Man... I got major flatworms....

[BigWaz]

I tried with a velvet nudibranch at first, but it died. They are freaking everywhere. I have to go buy flatworm exit. I know it's a certain amount and then a water change. You guys have any personal experience you want to pass on?

[Kdocimo90]

run carbon and siphon out as MUCH as you can before using it. Not sure if you know this but, when Flatworms die, they release a toxin into the water that is highly fatal for fish and corals. It is EXTREMELY important to read the directions and dose no more than what it tells you to. Rapid waterchanges are required when using flatworm exit. I know of people who have had great success and great failure when using this product. The key is following the direction precisely.

[eddiesylas]

I agree: SIPHON,SIPHON,SIPHON!!! Remove as many worms as possible using air line tubing for a few days before treatment. I siphoned mine into a sock of fresh carbon and drained the water back to my sump. The day of the treatment siphon, then remove the carbon. Follow treatment exactly as it says on the box or on Salifert's web site. Then Lots and lots of Carbon. Failures are only encountered if you are not following the directions. It is the toxin that are released when the worms die that is the problem. Take your time and the fewer worms in your tank before treatment will determine your success. My worms are back after three treatments but I have a load of sand in my Deep Sand Bed. Another thing you may not know, I suspect that the planeria (in my tank, I don't know what you have) are light loving, if not light thriving (like a coral). They tend to layer themselves in well light exposed areas so look down at them to find them all. Good Luck and PM me if you have any questions.

[Kdocimo90]

http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

[erbgo]

I had them in one of my tanks and I sucked out hundreds with a turkey baster and then when I added the flatworm exit I added extra powerheads because as they die they release from what they are holding on to looked like snow in the tank and made sure I had a good filter meida to catch them before they go into the sump so most were taken out before they could release there toxin it worked great then I think it was 24 or 48 hours they want you to do a water change I did prob like 50% and have not seen any worms and had no die off good luck and call if you have ?

[DLANDINO]

i have a new full, unused bottle, only 1 month old if interested. it was sent to me by mistake in another order. the charged me for it but i never followed up to return it. it was 20$. if you pick it up i'll let it go for $10. lmk

[renogaw]

what type of flatworms?

[SleepyJ]

You may also have high nutrients to keep them fed. In my nano, I had an outbreak. I cut back on the feedings to every other day and bought a yellow wrasse. This didn't eliminate them, but it did dwindle their numbers to where they were barely noticable.

[Kdocimo90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15159842#post15159842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by renogaw
what type of flatworms?
+1 I meant to ask that as well.

[BigWaz]

it's the dang red ones

[Kdocimo90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15160217#post15160217 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigWaz
it's the dang red ones
shucks... fortunate for me, I had these white flatworms that are harmless.

I didnt have too many of them and they seemed to be isolated, so I FW dipped them and got rid of practially them all.

But yea, just follow what we all said and you should be fine.

GOOD LUCK :thumbsup:

[fishkid6692]

can you get a pic? do they look like tiny red slugs? if so i think i may have them too. but they don't seem to damage anything. what do they eat?

[BigWaz]

thanks guys, I got a good procedure lined up, these punks don't stand a chance

[mikelaubach]

Be sure to follow up with a second dose.

I did the second dose, and was STILL losing. I eventually had to tar things apart to get the crushed coral substrate out. My theory is that they had eggs down there. Since I took the substrate out 9 months ago, not a sign of them. I also dip EVERY THING I get from every one before it goes into the tank. I should be Qtine even the corals, but that can be tougher than fish due to the requirements.

[Kdocimo90]

what do you dip them in?

[mikelaubach]

I don't have a full regiment set up yet, but I create a flatworm exit bath and soak them in that for a while (10 minute or so depending on what is going on. This ensures you aren't bringing anything in. If you do see flatworms, you know to stop and get that resolved now.

Also, there are other coral dips that can be used. Some use Lugols to get rid of AEFW, the FWE, and Revive. Acros can handle interceptor as well if you have access; Monti's cannot.

[dknuckles]

For me the FEW did more harm than good. Because when they die they release A LOT of toxins and my reactor loaded w/ carbon could not keep up.
I finally bought a 6 line Wrasse and he went to town. Have have no problem since.

[Kdocimo90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15160918#post15160918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dknuckles
For me the FEW did more harm than good. Because when they die they release A LOT of toxins and my reactor loaded w/ carbon could not keep up.
I finally bought a 6 line Wrasse and he went to town. Have have no problem since.

Did you do waterchanges right away?

