Alex’s IM 150 EXT

[PjFish]

I second springeri as potential flatworm eradication. Worked for me along with a yellow wrasse. Though a dragonet might work too.

If you go that route just make sure its the right springeri.. There is a blue one with blotchy black spots that LF sell around here that are a different sub but sold as a true soringeri

Will the real Springeri damselfish please swim up? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Chrysiptera springeri is an amazing species of damselfish which we’ve long admired. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen at least two color forms of damselfish being offered up as C. springeri…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Alexander1312]

If you go that route just make sure its the right springeri.. There is a blue one with blotchy black spots that LF sell around here that are a different sub but sold as a true soringeri

Will the real Springeri damselfish please swim up? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Chrysiptera springeri is an amazing species of damselfish which we’ve long admired. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen at least two color forms of damselfish being offered up as C. springeri…

reefbuilders.com

View attachment 73701

Yes, I have this guy in my tank. But I guess he needs help.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

Spotted Mandarins eat flatworms and will peck at them off your rockwork. Try to find a pair to add. They will follow each other around and hunt together. They’ll eventually do the mating ritual dance which is interesting.

 

[Alexander1312]

Spotted Mandarins eat flatworms and will peck at them off your rockwork. Try to find a pair to add. They will follow each other around and hunt together. They’ll eventually do the mating ritual dance which is interesting.

Thank you. Looks like the time has finally come to get a pair of them.

The only thing I am unsure of is, similar to the springeri, if there is a particular type which eats them (latin name). From what I am reading, these are the two types which should be effective:

• Synchiropus picturatus
• Synchiropus stellatus

Happy to hear any thoughts to these.

However, I believe these are not easy to go through quarantine I believe. Will need to reach out to @under_water_ninja.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

Thank you. Looks like the time has finally come to get a pair of them.

The only thing I am unsure of is, similar to the springeri, if there is a particular type which eats them (latin name). From what I am reading, these are the two types which should be effective:

• Synchiropus picturatus
• Synchiropus stellatus

Happy to hear any thoughts to these.

However, I believe these are not easy to go through quarantine I believe. Will need to reach out to @under_water_ninja.

Spotted Mandarins eat flatworms and will peck at them off your rockwork. Try to find a pair to add. They will follow each other around and hunt together. They’ll eventually do the mating ritual dance which is interesting.

Spotted Mandarin aka Synchiropus picturatus

 

[Darkxerox]

FWIW there's tons of different flatworm species so biological control might only work for some. I didn't have any luck against either the noxious red planaria type (that doesn't go into corals) and euphyllia specific flatworms with these fish:

Spotted mandarin
Yellow wrasse
Pink streak wrasse
Both versions of the springeri damsel
Buan's goby
Sixline wrasse

I was able to kill these flatworms with Reef Primer dipping. That actively melted them whereas pine oil based dips just irritated them.

 

[Alexander1312]

FWIW there's tons of different flatworm species so biological control might only work for some. I didn't have any luck against either the noxious red planaria type (that doesn't go into corals) and euphyllia specific flatworms with these fish:

Spotted mandarin
Yellow wrasse
Pink streak wrasse
Both versions of the springeri damsel
Buan's goby
Sixline wrasse

I was able to kill these flatworms with Reef Primer dipping. That actively melted them whereas pine oil based dips just irritated them.

I second the six-line and springeri, I am not sure about the melanurus, but there might also be too many of them so maybe this is an unfair assessment.

Regarding dips though, I feel all seem to work well for me, and they come easily off. The best dip was RODI but as I stated above, this is not recommended .

 

[Kensington Reefer]

I’ll add H. melanurus to the fish list

Springeri damsel and melanurus tandem do a great job for me.t

 

[Alexander1312]

I’ll add H. melanurus to the fish list

Springeri damsel and melanurus tandem do a great job for me.t

It might be I feeding them to much so there is no incentive for them to eat the flatworms.

 

[MichaelB]

Melanurus, a green corsis and yellow corsis wrasse were the 3 that nuked the flatworms for me. Flatworm exit i used 4 different times it was only a temporary solution while I was fishless. They vanished in 2 weeks after adding those 3 wrasses.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

It might be I feeding them to much so there is no incentive for them to eat the flatworms.

Had a CBB that was that way…wouldn’t touch aiptasia!

