Eradicate 1000 flatworms in 15 minutes

[dougdstecklein]

I have dealt with a major flat worm infestation for the last year and finally found a method that works very quickly to remove them. I tried a turkey baster and then "Julian's Thing" to suck them out, which worked, but took hours of time and caused some serious shoulder injuries. I purchased a six line wrass, but after 6 months he hasn't been able to put a dent in the population. I finally realized today while doing a water change that they can be sucked out with a long piece of 1/4 inch flexible tubing. Just create a syphon and start vacuuming. It is just enough suction to pull them off of the rocks. It took me 15 minutes to fill up the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket below with flat worms. I would estimate that 90% of the flatworm population in my tank was removed in that 15 minutes.

 

[OrQidz]

good haul of flatworms, yuck! That must be the best way to get rid of them since they are out of the tank and not making toxins if you kill them in the tank.

 

[Aslmx]

You can also put the hose in a filter sock in your sump while catching them in the display with the other end. That way you can get some in between water changes or just do like I did and get a Melanarus wrasse and let him do the work.

 

[Sgoldstein]

Thats a lot of flatworms!

 

[nikon187]

melanurus cleaned mine right up, had lots too

 

[nlgill13]

I found that a day with lights out and 75% of the flat worms will make there way to the glass for easy pickings with a syphon.

 

[dougdstecklein]

I wish I would have heard from some of you the first time I searched for a remedy. The best solutions I got were a turkey baster and chemicals.
And it sounds like I got the wrong type of wrasse.

 

[RA]

I think you should consider using flat worm exit. I don't like using chemicals either on my tank but in this case if I were you I would. A wrasse might keep the numbers down but it won't get rid of them. I have used FWE in the past as many other members have without problems.

 

[faithenfire]

i use a small tube to get rid of mine too during water changes. i hope that you made a dent. i feel like i do and then the next day nothing really has changed.

i would like to use fwe but i have a feeling that even with a water change ready that my population is too big and could be detrimental to my tank

 

[juice79]

My melanarus took care of all mine.

 

[thegrun]

You may think you removed 90% of the flatworms, but at best you would be lucky if you got 25%. At any given time I would estimate at least 75% are hidden out of sight. I'm not saying your process doesn't have merit, I just don't want you to think you got most of them.

 

[dougdstecklein]

I'm not too worried about it at this point. This method is so easy and quick I wouldn't have a problem doing it every water change just to keep their numbers in check. Although I have looked at my rocks today and believe that at the very least 3/4s of the flatworms are gone. They are very scattered, whereas before they were completely covering a lot of rocks.

 

[Zacharoo]

Can you not have more than one wrasse?? But glad you got you found a good method of getting rid of the worms!

 

[Coral Dilema]

This, plus my previous experiences with flat worms makes me want to QT all of my corals for my new tank and use FWE on them all before going into the DT. I have been floating this idea for a while but now I am convinced.

 

[McPuff]

Darn flatworms! I have them in my sump but I do not see them anywhere in the DT. The only reason I can think of is that my Caribbean pink freckled hawkfish eats them if they make it up there. I do plan to get a melanurus wrasse at some point too because 1) I like them, and 2) they get rid of the flatworms, and 3) wrasses are fun to watch. :0)

Anyway, my point is that there must be other fish that eat these little whores or I'd probably have them in my DT.

 

[dougdstecklein]

So far, even in the large numbers I have in my tank, they have not harmed any corals that I know of, nor are they an eyesore. I am content controlling the population with the 1/4" tube syphon method.

 

[untico]

The hose method is practical and allows you to suck detritus from crannies and holes in the rocks

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

I've read that mandarins and scooter blennies may occasionally eat flatworms. Since they eat constantly, and flatworms populate constantly, it may be a good mix.

On the other hand, if you get one that doesn't eat flatworms, then you have fish in your tank that you will have to care of...

Also: Consider a wrasse. Some people have had good luck with six-lines, but they can be a PITA. Melanarus wrasses coris wrasses may be a more peaceful option...

 

[jadendo]

Can i have these flatworms? Thanks.

 

[jfeva0049]

i just saw that i have these too. weird thing is that i only see them in my fuge. I have not seen a single one in my DT. I do have a six-line in the DT, maybe he makes sure that the dont stay in the DT.

Should i be worried about this? or since none are in the DT and only in the Fuge, it should not be a problem. thanks for any help.