AEFW, Is it absolutely necessary to use a QT?

[watermonsters]

We have flatworms and are trying to figure out the best way to treat them. We have a 3 display system actually and were wondering if we could just use one of the tanks as a QT tank for placing the corals in while they are being dipped. We thought that would be easier than having a separate tank not plumbed into the main system.
Can Flatworms migrate from tank to tank if they are plumbed together? Has anyone had success treating AEFW in this manner?
Any feedback would be much appreciated! Thanks

 

[serpentman]

We have flatworms and are trying to figure out the best way to treat them. We have a 3 display system actually and were wondering if we could just use one of the tanks as a QT tank for placing the corals in while they are being dipped. We thought that would be easier than having a separate tank not plumbed into the main system.
Can Flatworms migrate from tank to tank if they are plumbed together? Has anyone had success treating AEFW in this manner?
Any feedback would be much appreciated! Thanks

Although this method is better than nothing as my guess is less will travel that way, however flatworms can migrate through a system if it is plumbed together. Routine dipping at 3 week intervals should eventually eradicate them, just takes time.

 

[hatfielj]

I've been wondering this too. How is it that they are able to migrate through a system? Do the eggs become free floating and make it through all the pumps and tubings untouched? Are the adults able to just crawl along plumbing and such? It seems unlikely that it could occur because it would require such a difficult trek through drain pipes, sumps, past skimmers, through return pumps and out to a different display.

 

[serpentman]

They have to have some mechanism for moving from coral to coral. Otherwise they would stick to one and die off when the coral perished. I suspect some end up being blown off the coral and travel by current.

 

[drawman]

They have to have some mechanism for moving from coral to coral. Otherwise they would stick to one and die off when the coral perished. I suspect some end up being blown off the coral and travel by current.

Agreed. While I haven't seen this personally, they likely move through the water column. This may be easier for them to do after hatching since they will be smaller and have more surface area to catch the current. Just an assumption though.

 

[watermonsters]

Yeah, and if they are moving when they are small they are next to impossible to control. That would make sense as a good means of dispersing themselves.