what is this stuff on my chaeto? [PICS]

[afex]

i'm cycling my 75g, and have started up my refugium.

current contents:
2-3" of sugar sized aragonite
rock rubble
2 balls of chaetomorphia

after adding the chaeto, i noticed some small brown spots covering the surface. they are NOT moving, so i can't tell if they are some kind of bug. i can see some pods in there as expected, but this is something else.

here are 4 hi-res images of what i'm talking about

http://www.afex2win.com/IMG_2367.jpg
http://www.afex2win.com/IMG_2368.jpg
http://www.afex2win.com/IMG_2369.jpg
http://www.afex2win.com/IMG_2370.jpg

it almost appears as if the chaeto is shedding or flaking or something. FYI, this is my first time keeping a refugium.

thanks!

 

[coker98]

looks like red flatworms or planarians. if they are that they are toxic as they die off. a good way to get rid of them is described on melev's site. good luck

 

[jdieck]

Those are not good news, take it out and vaccum as many of the ones left as you can.

 

[Kabong]

Just chuck the cheato in some fresh water for a min and swirl it around.
Its probably to late though with that many theyve probably have made it else where in the tank by now.

 

[afex]

can i use Flatworm eXit while i'm still cycling my tank in order to get rid of them?

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7764052#post7764052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by afex
can i use Flatworm eXit while i'm still cycling my tank in order to get rid of them?

I would so any deaths become part of the cycle.

 

[pheel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7764052#post7764052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by afex
can i use Flatworm eXit while i'm still cycling my tank in order to get rid of them?

I have been so far reluctant to use FWE, but since you are still in cycle I would say yes. Make sure they are all gone before putting anything else in your tank.

You can ask some questions on the Salifert forum, some people double/triple the dose...just to make sure

 

[afex]

yeah after reading about it i definitely want to take care of these guys before i have any life in my tank.

sucks that i'm stuck at work now tho. i called home and had my gf throw the chaeto away for me, but i'm sure a few of the guys are at least on the sand/rocks in my fuge.

do i have to worry about them spreading when there is nothing for them to feed on? (since cheato is gone) or will they eventually starve off and die naturally during the cycle?

 

[pheel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7764232#post7764232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by afex
yeah after reading about it i definitely want to take care of these guys before i have any life in my tank.

sucks that i'm stuck at work now tho. i called home and had my gf throw the chaeto away for me, but i'm sure a few of the guys are at least on the sand/rocks in my fuge.

do i have to worry about them spreading when there is nothing for them to feed on? (since cheato is gone) or will they eventually starve off and die naturally during the cycle?

From the Calfo/Fenner Reef Invertebrete book "They are considered to be generalist feeders and contain zooxantellae..."

It means they can survive by absorbing light. So better use FWE.

You could keep the chaeto and just dip it in freshwater as mentionned above. BTW there is no need to panic, they are not that harmful, however they are ugly and annoying. Since you have the opportunity to get rid of them go for it.

 

[coker98]

they can be harmful if you get enough of them and they have a mass die off but if you are in your cycle things are dying anyways so just use fwe and i think that a natural way to get rid of them is to use the bluestripe nudibrachs. good luck

 

[afex]

yeah i plan to get some FWE at a LFS today.

luckily my new phosban reactor is coming in the mail today so i can run carbon after the little squirts start dying.

thanks for the help everyone.