 

[Darkxerox]

Melanurus, a green corsis and yellow corsis wrasse were the 3 that nuked the flatworms for me. Flatworm exit i used 4 different times it was only a temporary solution while I was fishless. They vanished in 2 weeks after adding those 3 wrasses.

Channeling Jake Adams here: there's no such thing as a yellow coris wrasse. There's the yellow wrasse AKA Halichoeres chrysus:

and the yellow and purple wrasse Halichoeres leucoxanthus:

The main difference is the white belly and the fact they live in the Indian Ocean. Both pictures are likely males vs. more plain looking juveniles.

 

[MichaelB]

Channeling Jake Adams here: there's no such thing as a yellow coris wrasse. There's the yellow wrasse AKA Halichoeres chrysus:
View attachment 73727

and the yellow and purple wrasse Halichoeres leucoxanthus:
View attachment 73726

The main difference is the white belly and the fact they live in the Indian Ocean. Both pictures are likely males vs. more plain looking juveniles.

Not sure that's what they were label as at Ac.

Though mine have the same 3 black dots as my melanurus wrasse.one bright yellow other almost a pastel white (label and told it was a green one)

Just like this picture.

 

[tribbitt]

If you go that route just make sure its the right springeri.. There is a blue one with blotchy black spots that LF sell around here that are a different sub but sold as a true soringeri

Will the real Springeri damselfish please swim up? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Chrysiptera springeri is an amazing species of damselfish which we’ve long admired. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen at least two color forms of damselfish being offered up as C. springeri…

reefbuilders.com

View attachment 73701

I have somewhat splotchy one, I've never seen him eat one but flatworms have disappeared. Not sure if it's due to tank maturity or due to the fish

 

[BAYMAC]

Not sure that's what they were label as at Ac.

Though mine have the same 3 black dots as my melanurus wrasse.one bright yellow other almost a pastel white (label and told it was a green one)

View attachment 73728

Just like this picture.

It was most likely labelled yellow coris, but its always been a bogus name to use as its misleading (by design).

Its the scientific name.

actual Coris:
Red coris... Coris gaimard

not actually a Coris:
yellow coris...Halichoeres chrysus
green coris... Halichoeres chloropterus

 

[MichaelB]

It was most likely labelled yellow coris, but its always been a bogus name to use as its misleading (by design).

Its the scientific name.

actual Coris:
Red coris... Coris gaimard

not actually a Coris:
yellow coris...Halichoeres chrysus
green coris... Halichoeres chloropterus

Thanks, yellow and green
The two lower ones you posted based on pictures are what mine are. Seems the spots I spots on the fins go away as they mature. I got mine very small.

 

[BAYMAC]

Thanks, yellow and green
The two lower ones you posted based on pictures are what mine are. Seems the spots I spots on the fins go away as they mature. I got mine very small.

Yeah, the spots go away and the face gets a pattern. Adults are pretty cool looking, but they tend to really do "work" to snails. They are effective!

Those juiv's, the soilid green or red, come on gang bagged when imported. The real coris are shipped individually. Shipping cost alone is quite different.

 

[Alexander1312]

The newest member of my water testing suite is the hobby-grade Iodine test. I thought this underrated element could only be tested through ICP (or other professional methods). Since my Triton times, I have shown low iodine in many ICPs.

This test is supposed to be as accurate as the Salifert CA test, which I love for its simplicity, accuracy, and price.

Unfortunately, I could not buy this here, so I had my in-laws bring this over from Germany. I would be very interested if anyone knows where to buy this here.

 

[Alexander1312]

PAR Assessment - Nov 11, 2025

Still moving things around in the tank, but meant to do a PAR check, since the lights have quite a lot of power left.

Except on the top, PAR does not appear to be too high at the moment so I could probably still crank them up.

I have also added some favia which I got from Billal, and which I did not have previously in the tank - not sure what they really like. @Ayman, I know we talked about this.

The goldenrod grew nicely since I got it from Andy / @ReyDeFarts but I am always uncertain with the light requirements.

The homewrecker next to the manila spy grows SLOW, but steady.

Some new hammers I got from Dan, the swap, and not sure where else are still trying to acclimate in the corner.

The larger yellow toadstool on the side did not like to be moved by only a few inches but is coming back - the one in the front I got from Tu/ @SupraSaltyReefer needs a permanent home in the tank, and has already mini frags which is great.

 

[Coral reefer]

Tank is looking nice to me