Flat Worms :\

[masterswimmer]

I never heard of the 2-3 drops every other day. I only heard doing a repeat dose a week after to kill any baby eggs which may have hatched.

+1

I initially dosed 3 FULL bottles of FWE into my 75g tank. Took a powerhead and blew it all over the tank, into all the nooks and crannies. After about 20-25 minutes I began siphoning the thousands of dead FW's out of the tank. After about 45min - 1 hr. I began aggressive carbon. Never lost one fish or coral. I did however lose one small feather duster. FWE worked flawlessly for me.

Oh, and three days later I treated with ANOTHER THREE FULL BOTTLES, and went through the same process, but saw zero, that's none, no FW's in the tank at all.

And once again at day 7 I treated AGAIN, WITH ANOTHER THREE FULL BOTTLES of FWE. That was a total of 9 FULL BOTTLES in one week. The only critter that died other than the 1000's of FW's was the one feather duster. The FWE seems safe enough to me.....if the proper procedures are followed when treating your tank.

R

 

[MatthewScars]

Nine Bottles? holy sh1t. Very expense, heh.

I got another bottle on the way, so im going to straight out use the entire bottle and see what happens.

I will never get a sixline wrasse ever again due to their aggressiveness, but will looking into other more docile reef friendly fish options.

Ill probably dose Saturday and see how it goes.

 

[masterswimmer]

FWE Treatment Procedure

Very important to follow certain procedures when treating for FW's. This is NOT a process of just dumping the FWE into the tank and watching them die. Please be very diligent about treating FW's. The toxins they release are deadly.

With that said............

I had the dreaded flatworm over five years ago. I treated my entire system. When I tell you I had a plague of them, I kid you not. My ENTIRE sandbed, corals, rock, everything was covered with them.

I siphoned out every visible flatworm for three consecutive days.

The day I was planning to actively treat with FWE I removed my carbon. I replaced it with fresh carbon to prepare for the post FWE treatment.

Then I dumped three full bottles of FWE into my 75g tank. The flatworms began dying and blowing all over the tank within 15 seconds. I continued to siphon them out. I used a powerhead to direct the water flow with the FWE in it into those hard to reach places. I siphoned them out for at least a half hour. I used new cheap pantyhose ($.99 from WalMart) on the end of the siphon tube to catch the dead FW's, and not have to replace 40-50 gallons of water from my 100 g system (75g tank + sump & fuge).

After diligently siphoning out as many dead FW's as I possibly could. I then siphoned out about 25g of water (25% of the system volume). I replaced it with freshly mixed (the day before) saltwater, turned on my carbon and prayed. Every single coral closed up like a clams a$$. I thought for sure I killed everything.

Within the next 24-36 hrs, every coral opened. I lost no coral, no fish. I did lose one feather duster.

On the third day after the initial treatment I repeated the same process. I dumped three full bottles of FWE into the tank again. I once again had my carbon off line and refreshed. Not one single FW could be seen blowing around.

I put the carbon back online, nothing even closed up. Let me repeat this, NOTHING EVEN CLOSED UP after treating with three (3) FULL bottles of FWE. This single 'non-occurrence' was proof positive to me that the FWE has no ill effect on the systems inhabitants. The fact that not even one single coral closed up or appeared stressed indicated to me that during the first round of treatment it was the dead FW's toxins that caused the corals to stress and close.

One week later, I repeated the exact same procedure and treated with three more full bottles of FWE and my powerhead blowing into all crevices. Again, not a single FW was to be found. Again, the coral did not show any signs of stress whatsoever. I did another 25% water change. New carbon. I've been FW free for about 5-6 years.

I went through this detail to explain why I now treat EVERY SINGLE ADDITION to my tank with FWE. I temperature acclimate every coral with a minimum of three drops of FWE into every single bag with coral. I slosh it around in the bag and let it sit for the temperature acclimation period of about 20 minutes. Then into the tank.

I've never seen another FW in any system I run.

FWE should be in EVERY REEFERS possession.

swimmer

 

[MatthewScars]

Ve
I went through this detail to explain why I now treat EVERY SINGLE ADDITION to my tank with FWE. I temperature acclimate every coral with a minimum of three drops of FWE into every single bag with coral. I slosh it around in the bag and let it sit for the temperature acclimation period of about 20 minutes. Then into the tank.
swimmer

Good idea, I am going to do that from now on. Ill let you know how it goes Saturday.

