Red Planaria Flatworms just discovered in my tank.....

[rovster]

Very strange, I just saw a bloom of these little flatworms in my tank. They are crawling over the glass. They look like this....

Seems they are red planaria. I did add several SPS frags a few weeks ago, so I figure they made it past my dip, because I've NEVER seen these in my tank, and you guys know how closely we look at our tanks, LOL! They are pretty obvious. (They are NOT AEFW )

I'm not super concerned. I know some freak out and use flatworm exit. I rather not. I've read some posts that say that they can be self limiting. No room for a wrasse, but if I had to, I guess I can excommunicate my clow to my QT and get a small wrasse. I want one anyway for when I upgrade.

Not looking to make a move now. Would like to hear some opinions. Tank has been running for almost 2 years. I know they are common in new tanks. Thanks all!

 

[nivram]

There's a nudibranch that eats them. Some say one of the mandarins will eat them as we'll. easiest solution is to vacuum them out.

 

[BeerNut]

Use the Flatworm Exit before they've increased too much and you can't use it anymore without special precautions.

 

[rovster]

Rather not treat the tank with chemicals. What are the chances these go away on their own?

I will mention, I recently have had an issue with my RO filters, and I've been seeing more algae and some cyano. So, water quality has not been as good as usual. Not sure if its related or not.

The water quality issue has been corrected

 

[MinuteJohn]

They are very common and really don't cause any harm. I've heard that the population can spiral out of control but I think it's pretty rare for them to be a problem. A small six line wrasse will keep them in check, and will fits in most tanks.

 

[marlin85]

I would treat now like others have said. If the population gets too large, which it will, a large amount of them dieing off is toxic for the tank. Ive never heard of Flatworm exit doing any harm to their coral, fish or inverts.

These dont directly do any damage until they get to a huge population to where they are covering corals so they dont get anymore light. Plus they are a eye sore when you start seeing them everywhere.

 

[Gillguy]

Danny,
Remember when I first met you at your house I told you that I had a flatworm problem and resolved it with a Melanurus wrasse. This wrasse is a beast when it comes to flatworms. I tried flatworm exit and they came back. Bought this dude and I promise within three days all gone. Everyone of them. It's been five months no sign of any. The only problem is that also gone is my cleaner and peppermint shrimps. For everything else it's been a perfect reef safe fish.

 

[rovster]

After some research, this type of flatworm seems to be harmless, but there are still conflicting accounts. The ones that seem to really harm stuff are the red round ones. I'm going to give it a week or so. If I see that they are increasing in numbers, I may consider getting a wrasse and sending the clown to live in the Qt. I'm very hesitant to treat with chemicals, considering this is a 14 gallon loaded with SPS. I will definitely keep you guys updated. Other opinions also welcome. Thanks!

 

[tommy tomato]

Melanarus ftw

Set the big tank up already! That way he will have a home to go into. Production has started on my tank again before you tell me to speak for myself lol but you have no excuses your tank is ready to go!

 

[DRThompson]

About 8 months ago i Had the same issue, bought flatworm exit and never used it. Population exploded, every rock was covered with them. must have had thousands of them. Bought several of the velvet nudibranches....all died. Ended up getting a melanurus wrasse, six line and mandarin. I know I still have them but its hard to find one.

 

[canesfan44]

I have had them in my tank for more than 4 years with no ill effects. I have a very successful mixed reef with plenty of SPS. I tried using flatworm exit when I first saw them 4+ years ago, but they came back. I do weekly water changes and they have never exploded to plague-like numbers that others guarantee will happen. I really don't have that many, you definitely have to look hard for them in order to find any. I don't think they are that much of a problem. Maybe it's because I have a lot of water-flow in my tank or because I do weekly water changes, but I've haven't lost a single coral in the last 5 years, so it's hard for me to believe they are that detrimental unless get lazy on water changes. Either that or I'm just lucky and have much more considerate flatworms than everyone else. I've also heard great things about Melanarus wrasses, but never tried one.

 

[DRThompson]

Only do water changes every 6-8 weeks. Could be the reason for explosion of population, not sure

 

[rovster]

I do have a theory that this is all related to the crappy RO water I was using. If seen 3 nuisance effects on my tank.....cyano, algae, flatworms. I originally blamed it on my upgraded lighting, thinking the spectral shift was causing some kind of mini cycle or re-calibration of sorts. Tap water makes more sense!

 

[Dino]

I believe that type are actually algae eaters. I used to have them years ago in a tank and they never seemed to bother anything . You can probably ask in this thread and get more information.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2095557

 

[Gillguy]

They are harmless but when they get out of hand and they are everywhere the tank looks like crap. When I look at my tank the last thing I want to see is worms on the rocks, corals and glass. No one has a prestine perfect tank but after all the work we put into this hobby I would think you would want to rid them. Eventually if not controlled it will be a problem because theyll cover an entire coral and prevent the corals from getting light. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Joshporksandwic]

I had them and they're harmless but do get out of control. I got a spotted mandarin and they ate them all.

 

[SaltyReefs]

Well if you don't have a mandarin it's a damn good excuse to get one! LOL! I think its one of my favorite fish. Even though they are common I feel they should cost more... not that I would like to pay more, but you get the idea i guess.

 

[rovster]

I had them and they're harmless but do get out of control. I got a spotted mandarin and they ate them all.

You are cucaracha infested as well, huh?:mixed::lmao:

I ain't gettin' no mandarin. Love them, but it would starve. If the population booms, I may consider a wrasse, would love a mandarin but I'm to afraid I'd kill it. Now that I think about it, I think I saw a few of these a LONG time ago in my tank, just never saw them since. Did a huge water change last night, and spiphoned some out. But they are hard to see because they are tiny, like a tiny pod size. I'm hoping by the end of this month, I'll see a lot less.

Don't get me wrong, there was not a TON of these, maybe 30-40 of them, and they are sooooo small you really have to look to see them so not a big deal (yet). But I look at my tank VERY closely so I notice everything, HAHA!

 

[rovster]

Well if you don't have a mandarin it's a damn good excuse to get one! LOL! I think its one of my favorite fish. Even though they are common I feel they should cost more... not that I would like to pay more, but you get the idea i guess.

First of all, my clown will beat the **** out of a mandarin. That clown rules that 14 gallon. Loves to bit me too, little punk:blown:

 

[Joshporksandwic]

they told me only the spotted ones eat flat worms don't know about the red or blue