Reef pests

[gar732]

After having found a few different type in my tank and then researching what I might have and how to get rid of them, I thought it would be nice to have all that info in one spot. So if you've got pics please post them and also please share your experiences with them and how you got rid of them.

 

[gar732]

I guess I'll try to get this going. Here is a pic of an adult monti eating nudibranch. These little buggers will devour your montis.

Some of the signs that I noticed are:
Coral losing color
It looks like sand or debris on coral
reduced polyp extension

The only way that I know of to get rid of these guys 100 percent is to move All your monti's to a quarantine tank and treat them in there by multiple dips. You'll have to wait till the nudi's starve to death in your display before reintroducing your pest free monti's. I'll have to look up how long you have to wait.

 

[gar732]

Wow am I the only one who has dealt with pests? I'll have to dig up some more pics.

 

[akabryanhall]

A good way to get rid of flatworms is to wait until the lights go out. Set up a flashlight so it shines on the sand bed in the corner of your tank. The flatworms will congregate in the light and you can use a hose to siphon them out.

 

[boehm742]

Sundial Snail
Not reef safe they eat zoanthids
Manual removal is best. Always closely inspect/dip your pieces before adding them to your tank
Here are some photos.

 

[boehm742]

Brown Flatworms

Nasty photo i found online
Treatment(information taken from DFS/LA)
The best way of controlling flatworms is by prevention. Maintaining low nutrient levels in the aquarium with the use of carbon and aggressive protein skimming, along with increased water flow will help to reduce the populations of these pests. Proper quarantine of new specimens, and all aquatic life before they are placed in the display aquarium will keep the initial introduction of flatworms to a minimum.

• Natural means of control include: Wrasse of the genus Pseudocheilinus, such as the Six Line Wrasse (P. hexataenia), Halichoeres Wrasse, such as Yellow Wrasse (H. chrysus), Macropharyngodon Wrasse such as the numerous Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon sp.), and Dragonets such as the Spotted Mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus). The Blue Velvet Nudibranch (Chelidonura varians) is very effective at consuming flatworms in the aquarium, but is very sensitive to changes in water chemistry and has a short life expectancy in the home aquarium.
• Although the species mentioned above will consume flatworms, they may not feed on all of the different species that inhabit the aquarium, nor will they typically rid the aquarium completely. Also be sure that your aquarium is appropriate for the fish, as some of the species do have special requirements and increased care levels in the home aquarium.
• Another method of removing flatworms from an infected colony is by performing a brief freshwater bath or dip. Flatworms are very sensitive to salinity changes; by dipping the colony in dechlorinated freshwater for 5 to 10 seconds and then shaking the colony while submerged in the bath of freshwater, will cause the worms to lose their grip and fall to the bottom of the container. Be sure the freshwater has the same temperature and pH as the aquarium's water in order to reduce the amount of stress on the colony.
• The last method involves manual removal. Siphoning seems to work the best, as the flatworms do not keep a very strong grip on the colony. A small diameter airline tubing works very well for soft leather coral colonies and some species of mushrooms. Be careful not to damage the coral with too strong of a siphon. For the more delicate mushrooms and LPS corals, small syringes work very well. It is possible to get the syringe very close to the flatworm and gently draw the worm into the syringe without harming the coral.

With severe infestations, you may have to employ a combination of all methods mentioned above in order to eliminate or even control the populations of these pests

 

[dougers31]

The photo above looks like planaria, usually harmless but annoying. Clean tanks with good flow tend to be void of them. A good wrasse never hurts though.

 

[boehm742]

The photo above looks like planaria, usually harmless but annoying. Clean tanks with good flow tend to be void of them. A good wrasse never hurts though.

Thank you for catching that. Updated.

 

[jledon4]

I guess I'll try to get this going. Here is a pic of an adult monti eating nudibranch. These little buggers will devour your montis.

Some of the signs that I noticed are:
Coral losing color
It looks like sand or debris on coral
reduced polyp extension

The only way that I know of to get rid of these guys 100 percent is to move All your monti's to a quarantine tank and treat them in there by multiple dips. You'll have to wait till the nudi's starve to death in your display before reintroducing your pest free monti's. I'll have to look up how long you have to wait.

get that out of your tank!!!! had them once, it looks like a montipora eating nudibranch. they lay their eggs under the monti's and like every other pest, dips only kill the animal not the eggs. if i were you and had monti's, specially caps, look under them and dip them immediately!

 

[gar732]

Bump