 

[kaOzGrUnT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntmbrzl65Xc

Some nudibranch eat flatworms

 

[Marcellina]

Will from Will's WaterWorld can get you a Yellow Wrasse for a great price. The eat the flatworms and its a friendly fish, really striking yellow with a 2 spots. He has one that at all his flatworms not a single one in site, had a little belly when I saw it

Definitely going to get one when my new tank is done.

 

[masterswimmer]

Good idea, I am going to do that from now on. Ill let you know how it goes Saturday.

Good, keep us posted. I want to hear success!

Russ

 

[romanramos]

Tried everything!

Hi all,

Good to find a discussion about FW. I have them in my tank for about 4 month now and they have multiply significantly. I already use quemical options like "Flat Worm Control" (didnt work), and live options like the six line wrasse, spotted mandarin and today I bought 2 blue velvet nudibrach (I've seen them getting close to the FW but they dont want to eat them so far...)!

I suck them up from my xenias and my mushrooms every weekend using a small air line and the number decreses but goes up really fast again.

Hope the nudibranch does something. I will post my experience during the next days......

P.S: I postes some pics of my result after sucking them....

 

[ReefFan]

I take it you are all talking about Red Planaria Flatworms right? Ive had my tank running for about 18 months now, the 55 gallon remote fuge overflowing into it for about 13 months. For the first 4 months in my fuge there were quite a bit of WHITE/CLEAR flatworms in there but I didnt think much of it cuz they didnt seem to be harming anything, just figured it was another type of micro fauna to populate the refugium. Over the the next year Id added many things to the refugium and for one reason or another their numbers have vastly declined. Compared to everything else living in there they probably account for barely 1% of the micro fauna.

But my question is, if they are not Red Planaria and just clear ameoba lookin things, is there really anything to worry about? Ive seen them on the glass in several LFS's around here, they dont seem to be concerned. But when I come across a generally-termed "flat worm" thread like this I wonder why no ones mentioned other types and the harm they may or may not do to a reef tank.

Much was made of my white Flat worms, which against all odds made it into a batch of my "'Fuge-Kits" (there were hardly any left in there), as clearly indicated by my feedback. And when I say much to do, you have no idea the BS I went through with through with the guy. But as long as his feedback remains, I'll be looking for an explaination on how clear flatworms can affect a reef tank?

Can anyone shed some light on the nature of the non-Red Planaria Flatworm?

-Jay

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Actually we DO have an idea about the BS you went through- you CLEARY and rather long windedly informed us on your good bye and a warning thread in which you said you were done, that you would not be back, not to even read the responses to this thread, you know the one you had removed.
You also stated in that thread that they are simply algae eaters and there is NOTHING to worry about- now youre asking for verification after you made a statement like you were COMPLETELY sure they were absolutely harmless and that you would NEVER sell anyone anything that would harm anything in their systems?


And this has nothing to do with our past dealings just so you know, I'm just saying I wouldnt make such a bold statement about something and then ask for someone to shed some light on a creature I said were totally reef safe.(especially when they are being SOLD and not given away like most people do with their cheato and caleurpa).


And just to clarify the dealings I was talking about to anyone reading this has nothing to do with the fuge kits Jay sells- nor am I saying their not worth the money hes asking, although I havent bought any from him.

 

[ReefFan]

Jimmy man, I remember you now. Youre the only one aside from the one banned that ive had anything but an enjoyable MR experience with. Theres no wonder why your reply to this post was a lil negative. But I was asking if all my research and understansding of the clear flatworm were correct, thats all. I wasnt asking for a summary of the bs i had to deal with or to have some muck stirred up. I dont want any trouble here, with anyone. Just to continue to enjoy the hobby and meet fellow reefers. If I can share my fuge kits, thats great too as they are a terrific way to seed a bio-diverse healthy fuge.

