Flatworm Removal

[jade2122]

Hey guys, more questions from me, ha. I currently have a nano reef with soft and hard corals in it. Unfortunately for some time now I have had flatworms in the tank, not alot of them and they mostly reside on my mushrooms. I soon will be moving my hard corals into my new 65 reef and want to ensure that no flatworms make their way over. What is the best way to cleanse the hard corals(sps and lps) of the flatworms?

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

Freshwater dip w/ flatworm exit.

 

[sytanek]

Would also dip in lugols.

 

[rdmpe]

Also, they provide natural food for some fish like coris wrasse.

 

[waterfaller1]

Run flatworm exit before you move them. Follow the directions carefully. A FW dip or Lugol's will not kill eggs. FW is too hard on sps corals and could kill them.

 

[sytanek]

Carole, have you heard of flatworm exit affecting inverts?

Have read multiple posts on RC about flatworm exit issues, not sure if that is the norm, or just a rare occurance.

 

[waterfaller1]

If you are'nt dilligent about removing as many as you can see before hand by syphoning, and syphoning them as they die...yes I could see issues with it harming tank inhabitants. It is'nt the exit, it's the toxin that the planeria release when they die. You must do the things that I mentioned, and do a good sized water change & run fresh carbon after. For every one that you see..there are hundreds you don't.

 

[sytanek]

On one of my tanks I have them, I can find about 4 on the glass, problem is I can't see them on anything else. I have the flatworm exit but have been scared to use it, simply because I am not sure how I would siphon them out if I cant see them :/

I have plenty of water ready and plenty of carbon to use.

 

[MORAY]

If you overdose with FW exit or concentrate it in an area it can kill inverts. I killed a skunk cleaner a long time ago by using a turkey baster to concentrate an area with FW exit.

FW exit does work very well on the regular redish orange flatworms. The last time I treated my 135 with it was the day before Hurricane Charley. I did dose it heavy though which is risky. It can cause fish problems at higher doses.

Since you have a small tank it's easier to do and you could follow up with another treatment. You might even think about making a holding tank for the coral you are going to move and dosing that before moving the coral to your larger tank.

 

[plyle02]

Try ramping up your flow, if you desire to go sps you will have to do so anyway. IME, I had a few, but when I went BB, and literally tripled my flow, and upgraded my skimmer(PM Bullet 1), they went away naturally. I am not positive, but think I read somewhere that they don't prefer high flow environments..... Also depends on what kind of flatworms.....AEFW = totally different situation.....