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Flatworms
- Thread starter MikeS
- Start date
Had the same problem for months, tried everything, after reading another post, used Quinine Sulfate(quinsulex, made by aquatronics) 1 capsule per 20 gallons of water, turned skimmer off (remove any carbon, poly filters, etc.) within 12 hours all signs of flat worms were gone(very bad smell with the die off), would sugest removing any sps corals, all others should be fine(mushrooms, leathers, lps might close up some but should be fine) after 12 hours I turned on skimmer, added carbon and a poly filter to remove the medication.(also did a 10% water change) did the treatment 11/7/02 corals are back to normal today and no flatworms at all !!! got to love it!
Thanks Island reef. I'm getting to the point of trying something radical.
Danmhippo, here's what I've tried:
-stopped all feeding for a week, not change
-purchased a six-line and a manderin, I was told both on occasion will eat flatworms, neither did in my case. Both were good additions to the tank, so not all bad.
-I'm averaging two water changes a week, trying to syphon as many as possible out.
-I bit the bullet and purchased two Velvet Sea Slugs, even though they are very expensive and hard to keep alive. Both survived shipping fine. I put them in a dark tank, in the rocks and have never seen them again and the flatworms continue.
I've been working on this for over six months and have not seen a impact. On the good new side they have not affected the health of any of my coral.[/b]
Danmhippo, here's what I've tried:
-stopped all feeding for a week, not change
-purchased a six-line and a manderin, I was told both on occasion will eat flatworms, neither did in my case. Both were good additions to the tank, so not all bad.
-I'm averaging two water changes a week, trying to syphon as many as possible out.
-I bit the bullet and purchased two Velvet Sea Slugs, even though they are very expensive and hard to keep alive. Both survived shipping fine. I put them in a dark tank, in the rocks and have never seen them again and the flatworms continue.
I've been working on this for over six months and have not seen a impact. On the good new side they have not affected the health of any of my coral.[/b]
MikeS,
We also tried everything,nothing worked, it was tough to convince my wife to try this (but after reading a few posts about this med. we decided to try it) the one post is still active (on reefcentral.com) you should read it.(very interesting)
barry
We also tried everything,nothing worked, it was tough to convince my wife to try this (but after reading a few posts about this med. we decided to try it) the one post is still active (on reefcentral.com) you should read it.(very interesting)
barry
Have you tried freshwater dip? I do not know what you have in the tank. For most corals can take freshwater dip. Prepare 2 buckets of fresh RO. Adjust the temp and ph to equal your tank's. Prepare another bucket of freshly made NSW. Take a coral out, vigorously swish it around in the first fresh RO bucket. That will loosen most flatworms. Then dip it in the second RO Bucket. This will loosen the remaining few. Then let it rest in the NSW. Repeat all steps for all corals you have. You might want to use a rubbermaid trashcan for the NSW holding.
Do the same for the LR too. After getting the rocks out, all you need to do is to siphone off as much as you can in the tank, and do a 20% water change.
You can also do a combination of med's at this time as you have removed all sensitive corals out already. Make sure you drop in a powerhead and a heater into the rubbermaid trashcan where you are holding those corals and LR's to keep them comfy while you are doing treatments to the tank.
Do the same for the LR too. After getting the rocks out, all you need to do is to siphone off as much as you can in the tank, and do a 20% water change.
You can also do a combination of med's at this time as you have removed all sensitive corals out already. Make sure you drop in a powerhead and a heater into the rubbermaid trashcan where you are holding those corals and LR's to keep them comfy while you are doing treatments to the tank.
I read somewhere a caution about dipping the LR in fresh water, that it maye kill off some of the good stuff. Do you have experience with this? Although if I'm going to medicate, the LR is probably safer with a fresh water dip and pulled out of the tank before the medication.
We tried that, would take care of some of the flat worms, its really tough to do with a fully stocked 125g, also found that within a couple of days the worms would reappear. Before we did our treatment we siphoned of as many as we could, to reduce the population,I would sugest trying a smaller dose and let it stay in a little longer, you will know when the flat worms die (very bad smell)
barry
barry
How bad is the population of FW's, and why do you want them gone so bad?
I ask because a few years ago, people were trying everything to get rid of bristle worms because they were ugly and it was thought they attacked corals. They don't.
Some have suggested that FW's may play a good role in captive reefs. Check the library for the article.
I understand they are ugly, but perhaps living with them for a while longer, till the population thins out, would work just fine.
My 2 cents on getting rid of them:
Do a search here on Greenes and Flatworms. There was bunches of talk about this a while ago. You can also get a canister filter to suck them off the rocks without doing a water change.
Good luck.
RR
I ask because a few years ago, people were trying everything to get rid of bristle worms because they were ugly and it was thought they attacked corals. They don't.
Some have suggested that FW's may play a good role in captive reefs. Check the library for the article.
I understand they are ugly, but perhaps living with them for a while longer, till the population thins out, would work just fine.
My 2 cents on getting rid of them:
Do a search here on Greenes and Flatworms. There was bunches of talk about this a while ago. You can also get a canister filter to suck them off the rocks without doing a water change.
Good luck.
RR
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