What to do?

[goody]

I'm getting ready to do an upgrade from a 90g to a 150g. I recently started to have red planaria problem, and now I am starting to see them on my zoa frags on the substrate.

I don't want these to get in my new tank when I transfer my coral. I will dip all frags in revive or coralrx.

Question is will I have to worry about eggs? I know AEFW lay the eggs which make it so difficult to get rid of, but do these flatworms (red planaria) do the same?

 

[Saltgator]

Not sure of an answer (never delt with them), but have aefw. Will be following.

 

[goody]

Not sure of an answer (never delt with them), but have aefw. Will be following.

AEFW is waaay worse in my opinion. The red planaria, I believe, will not kill coral, but I still want to take every precaution from introducing them into my new tank.

 

[butts182]

try a 6 line wrasse to eat them

 

[swannyson7]

I would dip corals as you transfer and then invest in a worker wrasse like a 6 line or melanarus to consume them as the eggs hatch.

 

[Dowtish]

Flatworm Exit by salifert works great on them. The only problem is that when they start to die, they put off a toxin that can kill your fish and inverts. You could break the scape down enough to catch the fish and inverts and put them in a temporary tub or tank, then put the scape back in the original tank and treat the tank before you transfer everything over. Now this is only if they are getting real bad, and you dont think a six line wrasse could take care of them. And I know it sounds like a pain, but it will be even worse to go through all this when you have everything transferred over to the new tank.

 

[tike]

try a 6 line wrasse to eat them

+1 I had a problem with them years ago an a six line mopped them out!

 

[goody]

I would dip corals as you transfer and then invest in a worker wrasse like a 6 line or melanarus to consume them as the eggs hatch.

So they do lay eggs like AEFW? Unlike AEFW, these flatworms are not on my coral, but all over my frag racks, on the tank, and on the sandbed. I'm really trying to figure out if I will have to worry about eggs being transferred after dipping. I did have a yellow corris wrasse and will definitely get another worker wrasse in the future.

 

[donfishy]

you could also try a target/spotted mandarinfish, they will clean up all the FW's and you have no worry about them becoming aggressive later on

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Dip everything you have before putting it in a new tank.

Also if you can setup a QT tank for your corals and QT them and continue dipping for a month. You can always acid wash the rock to get rid of them and start new. If this is not an option be sure to get some pest controller. Six line is a great choice.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Their population seems to be associated with overfeeding or accumulation of organic debris as well. Maybe cut back on feeding and or a good cleaning is in order? The wrasse will definitely help.

 

[returnofsid]

Red Planaria is not that difficult of an issue.

BEFORE you move tanks, deal with them.

Siphon out as many as you can see, manually. You'll find them concentrated in low flow areas. They do become toxic, when they die, so removing as many as possible, before and right after treatment is suggested.

Turn off the air to your skimmer, so water circulates through it, but it doesn't skim. Use Salifert Flatworm Exit, at 3X the recommended dosage. Have a large water change ready to go. About 30 seconds after you dose SFE, they'll start to die and float around. Use a net to net out as many as possible, If you have a filter sock, put it on your drain hoses. Blow all the dead ones off of your live rock, with a turkey baster. After a couple of hours, maybe 3, do a large water change. Return air to your skimmer and toss in some carbon.

Now, your livestock are safe and all the flatworms are dead.

Move everything to the new tank, free of flatworms.

 

[goody]

Thanks for all replies. I think I've got enough procedures/ideas to keep these from getting in the new tank.