Levasole flatworm adventure

[DeadlyMuffin]

I have a truly massive flatworm problem. Even after siphoning out as many as I can, within a week my entire substrate is crawling with worms. After reading the levasole medication thread and seeing just about unanimous positive results, I decided to give it a shot. (thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1379099)

I dosed as closely as I could to the quantity given in the other thread, possibly a bit more as I used the full volume of my tanks which doesn't take into account displacement due to rocks and equipment. Within 10 seconds just about every flatworm I could see was dead and beginning to float. Within a minute my tank water was dark yellow (forgive me for the comparison, but the shade of a dehydrated person's urine). I also noticed the distinct smell of dead flatworm that I get when I siphon them out.

I used all my available RO water doing water changes (probably 25-30 gallons) and set up a phosban reactor with activated carbon. Several hours later my water color is improved to a pale lemonade color.

Effects on livestock: Brittle star seems lethargic, I'm hoping I didn't kill him since he's the oldest animal in my tank. Some fish are breathing heavily, all seem to have retreated to hiding places but that's probably due more to my frantic water changes. Mushrooms have curled up around the edges. Xenia retracted but seems to be coming back now. No changes at all in the BTAs.

Anyway, that's my status at the moment. It's been one hell of an evening and I figured I'd share

 

[SLICKTOP]

I had the bugs many years ago, I dosed the tank made a hugh water change. Then after thinking that all was good went to work. Long story short make sure you continue to change water, most die quickly but some take longer and continue to fowl water even after you think the worst is over. Good luck!

 

[DeadlyMuffin]

My foxface didn't make it and my scopas tang looks like he's just about done for, everyone else seems to be hanging on.

I've been toying with the levasole idea for some time, but the motivation to go ahead and dose came when the worms started to engulf some of my kenya trees. My sandbed was crawling with flatworms.

In retrospect I wish I'd kept just trying to live with it. I still don't know how much damage I did to my livestock and the live rock critters in the system. This is definitely the last time anything other than limewater is going into my system. Watching the animals you've cared for for years struggle and die because of a mistake you made is the worst feeling in the world.

 

[SLICKTOP]

I know how you feel, but sounds like they were getting overhelming.. Your tank will bouce back, continue water changes, run carbon,and for now on soak any and all new frags or rock in flatworm Exit before adding to tank. I have done this since my outbreak and never seen one again in almost 4 years.

 

[DeadlyMuffin]

Yeah, assuming I got all the worms (I won't know for sure for a while) I should be able to hit everything coming in and prevent a resurgence. I just hope I didn't kill too many of the animals living in the rock.

The bristle worms appear to be hit pretty hard by this as well.

 

[SLICKTOP]

I hope they make it, with that much of a population of flatworms from my experience you need to be ready with enough water to change the whole volume of water when you treat the tank. I know this does not help now but maybe for you guys who see this thread.. Be ready to change water about 1 time every hour for about a 8 hour period in order to prevent the toxic be up from the dying flatworms. I lost several nice pieces of coral when I treated my tank, but now as time has pasted it was worth it to get rid of the little bugs.

 

[Psychographic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13321977#post13321977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DeadlyMuffin

This is definitely the last time anything other than limewater is going into my system.

The Levisole did not kill your fish, the toxins from the dieing Flatworms did.

You should have done some research on erradicating FW's. Just about every thread regarding this subject will tell you to syphon out as many as you can BEFORE treating the tank.

They also will tell you to have plenty of water ready to do a large water change, and to have about a pound of carbon ready to run in a reactor should you notice your animals being stressed as a result of the toxins excreted by the FW's.

Be prepared to need additional doses, the 1st treatment is never a guarantee that you killed them all.

I recently treated my tank for FW's using Levamisole and it took 3 treatments each done at a 7day interval to finish the job as there were some stragglers.

The 2nd and 3rd treatments will be no where near as severe on your livestock as the first treatmen as your FW population will be much lower.

 

[DeadlyMuffin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13325722#post13325722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psychographic
The Levisole did not kill your fish, the toxins from the dieing Flatworms did.

You should have done some research on erradicating FW's. Just about every thread regarding this subject will tell you to syphon out as many as you can BEFORE treating the tank.

They also will tell you to have plenty of water ready to do a large water change, and to have about a pound of carbon ready to run in a reactor should you notice your animals being stressed as a result of the toxins excreted by the FW's.

Be prepared to need additional doses, the 1st treatment is never a guarantee that you killed them all.

I recently treated my tank for FW's using Levamisole and it took 3 treatments each done at a 7day interval to finish the job as there were some stragglers.

The 2nd and 3rd treatments will be no where near as severe on your livestock as the first treatmen as your FW population will be much lower.

I won't even respond to the assumption that I did no research and simply dumped the stuff into my tank. I can't think of anything civil to say anyway.

Not siphoning out as many worms as I could before starting was a mistake, but I did have as much premixed saltwater as I could available and I did a massive water change as soon as I realized there was a problem (less than 15 minutes after dosing). 30 gallons is just about the largest water volume I can have outside the system. Since then I've done another couple water changes.

I wasn't running carbon right after I dosed but once I realized there was a problem I got it set up. Given the volume of toxin it was probably too little too late anyway.

I underestimated the toxicity of the flatworms and overestimated the ability of water changes to remove that toxin from the water and I wiped out a tank that's been stable for years because of it.

 

[DeadlyMuffin]

Losses as of last night:

Foxface
Scopas Tang
Yellowtail Damsel

My clownfish are showing glazed or milky eyes. Is this something that will clear up?

 

[SLICKTOP]

not sure, how are they acting and are they eating? How many fish are left?

 

[DeadlyMuffin]

7 fish total.

Display tank has 2 tomato clowns and a pseudochromis, smaller tank of the same sump has four small benggai cardinals. The cardinals look fine, the clowns look ragged and have filmy eyes. Nobody seems interested in food.

 

[bertoni]

I'd change the carbon and do more water changes.

 

[SLICKTOP]

I agree, more carbon and more water changes.. I would treat again after the fish either get better or pass, to make sure you got all the Flatworms.

 

[ricordeanut]

After you get it under control add a sixline wrasse or 2. I had flatworms and after siphoning for a few weeks I added a sixline and I see maybe one or two every now and then. The sixline keeps them under control. I see him searching for them all the time. They love them.