When I said goodbye it was admittedly longwinded, but it was in the midst of shear insanity and vulgarity. Since the mods have done right by me, I remain a happy member here and had put it behind me. 'Til now of course, when I ask if anyone can shed any other light on the clear flatworm and all I get it a muck-stirring reply. That thread was, before it was removed, a genuine thank you to all the advice and the good folks who ive had in my home and a goodbye because as things stood at the time, i didnt wanna be here. But all is cool now man, cept for the sour taste youve replied with.

Anyone who knows me knows Im the last person looking to do wrong to anybody. Now please Jim, unless you have any information on the clear flat worm, can ya move on as well?

 

[ming]

take a look
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/clear_flatworm.html

Jimmy man, I remember you now. Youre the only one aside from the one banned that ive had anything but an enjoyable MR experience with. Theres no wonder why your reply to this post was a lil negative. But I was asking if all my research and understansding of the clear flatworm were correct, thats all. I wasnt asking for a summary of the bs i had to deal with or to have some muck stirred up. I dont want any trouble here, with anyone. Just to continue to enjoy the hobby and meet fellow reefers. If I can share my fuge kits, thats great too as they are a terrific way to seed a bio-diverse healthy fuge.

When I said goodbye it was admittedly longwinded, but it was in the midst of shear insanity and vulgarity. Since the mods have done right by me, I remain a happy member here and had put it behind me. 'Til now of course, when I ask if anyone can shed any other light on the clear flatworm and all I get it a muck-stirring reply. That thread was, before it was removed, a genuine thank you to all the advice and the good folks who ive had in my home and a goodbye because as things stood at the time, i didnt wanna be here. But all is cool now man, cept for the sour taste youve replied with.

Anyone who knows me knows Im the last person looking to do wrong to anybody. Now please Jim, unless you have any information on the clear flat worm, can ya move on as well?

 

[marrone]

Just to set the record straight, the reason the member, that Reefan talked about in the post above, was ban had nothing to do with his dealing with Reefan.

 

[prattreef]

The reason people get worked up over flatworms is that there are dozens, perhaps thousands of species that are absolutely impossible for a hobbyist to identify ( red planaria is actually an exception as we know this one and its habits pretty well) Most of them have very specific feeding habits and SOME of them eat the kinds of animals we try to keep alive. I think the reality is that most aren't harmful, but how do you know which ones you have? Given this fact, people assume that any flatworm they see has the POTENTIAL of being harmful and act and respond accordingly. The Acro eating flatworms that can cause serious damage are in fact clear and while I don't think this is what you have crawling around your chaeto ( they stay put on the corals) it is understandable that it makes people uncomfortable when they see them.

 

[MatthewScars]

http://coralpests.com/flatworm.jpg

The ones i have are like this picture, but brown and they are like .5mm in size. Literally the size of a needle point.

These must be the babies that survived after I killed all the adults. I get the FWE today in the mail. so i plan on doing this tonight.

 

[ReefFan]

I hear you, understandable to become concerned. But they were in small numbers for going on a year and a half and have done nothing wrong to my system, not a thing. Theres a way to do things and a way not to though ya know? You dont absolutely batsh@t nuts on someone a day after you say "pshewww, thanks i thought i had a real problem on my hands". This is just a general example, not referring to anyone in specific. But only one person questioned me about the clear ones and I told him that they are harmless. And they are, for the 100th time, harmless. My question was simple though, does anyone have a record of clear flatworms causing harm, period.

I appreciate the replys though. I dont have time to sit around on forums al day and go tit for tat. I do get a sense that there is some kind of senior member clique here at MR and I want as little to do with it as I did in junior high. Gotta go, thx again.

-Jay

 

[ReefFan]

really guys, I consider the matter closed. Just let this thread go on as it was. I have all the info I need on flatworms now. So thx.

 

[MatthewScars]

really guys, I consider the matter closed. Just let this thread go on as it was. I have all the info I need on flatworms now. So thx.

ReefFan, don't hijack my thread please. I would appreciate it if you stopped using this thread as a platform to push whatever agenda you have.

And a reply is really not necessary. I hope you understand

 

[ReefFan]

isnt that what i just said? lol... "let this thread go on as it was, and thx"

it was someone elses bs that I replied to, I was sticking to the subject.

lol yall are a buncha lil girls to me.