Six Line Wrasse + Flatworm Question

[jonnyd85]

I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I have owned a saltwater aquarium for 3 years, so I have the majority of knowledge. Well a couple months ago I have noticed brown spots popping up. I was unaware of what these were, and thought maybe it was some algae, but after I did some research it is FLATWORMS!!!!

I have researched and saw that six line wrasses actually eat these flatworms. I have a 90 gallon aquarium, and was wondering how many six line wrasses I can put in the tank??? so I can get rid of these flat worms faster. The current fish I have are Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, Chevron Tang, Maroon Clownfish, Red Sea Tang. I do have a lot of caves for the fish to swim through.. My Red Sea tang seems to be pretty aggressive with smaller fish than him.

I have bought Flatworm exit, but did research on someone who had an abundance of flatworms and used it. His tank turned totally yellow from the toxins in which the flatworms secrete when they are dead. It killed ALL of his corals. I have a lot so I am scared to use it so it dosent kill all my corals.

What would you guys recommend I do?? Buy 2 six line wrasses?? Would they be compatible with what I currently have in my tank??

I did a 20 gallon water change and used a turkey baster to blow as many as I could and syphen them out..but still quite a good amount in there. Is there anything else that eats flatworms?? Please help! They are making my tank look ugly =( Appreciate the advice in advance!!

Jonny

 

[MileHighFish]

I have not dealt with FW but I have read you want to syphon the majority of them out to avoid the mass die off that can pollute your tank. I'm fairly sure two 6 lines are a bad idea, but I have had very good success eradicating Monti eating Nudis with a Melanurus wrasse and I have read the are very good at removing FW. I believe you could have a 6 line and the Melanurus together but Im not a wrasse expert. By the way WELCOME to RC!!

 

[sassafrass]

I had a BAD flatworm infestation in my 150 ,1 six line wrasse ate all of them in less than a month . I wouldn't worry about it being picked on , it is much more likely to be the aggressor

 

[Kieth71]

I spend way to much money on flatworm exit..more then i care to think about.Then i bought a six line wrasse and i have not seen any for quite some time.I can not say for sure if one could have taken care of a large population but if you hit your tank with fwe then introduce a six line he should take care of the stragglers that always seem to be left.

 

[jonnyd85]

Thanks for the advice everyone!! I wont do the flatworm exit then, until a month after I get a six line wrasse. I think thats the route I will go. If it has also taken care of your problems, than I am sure it will help to take care of mine. I am just real cautious with FWE after hearing the story of killing the persons corals. I have a lot of FW so I dont want to take the chance of all that toxin. I do have the carbon for when its time. I appreciate all your advice and I will go buy a six line wrasse tomorrow!! ASAP!! Thanks to all and I am glad to be welcomed to the forums =)

 

[steve9]

you can remove the sixline in a couple of months

 

[jonnyd85]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14714022#post14714022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steve9
you can remove the sixline in a couple of months

the only problem with that, is I Would have to take all my rock out and corals. lol I wouldn't be willing to do that..too much work. Plus its a pretty good lookin fish!! =)

 

[afboundguy]

+1 on syphoning as much out as you can and also +1 on the 6line being able to prob clear up the majority in about a month... My 6line is always picking on rocks for pods and I'm sure it would be a constant picking of flatworms as well...

And I wouldn't add 2 6lines....

 

[dwd5813]

if i can tack on an additional question here, are sixlines known jumpers? i see the LA description doesn't mention keeping a tight cover like it does for some other fish but i know that's not a definitive answer also. so, what are some experiences from those who do have the fish?

 

[kel2682]

The problem w/ the 6 line is its hit or miss with the flatworms my buddy has them pretty bead and he added a six line and it did nothing....Especially if your feeding better food to your other fish.
The only true hitman for these things are blue velvet nudis But good luck trying to get one . Im still working on my Lfs for my buddy...Best bet would be to siphon like all have said check out
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html
There are some options like removing all living and lower salinity and water temp to kill them off after siphoning them big water change I have that thread some were if intrested
Good luck

 

[flskimmer]

I just treated my tank this weekend with Flatworm Exit, granted I did not have thousands of FW's. I had a trashcan of good water ready to go and had a siphon tube ready to drain the dying ones out as they floated around in the water. Took about 30 minutes of chasing them as they floated around. I lost a hydnopora and nothing else.

my $.02

 

[Anemonebuff]

Adding a sixline may help, as long as you really want a sixline in your tank. Do not add two, they will fight to the death. Mine picks at everything in the tank. Before I got it I had those tiny white flatworms that hang out near the water line, he ate every last one. That does not mean he would eat the bad flatworms though. In the end, the 6line is a handsome active fish, so my IMO it is a win whether he eats the flatworms or not.

 

[rhiggsbear]

As Anemonebuff said, only one six-line per tank and sometimes only one wrasse per tank. As for removing him at a later date - Good Luck. If you have lots of rock, he will be in the last piece to be removed!

 

[jonnyd85]

Six Line did nothing so far. I am purchasing a blue velvet nudi on monday!! I did some research on them, and that is pretty much all the nudi eats is flatworms!!! Here is info on the blue velvet if anyone else has the same problem...

The Blue Velvet Nudibranch, also known as the Head Shield Sea Slug, is black in color with blue lines around the outside of its body and down the middle of its head. It has a hammer shaped head and two appendages at the rear, mimicking a flatworm.

This specialized eater will consume flatworms in the aquarium. It sucks up the flatworms using a tube-like proboscis and makes a great natural alternative for flatworm control. However, it must be provided with a steady diet of flatworms in order to thrive. In addition, it is sensitive to rapid changes in water conditions and does not have a long life expectancy. Because of this, only expert aquarists should attempt to maintain this species.

Spawning occurs regularly when more than one of this species is maintained together. Unfortunately, there has not been a good success rate reported in raising the larvae.

The Blue Velvet Nudibranch should be acclimated using the Drip Method. It can be harmed by pump intakes and drains, so care should be taken to screen these off. It is sensitive to high levels of nitrate and will not tolerate copper-based medications.

 

[username in use]

my sixline has never done anything for my flatworm problem. I have a 29t tank and i siphon out flatworms every week when i change water. They have never reached plague proportions, so i dont want to go the chemical route, but I guess the sixlines are not garaunteed to eat them. Good luck with yours

p.s. more than one sixline si a bad idea.

 

[Rjukan]

Amazing creature the blue velvet nudi is, I love mine. Its like a machine! Ive read that they are suppose to be inactive during daylight hours but mine seems to eat 24/7. It will take a break and stay in the same spot for a little while at a time, but then its back to eating flatworms.

I got it from LA 2 weeks ago this tues. There is a noticeable difference already, but I have more than several thousand of them.

 

[kel2682]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14806561#post14806561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rjukan
Amazing creature the blue velvet nudi is, I love mine. Its like a machine! Ive read that they are suppose to be inactive during daylight hours but mine seems to eat 24/7. It will take a break and stay in the same spot for a little while at a time, but then its back to eating flatworms.

I got it from LA 2 weeks ago this tues. There is a noticeable difference already, but I have more than several thousand of them.

were in LA did you get yours?

 

[luther1200]

Did you try lightly feeding the tank, so the wrasse will look for additional food?

 

[Rjukan]

LA = LiveAquaria / Dr foster and smith.