[OK]

I used FWE to no avail. It did kill them, but they kept coming back. I even used it at 3x and 5x the dose the last 2 times, and the little buggers kept coming back. FWE never killed any livestock in the tank, but it did affect some. I stopped dosing it at @ 5x the recommended dose when my brittle stars started going belly up on the sand. After a wc and carbon, they came back. I also spent about 5 night siphoning out as many as possible each night. They are attracted to light areas, and each day/night they would re-group and I could get more of the little buggers.

1 six line wrasse later I haven't seen any. I probably still have them, but they aren't a nuisence anymore.

If you have a six line wrasse (or any flatworm eating inhabitant), I've been told to remove them before you dose FWE as the flat worms will die and release their toxin into the wrasse and kill them. I don't know what the difference is between me or the fish killing the flatworm in it's stomach is, but I still heeded the advice.

[Kdocimo90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15162599#post15162599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OK
I don't know what the difference is between me or the fish killing the flatworm in it's stomach is, but I still heeded the advice.

I always wondered that.

[BigWaz]

I can't really get a sixline, I have a lionfish and a banana wrasse. I think they would give the little guy a hard time. I haven't seen the banana wrasse eat any. I'm gathering the materials today, we'll see how it goes...

[mr pink floyd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15160897#post15160897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikelaubach
I don't have a full regiment set up yet, but I create a flatworm exit bath and soak them in that for a while (10 minute or so depending on what is going on. This ensures you aren't bringing anything in. If you do see flatworms, you know to stop and get that resolved now.

Also, there are other coral dips that can be used. Some use Lugols to get rid of AEFW, the FWE, and Revive. Acros can handle interceptor as well if you have access; Monti's cannot.

i thought interceptor was only for redbugs?
and FWIW ive used interceptor with montis, and they did fine

good luck with the flatworms

[mikelaubach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15164545#post15164545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
i thought interceptor was only for redbugs?
and FWIW ive used interceptor with montis, and they did fine



Kdoc asked what I dipped corals in, I was answering not just about the flatworms specifically. I've just heard bad things about others who dipped monti's in interceptor. So like everything in this hobby, personal experiences go from one end of the spectrum to the other. Thanks for the info.

[mr pink floyd]

gotcha ;)

[BigWaz]

so I just dosed, I'm now running some carbon with it. How long should I wait until I do a water change? There seem to still be some crawling about in the corner where I can't get much flow, so i dose more you think? It's been about an hour and a half. I got enough in a garbage can for a 25% water change.

[Ctsaltwaterguy]

I always have to dose 25% more then directed to get all the flatworms I can see. I do my waterchange the next morning of 20%.

[erbgo]

what does the bottle say I thought you did not run the carbon or skimmer till like the next day if you run it to early you wont kill them all

[BigWaz]

It said as soon as you start to see them dieing to run carbon, I started to see a mass of them die, so I started running the carbon. I will do the water change in the morning also.

[sdheath]

So... how'd it work out?

[BigWaz]

I don't see any flat worms as of now. They seem to be a thing of the past. I used a little more than recommended then I gave a water change about 18 hours later. Fish and corals appeared completely unharmed. I owe thanks to argi for letting me borrow supplies for this. People in the neighborhood that are also reefers are a great thing!

[DgenR8]

You should do a second application of at least 2X the recommended dose. FWs will build up an immunity to FWE, and breed children that are not effected y FWE. You want to be sure that you have eliminated the problem so that can't happen.

[BigWaz]

That is what happened to me years ago. I had to buy a velvet nudibranch to finally get rid of them for good. I did about 1.5X the recommended dose. You think I should just put the 0.5 more now just to make sure?

[argi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15180707#post15180707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigWaz
I owe thanks to argi for letting me borrow supplies for this. People in the neighborhood that are also reefers are a great thing!

Anytime:D

[DgenR8]

I should have said "resistance" in my post above, instead of "immunity"


That out of the way, Planaria can be a real challenge. I dosed my tank three times. First time at twice the recommended dose, then three times, then four times the dose at one week intervals (my system is almost 500 gallons, it gets pricey), I only lost bristle worms, brittle stars and pods.
Believe it or not, some of those flatworms survived. Maybe that's because I waited at least a week between doses, maybe it's because I made the jump to water change and carbon too early.
Make the sacrifice and don't worry so much about the pods, stars and worms dying. Allow the FWE ample time to work before you start the carbon, wc and skimmer. Also, do a second, maybe even third dose back to back, don't wait a week.