help...what are these bugs?

[pixiegirlie]

I have these little red bugs-they kind of look like coraline algae but when i hit them they all moved-at first they where creating a colony on one rock-but now it looks like they are spreading...does anyone know what they are? good, bad? thanks!

They are the lighter red things ALL over this rock and a little on the sand...any ideas?

 

[seth16]

well, im no expert, but i put two and two together.... RED BUGS

I kow that they are like one of the worst things to have...so, lets wait and see what other people say, i really have no clue what they are, but just from your description, sounds like redbugs...

 

[pixiegirlie]

i figured that too-but everyone i talk to says that red bugs are microscopic-and are usually associated w/sps's which i dont have-but thanks for the input!

 

[cowboyswife]

Flatworms.

 

[sytanek]

Flatworms here too.

I believe redbugs only thrive on acropora...could be wrong, but I'm still going with flatworms.

 

[cowboyswife]

http://melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html

 

[jay24k]

Those are flatworms. Not as bad as your AEFW but can be a pain. They are also known as Red Planaria. The common way to get them is to treat the tank with flatworm exit. You need to have carbon ready for afterwards and you need to siphon as many as you can before and during the treatment. Immediately do a water change and run carbon.

When they die, they are toxic so you have to keep on top of it. They will continue to multiply and cover/kill your corals and make the tank look nasty.

 

[tangers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10174823#post10174823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sytanek
Flatworms here too.

I believe redbugs only thrive on acropora...could be wrong, but I'm still going with flatworms.

yeah redbugs thrive on acros, those are flatworms

 

[sytanek]

Does the red planaria spread quicker than normal not red planaria? I have the not red in my tank, and they don't seem to spread very quickly at all.

 

[chrisstie]

Yes the red ones can be quite prolific! They tend to smother\speckle everything with themselves.

The other tiny skinny black ones are a bit different- those tend to come and go while those big fat planaria you tend to need to take greater measures with flatworm eXit to get rid of - some great advice above in this thread on how to properly use the stuff!

We used it in kevins pico tank because they showed up in there (but not our other tanks, very weird!) and the mushrooms, toadstool and pistol shrimp and even the feather dusters were fine. Just gotta be very dilligent in getting rid of the bodies

 

[pixiegirlie]

nice....i feel like i was just dignosed with the herp...im very upset...how much does that flatworm stuff cost? will it hurt my hippo/dottyback/clown goby? should i take them to a different tank?

 

[cowboyswife]

Its not as bad as it seems. It may be a PITA to get rid of, but you'll be alright. You MUST get as many out as possible before you dose the flatworm exit or the flatworms' toxins will kill everything in your tank.

 

[sytanek]

It's about 20$ a bottle. For your nano that should give you about 5-6 doses. It does not seem to get them all at once. They have it at Reefworks. The main thing you need to do is get a piece of airline and make it siphon water and siphone a lot of them out.

 

[pixiegirlie]

ok...i guess jason will be helping me with that

 

[waterfaller1]

Watch PH & oxygen carefully while doing FW exit. Make sure you syphon as many visible FW's before you add the exit. For every one you see, there are dozens you don't. The problem is as they die they release toxins. This is what can kill your fish. Just be prepared with a large water change of airated water that has the same temp & PH as your tank, and follow the directions carefully.

 

[cowboyswife]

And when you go buy the flatworm exit, buy carbon too. You need it after you dose it.

 

[deano488]

take out any coral that you like first! rinse it in fresh SW to get any flat worms off the QT them. Use flatworm exit then siphon as much out as you can while doing a water change of at least 50% then you can put the coral back in

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10175664#post10175664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cowboyswife
And when you go buy the flatworm exit, buy carbon too. You need it after you dose it.

Good call Becca.

QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10175722#post10175722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deano488
take out any coral that you like first! rinse it in fresh SW to get any flat worms off the QT them. Use flatworm exit then siphon as much out as you can while doing a water change of at least 50% then you can put the coral back in [/QUOTE]

What would be the purpose of this? FW exit does not harm corals, and if you miss one batch of eggs..or one FW you are back at square one when the coral goes back in your tank.

 

[jay24k]

If I recall, these flatworms don't lay eggs. They reproduce by splitting. But I could be wrong. I'd leave the coral in there too. Never know a nook or cranny you might miss with them.

 

[waterfaller1]

You could be right on that Jay, but either way..I would treat everything.