Pete_the_Puma
New member
Hi all,
So over the last few weeks my SPS have been growing more slowly, I first noticed that my ALK wasn't dropping as fast as previously.
Today one of the few corals that is not encrusted and had been showing a little less polyp extension got knocked to the sandbed and I decided to take him out for a closer inspection....
You can imagine the horror when I saw the little brown eggs at its base
I dipped him and sure enough saw a number of tiny flatworms falling off.
So today I have declared War on these @!#$#^$@$%^ little buggers!!! I shall not rest until they are all exterminated.
I had not dealt with these in the past and after a lot of reading it seems like there is no generally accepted "in tank" treatment short of popping the frags off and dipping. The problem is most of my colonies are encrusting on the rock and taking them out is really not an option.
No corals are in bad shape and most of them are still growing but the rate of growth has slowed considerably.
My plan so far:
1. I run Zeovit so I will be adding Flatworm stop to the regimen, my understanding is this is more of a long term suppressant rather than active elimination: anyone know the active ingredient in there? (Would guess not seeing how secretive KZ is with their stuff).
2. Have ordered a mandarin Goby, wanted one for a long time and have the pod population to support him, didnt know they ate flatworms!! Am considering also adding a green coris Wrasse, are these Reef safe?
3. After a lot of reading I am also thinking about weekly full tank dosing of Levamisole, although I guess some people have not had success with this, any other options?
Looking for any input from people who have defeated these pests
Thanks,
Pete
So over the last few weeks my SPS have been growing more slowly, I first noticed that my ALK wasn't dropping as fast as previously.
Today one of the few corals that is not encrusted and had been showing a little less polyp extension got knocked to the sandbed and I decided to take him out for a closer inspection....
You can imagine the horror when I saw the little brown eggs at its base
I dipped him and sure enough saw a number of tiny flatworms falling off.
So today I have declared War on these @!#$#^$@$%^ little buggers!!! I shall not rest until they are all exterminated.
I had not dealt with these in the past and after a lot of reading it seems like there is no generally accepted "in tank" treatment short of popping the frags off and dipping. The problem is most of my colonies are encrusting on the rock and taking them out is really not an option.
No corals are in bad shape and most of them are still growing but the rate of growth has slowed considerably.
My plan so far:
1. I run Zeovit so I will be adding Flatworm stop to the regimen, my understanding is this is more of a long term suppressant rather than active elimination: anyone know the active ingredient in there? (Would guess not seeing how secretive KZ is with their stuff).
2. Have ordered a mandarin Goby, wanted one for a long time and have the pod population to support him, didnt know they ate flatworms!! Am considering also adding a green coris Wrasse, are these Reef safe?
3. After a lot of reading I am also thinking about weekly full tank dosing of Levamisole, although I guess some people have not had success with this, any other options?
Looking for any input from people who have defeated these pests
Thanks,
Pete
