Flatworms

[pixelpixi]

My tank has an increasingly large number of little brown flatworms.

What say you, wise reefers? Are they trouble or just ugly? Should I try and get rid of them, and if so how?

TIA

 

[Apon]

flat worm exit, not really bad, but unsightly when the population explodes and covers everything in your tank.

 

[sfsuphysics]

if you have very little I'd say FWE the tank be ready with carbon, be ready with a water change after however. They do release their toxin when they die, so if you can catch your fish prior and stick them in a bucket with a powerhead and heater if possible, since often you'll have more unseen flatworms then you will have seen ones.

 

[Thales]

Just ugly.

 

[tuberider]

I live with them, like Rich said, they're just an eyesore.

If you want to cut down the population, run a siphon hose with a filter sock on the end into your sump, and suck 'em up.

 

[pixelpixi]

[quote author=tuberider link=topic=4194.msg50356#msg50356 date=1217297060]
I live with them, like Rich said, they're just an eyesore.

If you want to cut down the population, run a siphon hose with a filter sock on the end into your sump, and suck 'em up.
[/quote]

Heh. I just hit post on a message asking if I should just siphon them and not risk the stress of a flatworm exit treatment, then I got a warning saying you'd posted in the meantime.

I think that's what I'll do. I'm all for avoiding pesticides in my tank whenever possible.

 

[seminolecpa]

I found that sixlines can eat them like candy. They are hit and miss though. For me they are way more hit. I won't have a tank without one.

 

[bad coffee]

I had to nuke my tank because of planaria. they started small and then took over the tank.

I did a FWE treatment, and then another 2 days later. After that I did 5 drops a day in the tank for 2 weeks.

I still had flatworms. I ended up taking all my rocks out and bleaching them.

Guess what! I noticed a couple of flatworms the other day. so I'll try the FWE again.

Try a melanarus (sp??) wrasse. The'll eat them.

B

 

[Mr. Ugly]

I go with siphon also. Water changes can help as well.

Sometimes you'll see tanks go through a planaria cycle. They can eventually go away with removal and maintaining water quality.

I like six-lines for planaria too, but some people have problems with them being aggressive. If you feed the tank a lot, the six-lines may not go for the planaria as much.