Flat worms; I bought Greenex now what?

[AWD]

Those of you who have done this will you give me your details. I read someone's notes about adding five drops every 1/2 hour. I am wondering if I should follow the directions or what? Any warning, advice, experiences are welcome.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[JeremyR]

On a couple of occasions I've used greenex when I couldn't take it any more. I generally used the 1 drop per gallon dosage on the bottle. This is not without risk if you don't have a powerful skimmer as a whole bunch of dead flatworms can be hard on the fish. I usually do it sometime when I'm around and going to be.. after a couple of hours the flatworms start getting loose, you'll see one or 2 floating off the glass or rock here and there.. that's when I turn the skimmer back on (I turn it off when I dose the greenex). If you don't have a good skimmer, be prepared to run carbon/do a water change if you see stressed fish.

 

[Anonymous]

When I have done it, I dose have the recommended dosage, turn off the skimmer, and only have minimal circulation on the tank. After about four hours I do a waterchange, turn on the skimmer and run as much carbon as possible.

RR

 

[Anonymous]

Now that you've bought the Greenex, go dump it down the toilet and get a six-line wrasse or mandarin. I had a tank wiped out several years back by running a half-dose of that stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

I have done the treatment twice and have had no problems at all. If you are worried, start with 1/4 dose and see how it goes. The trick is to do a water change after a few hours, and then skim like crazy and carbon like crazy.

Natural controls, 6 lines and nudis and the like, are hit and miss at best.

RR

 

[wingd]

I am currently working on the elemination of flat worms from my tank. Sprung and Delbeck suggest that nudibranchs in the genus of Chelidenura will eat flatworms. I am currently in the process of trying to find Chelidenura Varians. Supposedly this is a black and blue nudibranch that devours flat worms. Has anyone had any actual experience with using nudibranchs to eliminate flat worms? If so how or where did you acquire them?

 

[AWD]

Sharkky, I had them both in there at the same time and a year later I have had it with flat worms. I don't want to add anything more to my tank until I get rid of these pests.
I read about the nudibranch. They only eat a certain kind of flatworm. I've seen them as cheap as $23 Plus $40 in shipping. If I learned anything in school it is that $5 for something with a better track record verses $63 is a better buy. :wink:

Thanks for the comments,

 

[Anonymous]

Sharkky, I had them both in there at the same time and a year later I have had it with flat worms. I don't want to add anything more to my tank until I get rid of these pests.
I read about the nudibranch. They only eat a certain kind of flatworm. I've seen them as cheap as $23 Plus $40 in shipping. If I learned anything in school it is that $5 for something with a better track record verses $63 is a better buy. :wink:

Thanks for the comments,

LOL, I see your point. Just don't wait for me to jump on the Greenex bandwagon. 8)

-jjw

 

[Anonymous]

wingd,

I havent actually heard of anyone recieving that nudi alive. I think also that S&D talk about is as a possible control for flatworms in the future.sd

Sharkky,

I am glad you arent on the bandwagon. It is what makes this board truly useful; different well thought out opinions. :mrgreen:

RR

 

[AWD]

I did it. five hours later they are still there. some have kindof floated around. I ran a hose from my powerhead into floss and I don't see any of those buggers in there. Do I need patience? I added some airstones and I am not running any other filter.

Thanks for the comments Everything is welcome.

 

[AWD]

My experience for those considering doing this. My favorite fish suffacated. I waited too long to run carbon and add air. I would recomend adding LOTS of carbon after about three hours and run all the air pumps you have during the whole process. Other than my favorite fish choking, the rest of the stuff is going to be okay and the flat worms; well, there are gone gone gone.

 

[JeremyR]

This is a risky process..
You should turn the skimmer on and start the carbon at the first sign of floating flatworms... once that point is reached they will continue to die off and no more waiting is necessary. This is really a last resort treatment tho.