Flat worms
- Thread starter SDFISHMAN
- Start date
minimalist
New member
Flatworm Exit works for most but it didn't do a damn thing for me. Some flatworms are immune to it. Six line wrasses will eat 'em as well.
2crazyreefers
New member
Corris wrasse work good.
Brad Black
In Memoriam
SD,
Hi there I had several posts on "rust colored flat worms" (you should find and read) and came up with many good suggestions. My tank at the time was a 12 gal nano-reef. To be clear my flatworm problem involved tiny rectangle shaped, rust colored worms with a tiny red dot in the center (very flat), and they would move around the tank depending on current. They really began to cover vast areas of my tank, and I have heard that they can even cover corals and starve them of light (not in my case however).
What I did: siphoned thousands out for days at a time- they seem to come back even stronger. Gota arrow crab- only ****ed off the rest of the tank, no worms eaten at all (that I could tell). Got a six line wrass-what a cool fish but he didn't touch a single flatworm (that I could see, problem getting worse). Tried to vary current to get them in one area for easier siphoning, that worked a bit but every time I removed them, they seemed to come back and multiply even more! Like you I wanted to avoid chemical treatments at all costs but when they really took over I finally broke down and got the Flat worm Exit. Very easy to use, follow directions exactly and it will work (at least it did for me). I put in the FWE (as directed) and almost immedialtly most of the worms were dead. I also took it one step further and set up 2 dips in 30 gal rubbermaid containers-one with SW (same as my tank) with FWE in it also, and one with clean SW (to shake off rockwork vigorously to get the dead ones in the rock off). So I first treated the tank(30-45 min), then I pulled out all the rock put it into the second tx container (shook the rock real well) and let it sit for another 30-45 minn and then I put the LR into the 3rd clean SW rinse (no FWE) and shook the rock again, then before I put the rock back in I stirred up the sand bed thouroughly to get other Flatworms up, put fresh carbon in and then put the LR back in the tank. Bye the way in my tank durring treatment were some green mushrooms, feather dusters, cup corals, and clown fish a cleaner shrimp and a diamond goby. I checked back over the next few days and found a few more live flatworms (very few) and will treat the tank again soon (as per directions-you are supposed to tx 2-3 times I believe). That was over a week ago, and all critters look fine (no problems yet). Post another time if you want me to check back and let you know the ongoing prognosis and I will do so. Just read and follow directions carefully. Good luck with that. Also be aware that the Six line Wrass is a very delicate shipper so if it looks bad in the store wait until it gets better there before you take it home.
BB
Hi there I had several posts on "rust colored flat worms" (you should find and read) and came up with many good suggestions. My tank at the time was a 12 gal nano-reef. To be clear my flatworm problem involved tiny rectangle shaped, rust colored worms with a tiny red dot in the center (very flat), and they would move around the tank depending on current. They really began to cover vast areas of my tank, and I have heard that they can even cover corals and starve them of light (not in my case however).
What I did: siphoned thousands out for days at a time- they seem to come back even stronger. Gota arrow crab- only ****ed off the rest of the tank, no worms eaten at all (that I could tell). Got a six line wrass-what a cool fish but he didn't touch a single flatworm (that I could see, problem getting worse). Tried to vary current to get them in one area for easier siphoning, that worked a bit but every time I removed them, they seemed to come back and multiply even more! Like you I wanted to avoid chemical treatments at all costs but when they really took over I finally broke down and got the Flat worm Exit. Very easy to use, follow directions exactly and it will work (at least it did for me). I put in the FWE (as directed) and almost immedialtly most of the worms were dead. I also took it one step further and set up 2 dips in 30 gal rubbermaid containers-one with SW (same as my tank) with FWE in it also, and one with clean SW (to shake off rockwork vigorously to get the dead ones in the rock off). So I first treated the tank(30-45 min), then I pulled out all the rock put it into the second tx container (shook the rock real well) and let it sit for another 30-45 minn and then I put the LR into the 3rd clean SW rinse (no FWE) and shook the rock again, then before I put the rock back in I stirred up the sand bed thouroughly to get other Flatworms up, put fresh carbon in and then put the LR back in the tank. Bye the way in my tank durring treatment were some green mushrooms, feather dusters, cup corals, and clown fish a cleaner shrimp and a diamond goby. I checked back over the next few days and found a few more live flatworms (very few) and will treat the tank again soon (as per directions-you are supposed to tx 2-3 times I believe). That was over a week ago, and all critters look fine (no problems yet). Post another time if you want me to check back and let you know the ongoing prognosis and I will do so. Just read and follow directions carefully. Good luck with that. Also be aware that the Six line Wrass is a very delicate shipper so if it looks bad in the store wait until it gets better there before you take it home.
