Cyano Bacteria?

[terry4505]

I have some reddish-purpleish spots growing on some of my soft corals. It looks like Cyano bacteria, and wipes right off when touched. I dose vodka/sugar/vinegar and Phosphates and Nitrates are unreadable. Just looking for some advice. I am slightly concerned because some of the spots have a very uniform shape.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IKpDUpUkL3Uk-wsu7pUVf2tDXB4kOsLSss5H6VeE480?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BhWru_X9DIc/Thco2eIUBVI/AAAAAAAAA8o/ijR4vaYkSnA/s640/IMAG0316.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/104229235899643931430/FishTank?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKfGvvjPl5eIEA&feat=embedwebsite">Fish Tank</a></td></tr></table>

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[tmz]

Can't tell if it's cyano ,some other bacteria or some problem in the coral symbiont bacteria from the pictures. I'd cut the organic carbon dosing back by at least 50% since NO3 is 0. I'd stop the sugar entirely ;it causes some problems for some corals .Skim aggressively and run gac. How much are you dosing?

 

[Jacwil]

They look like flatworms to me but can't tell for sure...it wipes off and breaks up like red cyano?

If possible use your baster and slurp up a few and scrutinize them more in a dish.

 

[museumguy]

Definately red planaria flatworms.

 

[terry4505]

Definately red planaria flatworms.

That is kind of what I was thinking. Any experience with Flatworm eXit?

 

[Jacwil]

Yep I've used it a cpl times...prepare a bunch of mixed water and carbon.

I would try to manually siphon as many out as possible before treating.

Don't be shocked at how many you see floating around after treating...obviously get as many of the deads ones out as u can.

 

[talon4x4]

I got a 6-line wrasse when I had a flatworm problem and he took care of it. Haven't seen a flatworm in almost 2 years now I think. But I guess it can be hit-or-miss on the 6-line. Thankfully I hit!!

 

[museumguy]

That is kind of what I was thinking. Any experience with Flatworm eXit?

I've used it a few times. My gameplan is to prepare a really big water change, siphon out any I can see first if possible, dose the chemicals (I usually dose 50% more than the normal dose) and then follow directions as stated and do a large water change. The worms can release a toxin into the tank that in large doses can crash a system, so the water change afterwards is very important.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

there are thousands of flatworm species

there are thousands of flatworm species

"red planaria" don't sit on corals like those in these pix.
I don't see any cyano.

 

[museumguy]

"red planaria" don't sit on corals like those in these pix.
I don't see any cyano.

Perhaps not, but they are planaria that are red

I've had these same (or a very similar species of) flatworms before. They like to live on mushroom corals and the tentacles of Euphyllia corals. They don't seem to do much damage or get out of hand but I don't really want them in my tanks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

touche'

touche'

(I'm not French!)

I would follow Tad's recommendations regardless

"Red Planaria" is a meaningless hobbyist term anyway... who the heck is going to take the time to properly ID a FLATWORM?

 

[tmz]

who the heck is going to take the time to properly ID a FLATWORM

:lmao:For clarity , I did look them up ( I know a bit over studious )when someone challenged my use of the term planaria a few years ago. I think the proper term is acoela flatworm.,no longer considered a plannaria species but a separate phylum ,if I recall correctly. In any case flatworm exit should help. Dose it carefully, I had a tang come after it ,thinking food, gulped a bunch before it dispersed and it went into some sort of shock and stopped breathing.


The picture looked like a flatworm but the description of breaking up when touched didn't fit..

 

[terry4505]

I think there is also some cyano bacteria, that looks similar and I confused the two. After doing some reading, and taking all the advice above, I am sure what I am looking at is a species of flatworm.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

like talon mentioned

like talon mentioned

I've had great success with using wrasses to control problematic flatties.

Anybody else?

 

[rjmayes34]

yup i had flatworms that got introduced with a frag i bought. Had to use flatworm exit, they came back about three months later, did the flatworm again then got a six line and have not seen one since, and its been about 9 months!

 

[teamdulski]

Flatworm exit works great. As was said before try and siphon out as many as possible before treatment, this can not be stressed enough.

 

[talon4x4]

I've had great success with using wrasses to control problematic flatties.

Anybody else?

The wrasse was recommended to me by someone on here over the flatworm exit and I'm glad they did!! The 6-line did a great job for me and haven't seen a single flatworm since!! Plus, he is a pretty cool fish. He is always on the hunt, pecking at the rocks and sand.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I know that 'flatworm exit' works, but the prospect of their toxic dead bodies fouling my aquarium doesn't appeal to me. Neither does siphoning them out.

I've always had multiple Wrasses and/or Dragonettes in my reef aquariums and I've never had to use flatworm exit or any other chem remedies on flatties.