Acro Eating Flatworms - CSA

jnfallon · 05/03/2007, 06:40 PM

Hey All,

Community Service Announcement.

I am having my first run-in with acro-eating flatworms, and let me tell you, the buggers are brutal.

Without going into it too much, I just want to urge you all to dip any and all corals going into your tank regardless of where they come from. Imagine having to take out all your acros (including the tiny encrusted bits on the rocks), dip and qt them for 6 weeks, and you'll get a sense of what awaits you if one of these invisible millimeter long pests sneak in.

AEFW and Redbugs are extremely prevalent right now, and I would estimate that a vast majority of tanks have one or both without knowing it. I havent gotten any new corals in over a year, and after having a few pieces continually struggle I did a test dip. Trust me, you wont be able to see AEFW even with a magnifying glass, I had literally thousands of them, and couldn't see one.

Anyway, save yourself a lot of hassle and heartache and dip your corals. The dip I used was 1 fluke tab per 1.25 gallon sw for 20 minutes with a very small powerhead. It worked like a charm. You need to use interceptor for redbugs (I dont have them).

fishome25 · 05/03/2007, 08:14 PM

good to know, thanks for the heads up.

Spracklcat · 05/04/2007, 05:29 AM

did you see the lecture by Fernando Nostrapour about those guys? Few months ago--was amazing. He had video, and even when you KNEW exactly where they were you couldn't see them.

Sorry Justin.

pyro383 · 05/04/2007, 06:10 AM

what is a fluke tab and where can you get them?

eboonaman · 05/04/2007, 06:57 AM

they are used in mostly for freshwater to rid fish of gill worms..
every LFS has them usually in stock.

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../5762/cid/1571

Neurotech · 05/04/2007, 07:13 AM

FYI FWIW : aquahut has a nudibranch in stock that eats the flatworms.

teen · 05/04/2007, 07:51 AM

ive go the redbugs right now. think im gunna go talk to the local vet and see if i can get the presecription for interceptor. pretty sure im free of AEFW.

jnfallon · 05/04/2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neurotech
FYI FWIW : aquahut has a nudibranch in stock that eats the flatworms.

I didnt think there was such a thing. Do you have genus/species or any more info?

Eric (and others) fluke tabs are cheap (like $29 bux for 100) and to dip you simply crush pill(s) , and mix with correct amount of tank water. Use a small ph (very small, like 100gph) and lightly blow off the coral for the duration. SOme will come off immediately, but the bigger ones seem to hang one for longer.

An interceptor dip takes a little longer, I think the duration is 6-10 hrs, and as teen mentioned you need a precription to get them. Redbugs can be treated in tank, whereas aefw cannot as yet.

jnfallon · 05/04/2007, 08:35 AM

Christine, I did not see that, nor have I heard about it until now. ANy more info?

shyland83 · 05/04/2007, 09:08 AM

Does anyone remember Palettas talk at NERAC? i vaguely remember him talking about trining his fish to eat flat worms. He quarantined them with a coral that had flatworms and blew them off with a turkey baster until the fish learned to pick them off the corals. Once they were trained he added them to the display. I don't remember the types of fish he used if anyone remembers. I'm pretty sure it was AEFW he was talking about but my memory is fuzzy.

jnfallon · 05/04/2007, 10:56 AM

those are red planaria. As far as I know, planaria are a nuisance (and can be treated in tank with flatworm exit), aefw are deadly.

JB NY · 05/04/2007, 12:20 PM

The talk at MACNA was only about the AEFW. No information at all about how to get rid of them.

Justin, Get them early. Here are some of the corals I lost to the bugers before I knew I had them.

jnfallon · 05/04/2007, 01:03 PM

yeah. Apparently I have the grandchildren of yours.

I have a pile about as big so far.

It's surprising how little info/discussion there is about them considering how prevalent they seem to be, and how destructive they are.

JB NY · 05/04/2007, 01:10 PM

There has been tons of discussion in the SPS forum.

fishome25 · 05/04/2007, 07:39 PM

joe what kind of snail is on that tray. i have some, don't know where they came from. thought a whelk maybe?

JB NY · 05/04/2007, 09:01 PM

No snails on the tray

DgenR8 · 05/04/2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JB NY
No snails on the tray

On the lip of the tray, near the cup.

teen · 05/04/2007, 09:45 PM

why'd you take that green cap out if there ACRO eating flatworms?

JB NY · 05/06/2007, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DgenR8
On the lip of the tray, near the cup.

Ahh missed that. A cerith snail.

The cap was collateral damage.

Neurotech · 05/06/2007, 07:13 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jnfallon
[B]I didnt think there was such a thing. Do you have genus/species or any more info?

No, I don't. There is a new guy working at Aquahut - seems to know what he is talking about - used to work for ORA. He is the one that mentioned that to me about the branch.

fishome25 · 05/06/2007, 07:37 AM

he prob has blue velvet nudis. for a different flatworm

Neurotech · 05/06/2007, 07:46 AM

yup. They were blue velvet. Sorry. Damn picky nudi's.

