Flatworms?

[WallyV]

I was staring into the refugium yesterday looking at all the tiny action in the cheato ball and was noticing a lot of white flatworms on the glass of the fuge. They are all white, and none are red or brown. Are these anything to worry about? I couldn't find any in the display.

Thanks
-Wally

 

[Dave & Monica]

I have them, like you, mainly in the fuge. I've treated about a half dozen times in the last few years and for now, I can't see them - but I know they will pop up again. I never did get them in plague proportion since the first out break. I still treat everything in or out with FWE - so I know I'm not spreading it.

 

[killagoby]

Are they flatworms, or pods? Usually with the start of something new like that you might get a "pod explosion". My flatworms were always red. I would not use FWE unless you are ready to do some big water changes, and that you make sure they are flat worms not pods.

 

[WallyV]

I have amphipods and copepods like crazy in the fuge, but the flatworms I am seeing are very small and white in color. I wish I could get a good picture, but I have nothing that will do macro. They seem to be here then gone if that makes any sense. The only other new discoveries are baby snails, and I have no idea if these little white "flatworms" could actually be baby snails with no shell.

-Wally

 

[killagoby]

That's possible. Flat worms are generally "flat" (duh) and they have a weird shape to them. They are like a rectangle, but the corners are "pointy".

 

[zombiereef]

i would definitely get a positive id on those before doing anything drastic. sounds like baby stomatella snails to me.

 

[zombiereef]

maybe someone can come over and check it out for you. i could possibly swing by this weekend.

 

[Dave & Monica]

Look here - is this what they look like? Mine were more light beige, not white, but not red either. I agree - get ID first.

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html (second pic in from the left)

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/tbs/flatworms.jpg

 

[WallyV]

I thought light beige was white. They don't look like anything I have found a picture of. They are not bothering anything and everything is thriving. Who knows.
-Wally

 

[DayFive]

Do they look anything like this except for the color?

 

[WallyV]

Yes. That is what they look like.

 

[DayFive]

That is a picture of the FWs I had in my 75g about two years ago. I was successful ridding of them with flatworm exit at least for a while. The showed up again only in my sump about a year ago. Like Dave & Monica they like to show up now and again. I forget what genus they are (some long word that starts with a P) but they are not directly harmful to your tank. However they do use a lot of tank resources and in high numbers will create high amounts of waste and use up a lot of oxygen in the water.

If you do use FWE try and suck out as many as possible and possibly get a yellow corris wrasse or two to eat them up before you treat the tank. FWE is not toxic but when the FWs die they release a toxin that will damage your tank inhabitants. I had to double the dose and soak time to get it to work and if they show up in my fuge again I will probably triple or more the dose. Good luck!

 

[zombiereef]

you definitely want to get them under control asap. they will multiply like crazy. they thrive in bright conditions. there are many wrasses, gobies and other fish that will eat them if you decide to go that route. only issue with that is they hide in rock crevices and the fish may not be able to completely erradicate the whole population. if you sell corals, frags or LR to someone, you will contaminate their tank with them.

 

[WallyV]

I wouldn't say they are out of control, but my fuge light is on 24/7, so I will put that on a timer and cut the time to 12on 12off. Also, the way my fuge is set up, I can cut all water flow to it and drain and refill it as a water change, and get most of them out with a gravel vacuum. I have no sand in my fuge, just LR and cheato. Does this sound like a good plan?

-Wally

 

[DayFive]

If you can isolate your sump from the rest of the tank then no need to drain water before treating it but you will defiantly want to drain the treated water with all the dead worms. You will have to add some flow in your sump, the more the better. You need to get the medication in all the nooks and crannies of your LR so aim a power head or two right at the rock. You might clean out some of your cheato too depending on how much you have in there. You will probably kill bristle worms and possible feather dusters that might be in your sump.

If it were me I would triple the dose and let it sit for at least a couple of hours. Flat worm exit works but from my experience and from what I have read of other peoples experiences you need to double the dose and soak time at least.

KILL'EM ALL

 

[killagoby]

I had them at one point, and like anything else in life, in time, they passed away. (True story. I swear)