BB
Steffish
Member
I had flatworms and tried every conceivable natural remedy, but they just wouldn't go away. In fact they multiplied like crazy. I had hundreds that I could see (they tell you that you have about three times the amount you see out on your rocks) Like you, I hate the idea of adding chemicals to my tank. Finally, I decided to use the flatworm exit. I followed the directions perfectly and siphoned them all out. I haven't seen a single flatworm since. That was eight monts ago.
I'm still crossing my fingers they don't pop up again, but so far it has worked.
I'm still crossing my fingers they don't pop up again, but so far it has worked.
Paintbug
New member
heres an article you may find helpful:
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html
Lyscer
New member
I have had flatworms (planaria) for about a year now. When they started to get bad I did the following:
1- Purchased Six line wrasse
2- Purchased a Blue velvet nudibranch. Their primary source of food is the planaria flatworm. Unfortuanately he met my maxijet powerhead....
3- Siphoned as many visible ones out that I could. I had an air tube that went from the main tank and then into a sock that was sitting in the sump so that I could siphon the water all day trying to get them if I wanted.
4- Purchased a Mandarin Goby (psychadelic one, not spotted) and the pair doesn't seem to eat them either.
I just plumbed into my tank the ability to run a fluidized carbon unit so that I can try FWE. So we will see if it works for me.
1- Purchased Six line wrasse
2- Purchased a Blue velvet nudibranch. Their primary source of food is the planaria flatworm. Unfortuanately he met my maxijet powerhead....
3- Siphoned as many visible ones out that I could. I had an air tube that went from the main tank and then into a sock that was sitting in the sump so that I could siphon the water all day trying to get them if I wanted.
4- Purchased a Mandarin Goby (psychadelic one, not spotted) and the pair doesn't seem to eat them either.
I just plumbed into my tank the ability to run a fluidized carbon unit so that I can try FWE. So we will see if it works for me.
Brad Black
In Memoriam
FWE is by far the only cure that I've seen that is almost foolproof, as long as you use common sense and follow the directions. Fir those that have not had luck with it, I think you may find that they don't follow thru with the complete treatment. You can't just treat them, you have to find ways to completely eliminate them. This involves using several dips for LR and corals that you can shake the LR/corals off in, and then a fresh water (or SW with no FWE) to rinse the dead flat worms/FWE off with. If you don't Shake the rock throughtfully you can bet they will be back. They are good at hiding deep into rockwork where the chemical may not get every last one. It does work, just bite the bullet and do it right once and for all and be rid of the problem. You have to do it the hard way. Get the FWE, it's cheap for what it does. It is sold in some LFS's and on line. Good luck and let us know how it turns out, and if you get overwhelmed or discouraged post also, others can help when all seems lost...
michaeldaly
New member
I think a type of madarin also eats flatworms.
saltman123
New member
I too am battling flatworms right now. Mine are the same rust color...but there is no red dot on these guys. Mine also seem to only be on the glass. I've looked all over my rock work and can't spot them other than on the glass, and close to the sand bed at the bottom.
tried to siphon them 2 times in the past 2 weeks and about the same amount returned.
I may just go for a flatworm exit soon when I have the time.
tried to siphon them 2 times in the past 2 weeks and about the same amount returned.
I may just go for a flatworm exit soon when I have the time.
FWE is especially useful when the problem is mild. I had maybe a few dozen in my 115g. Used the FWE, didn't even have to run the carbon (though I don't recommend that). Every one died in minutes. I'm usually not a proponent of using chemicals in my tank, but after having them in my old tank, and seeing the results of FWE on my new tank, I highly recommend it. Especially on a new tank.
