Safe dips for anemones

[Rippinfrags]

I'm trying to transfer my rock flower anemones, maxi mini's and a couple btas to a different tank. The tank the anemones are currently in has flatworms/pests and I would like to prevent transferring the flatworms/pests to the new tank. Is their any safe remedies to kill the flatworms/pests and not kill my anemones? Has anybody tried a Bayer dip on anemones?

 

[Rippinfrags]

Anybody have a suggestion? I'm guessing my only option is to remove each anemone from their current rock they reside on? What a pain:furious:

 

[m0nkie]

please do not Bayer Dip your anemone...

I have used Flatworm Exit to kill nudis in my display tank. My BTA and Maxi Mini were fine. You can try dose the tank with that.

I guess the safest way is removing the anemone

 

[geckoejon]

remove them from the rocks... us a zip tie or a chipping hammer. why risk your nems or contaminating your other tank? besides, you would have to dip, qt, dip again, and then qt to make sure you got all the eggs.

i got red flatworms in my forgfish / nem duplex. what a pita! i ended up breaking down the tank. now i only let nuked (acid or vinegar bath) rock into my tanks.

 

[Rippinfrags]

please do not Bayer Dip your anemone...

I have used Flatworm Exit to kill nudis in my display tank. My BTA and Maxi Mini were fine. You can try dose the tank with that.

I guess the safest way is removing the anemone

Thanks for the response. I have tried flat worm exit and while I do believe it works I do not believe it is a 100% effective. Once you have one flatworm they quickly multiply.

remove them from the rocks... us a zip tie or a chipping hammer. why risk your nems or contaminating your other tank? besides, you would have to dip, qt, dip again, and then qt to make sure you got all the eggs.

i got red flatworms in my forgfish / nem duplex. what a pita! i ended up breaking down the tank. now i only let nuked (acid or vinegar bath) rock into my tanks.

how do you go about using a zip tie? The flatworms I have do not cause any issues or ill affects on my corals, but they are still considered a pest.

So I guess my real question going forward is: Once I remove my anemones from there rocks can I dip my rocks in vinegar for a short time and then transfer them to my new tank without worrying about a potential spike in ammonia?

Ps. Thanks for the help!

 

[geckoejon]

Thanks for the response. I have tried flat worm exit and while I do believe it works I do not believe it is a 100% effective. Once you have one flatworm they quickly multiply.


agreed... the eggs... ugh... better to just nuke the rock


how do you go about using a zip tie? The flatworms I have do not cause any issues or ill affects on my corals, but they are still considered a pest.

So I guess my real question going forward is: Once I remove my anemones from there rocks can I dip my rocks in vinegar for a short time and then transfer them to my new tank without worrying about a potential spike in ammonia?

Ps. Thanks for the help!

use the pointy end of a zip tie to gently get under the foot of a nem attached to a rock. its kind of soft and shouldn't harm the nem if done with care. if the foot is in a hole / crevice, you will probably need to carefully break the rock. i've done this with a bunch of different types of nems and never had issues.

i would think so. i would give it an overnight soak in vinegar, pressure wash, rinse & several times in r/o water, then add rock a bit at a time. should be fine.

 

[MarlinHooker]

Flatworm Exit works but you have to do multiple treatments on a prescribed schedule to ensure you kill all the generations ...

 

[ThRoewer]

Some flatworms like to sit on mushrooms and even anemones so removing the rocks doesn't do you any good.
My H. malu came with those flatworms all over its mouth disk and tentacles.
I used Salifert's Flatworm Exit on it with no ill effects.

 

[Rippinfrags]

use the pointy end of a zip tie to gently get under the foot of a nem attached to a rock. its kind of soft and shouldn't harm the nem if done with care. if the foot is in a hole / crevice, you will probably need to carefully break the rock. i've done this with a bunch of different types of nems and never had issues.

i would think so. i would give it an overnight soak in vinegar, pressure wash, rinse & several times in r/o water, then add rock a bit at a time. should be fine.

Sounds good, thank you!

Flatworm Exit works but you have to do multiple treatments on a prescribed schedule to ensure you kill all the generations ...

Good to know, thanks!

Some flatworms like to sit on mushrooms and even anemones so removing the rocks doesn't do you any good.
My H. malu came with those flatworms all over its mouth disk and tentacles.
I used Salifert's Flatworm Exit on it with no ill effects.

Thanks for the heads up, I will treat them with flatworm exit even if I get them to detach from the rock.

I am feeling better about my plan of attack! Thanks everyone. If anyone else has suggestions I'm all ears