Flatworms
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: EMERGENCY FORUM
Forum Description: If you have an Emergency post here and you should receive a quick reply.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45116
Printed Date: April 20 2024 at 3:49am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Flatworms
Posted By: jmtreml
Subject: Flatworms
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:09pm
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Should I dose my tank with the flatworm killer? I am thinking about buying a six-line, but was wondering if I dose my tank with the flatworm killer, and then do a huge water change and use activated carbon if my corals will still be ok. Or is there anything else I can do to get rid of them? Thanks for the help ------------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 29 gallon Bio cube |
Replies:
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:35pm
| How big is the population of flatworms?... that really will tell you what you need to do. If its just a few you see, do what the box says.... if its a lot, then do a lesser dose, and a big waterchange. The flatworm exit won't be what hurts your tank. Its all the decompsoing of the flatworms |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:40pm
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Any reason not to go with a sixline? They help control a lot of other pests as well and you don't run the risk of losing corals.... plus price wise they're about the same.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:45pm
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When I had flatworms my sixline was great at getting rid of them.
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:46pm
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I would use flatworm exit (or a similar product). I have done this multiple times. As long as you read the directions carefully you will be fine. If you do have a large population then it is a good idea to dose light the first time to kill off a portion and then run cardon, do a water change and then a few days later dose again.
The only problem with the sixline is I have never had them get rid of all the flatworms. If you are not going to trade corals with people then it wouldn't be a problem, but if you plan on doing in fragging then you need to eradicate them. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 4:58pm
| FWE is the way to go, this will permantly get rid of the Flatworms, and will not have problems if the sixline wrasse is eating them or not. If the population is huge dont use all the 100% dose it will nuke your tank, syphon all of the Flatworms you can and then dose 10%, each day increase dosage until you reach 100% and all of your Flaworms will die. |
Posted By: jmtreml
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 6:21pm
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Well I just got back from aquatic dreams and I picked up a sixline, and some flatworm control. I am going to keep my skimer on and put some new Activated carbon in, I will keep you posted on how my little problem is going. O and just to answer some questions. I dont have a ton of flatworms yet, but they are starting to get worse. I can probably see about 20 between my display tank and my sump. I just know they can be a pain in the but if they get out of control. Thanks for all of your quick post
Jake ------------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 29 gallon Bio cube |
Posted By: Summertop
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 6:44pm
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I had a small problem with flat worms...I tried six line wrasses...They couldn't keep up with the flat worms. Pretty soon I had a BIG flat worm problem. Here is how I got rid of ALL flat worms: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42112&PID=366720#366720 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42112&PID=366720#366720 Since then, I have not seen ONE flat worm. ------------- =========== Shawn Winterbottom |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 03 2010 at 6:47pm
 to flatworm exit. Used it many times with great results.Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: kethomps
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 5:07pm
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FWE works great. I had to dose a couple of times before I finally got rid of all of them. I wouldn't waste your time with a six line wrasse; it may or may not eat the flatworms and even if it does eat them it won't be able to keep up with them. Don't wait on the treatment! The sooner you can kill them with a limited population the better off your tank will be.
------------- 210g sw fish West Jordan |
Posted By: Summertop
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 10:08am
I agree, wrasse is a hit/miss. Get rid of them before they take over...Fast! Remember, you can only see a fraction of the worms...you will have more than you expect. ------------- =========== Shawn Winterbottom |
kethomps wrote:Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 11:46am
| Who's got Flatworm exit for the best price? Seems I need some. |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 1:51pm
| check your nearest Fish store or order it online. Aquatic dreams have them for 24 bucks but since you at riverton you'll probably waster more gas rather than save money |
Posted By: shakin06
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 2:34pm
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I used Blue Vet flatworm control from Pets & Such. $24 bucks and it worked like a charm. I had a large population and could see them crawling from places i didnt know i had them. I doubled the dose and siphoned the dead out with a siphon and did water changes as i vacuumed them out. Re dosed a week later to make sure they were gone and all is well. I had zero losses from this product. I highly reccomend it. ------------- 72 Bow ASM G2 Oceanic1 mag 9.5 TEK 8 bulb T5HO |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 3:07pm
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't keeping a wrasse, such as the sixline, be a great preventative method? I think it's quite possible that when you introduced the pest to your tank that the wrasse would take care of it without you ever knowing what had happened.