05/03/2007, 06:40 PM	#1
jnfallon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montauk, NY Posts: 1,573	Acro Eating Flatworms - CSA Hey All, Community Service Announcement. I am having my first run-in with acro-eating flatworms, and let me tell you, the buggers are brutal. Without going into it too much, I just want to urge you all to dip any and all corals going into your tank regardless of where they come from. Imagine having to take out all your acros (including the tiny encrusted bits on the rocks), dip and qt them for 6 weeks, and you'll get a sense of what awaits you if one of these invisible millimeter long pests sneak in. AEFW and Redbugs are extremely prevalent right now, and I would estimate that a vast majority of tanks have one or both without knowing it. I havent gotten any new corals in over a year, and after having a few pieces continually struggle I did a test dip. Trust me, you wont be able to see AEFW even with a magnifying glass, I had literally thousands of them, and couldn't see one. Anyway, save yourself a lot of hassle and heartache and dip your corals. The dip I used was 1 fluke tab per 1.25 gallon sw for 20 minutes with a very small powerhead. It worked like a charm. You need to use interceptor for redbugs (I dont have them).

05/04/2007, 06:10 AM	#4
pyro383 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: coram, ny Posts: 1,416	what is a fluke tab and where can you get them? __________________ Retired from Reefing Long Island Reef Assoc. (LIRA) Current Tank Info: 5/1/06 Birth of 180g in-wall, dedicated fish rm. w/75g sump, 20g refugium, 80lbs live rock, 4-6" sand base, (2) 250w mh, (2) 160w 03 vho, asm G3, kalk reactor,

05/04/2007, 07:13 AM	#6
Neurotech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 870	FYI FWIW : aquahut has a nudibranch in stock that eats the flatworms. __________________ Boneh Current Tank Info: 2 54 corner tanks. 1 2X65 PC and 1 250 watt 20K MH.

05/04/2007, 09:08 AM	#10
shyland83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oakdale, Long Island Posts: 1,550	Does anyone remember Palettas talk at NERAC? i vaguely remember him talking about trining his fish to eat flat worms. He quarantined them with a coral that had flatworms and blew them off with a turkey baster until the fish learned to pick them off the corals. Once they were trained he added them to the display. I don't remember the types of fish he used if anyone remembers. I'm pretty sure it was AEFW he was talking about but my memory is fuzzy. __________________ -Scott Whenever I’m about to do something, I think “would an idiot do that?” and if they would, I do not do that thing Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef

05/04/2007, 12:20 PM	#12
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	The talk at MACNA was only about the AEFW. No information at all about how to get rid of them. Justin, Get them early. Here are some of the corals I lost to the bugers before I knew I had them. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

05/03/2007, 08:14 PM	#2
fishome25 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: long island Posts: 2,472	good to know, thanks for the heads up.

05/04/2007, 05:29 AM	#3
Spracklcat Disaster Expert Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: LI, NY Posts: 1,714	did you see the lecture by Fernando Nostrapour about those guys? Few months ago--was amazing. He had video, and even when you KNEW exactly where they were you couldn't see them. Sorry Justin.

05/04/2007, 06:57 AM	#5
eboonaman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: long island - Deer Park Posts: 1,586	they are used in mostly for freshwater to rid fish of gill worms.. every LFS has them usually in stock. http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../5762/cid/1571

05/04/2007, 07:51 AM	#7
teen Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MB, long island NY Posts: 963	ive go the redbugs right now. think im gunna go talk to the local vet and see if i can get the presecription for interceptor. pretty sure im free of AEFW.

05/04/2007, 08:35 AM	#9
jnfallon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montauk, NY Posts: 1,573	Christine, I did not see that, nor have I heard about it until now. ANy more info?

05/04/2007, 10:56 AM	#11
jnfallon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montauk, NY Posts: 1,573	those are red planaria. As far as I know, planaria are a nuisance (and can be treated in tank with flatworm exit), aefw are deadly.

05/04/2007, 01:03 PM	#13
jnfallon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montauk, NY Posts: 1,573	yeah. Apparently I have the grandchildren of yours. I have a pile about as big so far. It's surprising how little info/discussion there is about them considering how prevalent they seem to be, and how destructive they are.

05/04/2007, 01:10 PM	#14
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	There has been tons of discussion in the SPS forum. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

05/04/2007, 07:39 PM	#15
fishome25 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: long island Posts: 2,472	joe what kind of snail is on that tray. i have some, don't know where they came from. thought a whelk maybe?

05/04/2007, 09:01 PM	#16
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	No snails on the tray __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

05/04/2007, 09:45 PM	#18
teen Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MB, long island NY Posts: 963	why'd you take that green cap out if there ACRO eating flatworms?

05/06/2007, 07:13 AM	#20
Neurotech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 870	flatworm-eating nudibranch [QUOTE]Originally posted by jnfallon [B]I didnt think there was such a thing. Do you have genus/species or any more info? No, I don't. There is a new guy working at Aquahut - seems to know what he is talking about - used to work for ORA. He is the one that mentioned that to me about the branch. __________________ Boneh Current Tank Info: 2 54 corner tanks. 1 2X65 PC and 1 250 watt 20K MH.

05/06/2007, 07:37 AM	#21
fishome25 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: long island Posts: 2,472	he prob has blue velvet nudis. for a different flatworm

05/06/2007, 07:46 AM	#22
Neurotech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 870	yup. They were blue velvet. Sorry. Damn picky nudi's. __________________ Boneh Current Tank Info: 2 54 corner tanks. 1 2X65 PC and 1 250 watt 20K MH.