Is there another option?

Prince916

New member
Well my tank is infrcted with aefw. I have treaded A BUNCH OF FRag already but cant treat the big colonies that i cant take out the tank. I have about 20 big colonies mostly acro's. Is there another way i can treat them inside the tank?
 
Flatworm Exit by Salifert, you have no option you have to treat the DT otherwise you will never get rid of them. Luckily its an easy process just follow the directions exactly and prepare for some larger WC's.
 
I don't think F.W.E works on the AEFW. You can either live with them and use wrasses and other fish to keep them in check (do this by blowing each acro with a turkey baster) Or you could remove every single acro and QT them for 10 weeks and dip em and scrape the eggs weekly and return the acros to the D.T. once you know all the little bastards are gone for sure.
 
I thought this is what everbody used interceptor for? You need to find a vet who will prescribe it for you, but its supposed to work perfectly, if Im remembering things correctly.
 
I am really surprised at the amount of misinformation that is still out there. FWE does not affect AEFW nor does interceptor. There are even some claims that AEFW burrow into the flesh of the coral at birth, this make prevention difficult even with a full QT. 10 weeks would be a very safe time period of you scrap, dip, and observe properly.

As mentioned, your options are basting or a full QT. Diligently basting can decimate AEFW populations, people seem to be having success. The idea is to blow them off and train the fish to eat them. Eventually the egg-laying population suffers and reproduction slows. You may also you a small maxi-jet powerhead to knock them off.
 
Well my qt tank wont be big enough to house all of my colonies. So i will try and turkey blast them of but what kind of wrasse eats aefw? Sixline? I have a spotted mandarin and i heard they do the job but so far no results.
 
Most all wrasses will eat them and yes sixline wrasse will most likely do the job for you. I don't think mandarin goby will eat flat worms but don't quote me on that.
 
I dont remember if i read it or not but how many times can i dip corals in a week? i currently using coral rx pro and lugol iodine solution. It seems that there are more flatworm coming off with lugol than coral rx pro.
 
I dont remember if i read it or not but how many times can i dip corals in a week? i currently using coral rx pro and lugol iodine solution. It seems that there are more flatworm coming off with lugol than coral rx pro.
 
Just pitch the large colonies. Tough battle to win.

What?!?

Hang in there dude. AEFW's are a scurge, however they don't necessarily mean the end of the world. I would highly recommend a 6-line or a coris. My 6 line patrols diligently. Whenever I add a frag, etc. he spends considerable time picking pods, etc off the plug.
 
If you dip more than once a week you are not only wasting your time but also adding more stress to the corals. Make sure you are scrapping the eggs when you dip (look in all cracks and crevices) And between dips I'd "blow off" the stragglers, this should help "train" your fish to enjoy their new snacks.
 
What?!?

Hang in there dude. AEFW's are a scurge, however they don't necessarily mean the end of the world. I would highly recommend a 6-line or a coris. My 6 line patrols diligently. Whenever I add a frag, etc. he spends considerable time picking pods, etc off the plug.
Sounds like he got it bad. I had a friend who had them in the past, he battled them for 4 to 5 months. He set up a QT. They still got were in his system. He lost every coral. He can save the smaller colonies and frags. I think the best thing to do, is to cut off fraggs of the struggling colonies and scrape for eggs. Not trying to a pessimist. I had nudi's and I just pitched my large cap colonies after trying some treatments. AFEW are beatable, but you have to be very persistent. Unfortunately you can't save it all.
 
I have heard quite the opposite... A healthy larger colony stands more of a chance if you are basting regularly as mentioned above by Logzor. The thought is that the damage they do does not compete with the colonies new growth, again, only if you are basting suspected colonies. Now, if your params are off, or you have nutrient build up, or lighting issues, otherwise poor husbandry skills, the AEFW will likely irrate the corals and STN or RTN could be a result. Their are many beautiful tanks, even previous TOTM winners on RC that have AEFW and live with them, their colonies and tanks chemistry is not worth a total loss, so they deal... On the other hand, small colonies or frags that have AEFW, are less likely to make such an outbreak. I speak from experience here, I have a milli and another larger colony that I am 100% have AEFW, and they are very big AEFW. I do blow them off at least one every other day. Their coloration, growth, PE, and health do not show a decline, in fact, they seem overall very happy in their conditions. Each time I baste the tank, I do in fact see less and less AEFW, perhaps I am winning the war. We will have to see. GL to all those dealing with these little buggers:)
 
BTW,
Reminded me it has been a few days sinced I basted. I just hit all acros with at least 10 squirts of powerful basting each, I watched at least 5 blow off get into the water column... My yellow coris wrasse ate every last one, in fact, a fight broke out between the coris wrasse and sixline, they were obviously arguing over the treat. The coris definitely, clearly munched all the ones break loose. Just giving the OP some confidence that AEFW does not mean the end of the world...Merry Christmas all...
 
Well i think im goin to wait till i get a wrasse to turkey blast my acro. Kind of risky blasting them and having them to land on another coral. Would it be safe if i dip my corals once a week for 2-3months? Also anyone know how long it takes for the eggs to hatch?
 
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