I was reading about a different wrasse that was considered a great hunter of pests in the tank... what was it?... Have to look it up again. Anyway, sixline are really cheap.
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Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 3:10pm
Found it: Melanarus Wrasse
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=977&cid=290 - http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=977&cid=290
"One of the best kept secrets in the hobby, the Melanurus Wrasse is one of the best problem solvers for Planaria flatworms in reef aquariums."
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Posted By: shakin06
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 3:37pm
------------- 72 Bow ASM G2 Oceanic1 mag 9.5 TEK 8 bulb T5HO |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 4:09pm
| Yeah - I would think that once there is an infestation you'd probably need something more serious than a hungry fish or two. I wonder what keeps them in check in the wild? I'll bet there are reef crabs that like them... |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 6:42pm
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Yes, I add a Sixline Wrasse to any of my tanks over 55 gal just for that purpose, In the wild lots of different fish and invertebrates keep them in check, but there is one other thing - in our tanks the conditions become perfect for a population explosion.  One other fish has been known to eat these flatworms. The Yellow Tail Blue Damsel, when hungry will eat the flatworm if they see it move.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: shakin06
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 6:51pm
------------- 72 Bow ASM G2 Oceanic1 mag 9.5 TEK 8 bulb T5HO |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 9:40pm
| I'm sure they are like mice. If you see one... |
Posted By: BILLYBOB
Date Posted: December 21 2010 at 12:00pm
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Levamosole Is THE KEY!!!! It is the same as FWE but in the original concentrated form, and a fraction of the price, use it one time and your problem will be GONE period! I have plenty left and will gladly give you some, I live in South Jordan 90th S and 40th W area Call me ------------- BILLY BOB 916-5000 |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 21 2010 at 1:52pm
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You're the man.
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: idahreefer
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 4:11pm
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try a target mandarin, it's natural & they will get fat on them, plus a nice bonus with a great looking fish, mine has been in my system for years! ------------- martin |
Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 7:36pm
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A big thing to do is dip your coils in a dip to prevent them in the first place! I learned this lesson the hard way as well. Now nothing goes in my tank with out a dip first no matter who I get it from. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: invisionthis
Date Posted: January 28 2011 at 11:40pm
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Laynframe, What do you "dip" them in first? How does that process work? I haven't seen a lot of worms in my tank but I did see a HUGE one today..Good 3 inches wide... who knows how long... I tried grabbing him but he was on my lr and he just retreated. Jason ------------- Jason 90 gal w/ 55 gal Sump Eclipse Combo 29 gal www.invisioncomputers.com |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 30 2011 at 10:33am
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A huge flatworm can be harmless. Is it eating coral? There are preventive dip medications made just for this purpose. Flatworms can be disposed of in several ways, including a quick one minute dip and swish in tapwater or a longer dip in levamisole medicated saltwater. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: January 30 2011 at 2:26pm
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Coral RX is what I use, and it always amazes me what comes off corals that you never saw before. I know Aquatic dreams sells it. Its about 25 bucks but its cheap insurance you dont get anything from someone else. Kinda like std's of the reef world lol. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: invisionthis
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 10:10pm
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So I have read of people doing a fresh water dip.. can you guys explain how this works? If you dip coral or your live rock in fresh water wont it also kill your coral and other good stuff on the rock? Thanks Guys Jason ------------- Jason 90 gal w/ 55 gal Sump Eclipse Combo 29 gal www.invisioncomputers.com |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 6:59pm
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Yes, a one minute dip in fresh water will kill all the flatworms, even the good ones. I probably shouldn't have mentioned the freshwater dip. I do it in certain circumstances only. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: MajorPayne
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 7:54pm
| I have a sixline if you want him, he is about 1 1/2"-2" you can take him for 15 |
Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 9:41am
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FWE is great. As others have said if you have a large population do smaller dose to kill a portion of the FW and then do the full dose later. You should always try to suck out as many as you can by hand before you use FWE. As stated before the decomposing FW are what is toxic. If you reduce their numbers before dosing, you reduce the toxins you have to remove after. ------------- Make sure you post your best pictures every month in our POTM forum. |