them with a net is peroxide.
These guys absolutely hate peroxide. They will let go and float around then you can catch them before they die and release toxins.
I have found that FWE works, well kinda, and these guys will just laugh at you when you get to dose number 3. I don't know how they do it but they become resistant to FWE unless you massively overdose FWE.
Peroxide is quick and harmless.
Still have to change water after using it

For example I put hundreds in my 2.5g study tank.
I introduced 10Ml of peroxide in the tank.
3 days later... dead. Every single one of them. Now I have to go find more

Texas Reefer · Oct 9, 2015

twilliard said:
A good reef safe solution that will allow you to collect them with a net is peroxide.
These guys absolutely hate peroxide. They will let go and float around then you can catch them before they die and release toxins.
I have found that FWE works, well kinda, and these guys will just laugh at you when you get to dose number 3. I don't know how they do it but they become resistant to FWE unless you massively overdose FWE.
Peroxide is quick and harmless.
Still have to change water after using it

For example I put hundreds in my 2.5g study tank.
I introduced 10Ml of peroxide in the tank.
3 days later... dead. Every single one of them. Now I have to go find more

Why do you want to find more?

WetWhistle · Oct 9, 2015

Flatworm exit works good. I would not recommend random peroxide dosing to get rid of them unless you are experienced. (It does work) Just be careful if you have a large amount of them as they release toxin when they die. I would run carbon and manually remove a lot of them before you dose with anything first. You should always dose as a last resort after you have exhausted all other options.

If you have room and your tank can handle it biologically you can look at some of the wrasse like a 6 line, green wrasse or Malanarius wrasse. Before adding any new fish always research compatibility with your current fish to avoid and aggression.