Flatworm Eradication

[CastAway]

I've been seeing some threads recently on treating flatworms, red planaria in particular, using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I believe some treatments combined the use of H2O2 with Salifert's Flat Worm Exit (FWE).

My apprehension has been that I simply do not want to introduce those things in my system, or, see any collateral damage - the loss of life forms I want to keep, like pods or other beneficial worms.

However, the planaria in my system seem to be limited to my refugium, and, my 60g sump/refugium can be isolated from my 150g display using my two return lock-line ball valves and a DT by-pass valve I plumbed in originally.

I think it may be possible to treat just the 60g volume in such a way so as to "catch" the dead an dying flat worms in some floss, minimizing if not eliminating the possibility of contaminating my display. The idea would be to be prepared with a water change for the 60g volume, new carbon, mesh, perhaps a syphon, and execute the treatment while the display is out of the loop. I'm guessing I can by-pass the DT for at least a couple hours.

What do you think @twilliard?

Most of the flatworms I see are coating the leaves of the caulerpa brachypus and chaeto. So, combined with substantial harvest of macro and manual removal of the worms, my hope is to really minimize the amount of H2O2 and FWE required to at least significantly reduce my infestation. I suppose I would calculate the required amounts of each using the 60g volume.

Thoughts, comments concerns?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thoughts, comments concerns?

Why are you worried about them being in your system.

the planaria in my system seem to be limited to my refugium,

they are almost for sure in your dt. somebody is eating them

 

[CastAway]

They're an eyesore, and kinda creepy. I worry about them dying naturally and poisoning my system. I have no basis of comparison, but, it's a pretty heavy infestation.

Although I've never seen one, I'm sure they're in my DT too. I just don't care that they are.

I've though about pulling all the macro I can, and dipping/rinsing it to try and reduce the numbers.

 

[twilliard]

Isolating the sump is a great approach to these guys using h2o2.
You will need a good plan in place for catching them.
First I would see how they react to the h2o2.
Grab a cup with some tank water in it. (About a cup of water)
Put several flatworm in and let them settle down and get comfortable
Put in 1ml of peroxide and see how they react. If they start dancing around rapidly then you are good to go

 

[CastAway]

Is the 1ml per 1cup a ratio I would stick to when dosing the 60g sump/fuge?

Will I be able to effectively dose and expect to remove bodies in a matter of a few hours, or, is this typically a treatment that takes course over days?

I have some baffles and foam, a place for dense gloss, downstream of my fuge. If they break loose and flow, I think I can effectively catch them. What may settle I'll have to syphon out.

 

[Steve Dillon]

Jeff I'm battling them too.. what I do is syphon hose to a bucket with a old sock filter cut in the top. This allows me to save the water but discard those nasty bug.. it's taking a few runs but at least I can't screw up the dosing of h2o2.

 

[Psiber_Syn]

I too have been battling Flat worms in my display I'm chaseing them all over the tank I see them on a shroom I dip it I see them on leathers I dip them

This is off one round of dipping

Still haven't completely gotten rid of them

 

[CastAway]

I saw that! Crazy!

 

[Mark75]

I would think that strength H2O2/water (1ml/1cup) would nuke all life in your sump. I have read about dosing as much as 1.2ml per gallon for algae control.

I would proceed with caution Jeff.

 

[cee]

Unsightly but probably otherwise harmless. Why sweat it?

 

[CastAway]

Unsightly but probably otherwise harmless. Why sweat it?

Yeah. Maybe I should reevaluate. Just excited by the H2O2 possibilities, as opposed to FWE. They are unsightly, indeed. Takes some enjoyment away from my refugium, which I "was" really into, that's all.

 

[Mark75]

How about throwing a flat worm loving wrasse in there and letting it get fat and sassy?

 

[CastAway]

How about throwing a flat worm loving wrasse in there and letting it get fat and sassy?

I think it might find my amphipod population better cuisine. [emoji53]

 

[Irsug1]

Just brainstorming here.
What if you were to use a strong return pump and run the output through a sock to catch those suckers and use a powerhead to make the water turbulent enough that they will let go and get sucked in to the pump. You could let that go for a while.
If you have those items available of course.
Then you could proceed with your treatment.

 

[Davesgt]

Jeff I've used FWE and it has never killed any of my pods or not enough to notice. I'd forget the peroxide and just treat sump and refuge. You could also do like a friend of mine did and fill the sump up kinda high after shutting it off from the tank then use a hob to catch them and the carbon will help take out toxins

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've been seeing some threads recently on treating flatworms, red planaria in particular, using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I believe some treatments combined the use of H2O2 with Salifert's Flat Worm Exit (FWE).

My apprehension has been that I simply do not want to introduce those things in my system, or, see any collateral damage - the loss of life forms I want to keep, like pods or other beneficial worms.

However, the planaria in my system seem to be limited to my refugium, and, my 60g sump/refugium can be isolated from my 150g display using my two return lock-line ball valves and a DT by-pass valve I plumbed in originally.

I think it may be possible to treat just the 60g volume in such a way so as to "catch" the dead an dying flat worms in some floss, minimizing if not eliminating the possibility of contaminating my display. The idea would be to be prepared with a water change for the 60g volume, new carbon, mesh, perhaps a syphon, and execute the treatment while the display is out of the loop. I'm guessing I can by-pass the DT for at least a couple hours.

What do you think @twilliard?

Most of the flatworms I see are coating the leaves of the caulerpa brachypus and chaeto. So, combined with substantial harvest of macro and manual removal of the worms, my hope is to really minimize the amount of H2O2 and FWE required to at least significantly reduce my infestation. I suppose I would calculate the required amounts of each using the 60g volume.

Thoughts, comments concerns?

Personally I think I've you've trimmed and rinsed and siphoned you'll have cut the population down substantially. If your running socks threat should help in the detritus they feed on or increase the the size of the micron sock.

I'm not sure what else FWE kills my self my biggest concern is the rest of my benificial worms. Esp with dual DSB in my case. I need worms. I never heard reports on that and I'm still looking.
And we're i to few I'd do the whole tank. Why leave half the population after the work involved in dosing it.
Fwiw for the last four years, that's the first time I got the brown acoels , every August sept the boards locally and here have more flat worm help me treads than any other time of year. Weird.

On the peroxide thing , Really not sure how I feel about dosing an alge killer into my algae growing place.

 

[CastAway]

Maybe I need something in my fuge/DSB that will out compete them for the available detritus. Seems like I have A LOT. Probably due for a detrivore kit to restock and diversify.

Maybe some lights out time.

Thanks for all this input!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Jeff I've used FWE and it has never killed any of my pods or not enough to notice. I'd forget the peroxide and just treat sump and refuge. You could also do like a friend of mine did and fill the sump up kinda high after shutting it off from the tank then use a hob to catch them and the carbon will help take out toxins

You have first hand experience with FWE. Did you notice or do you have spaghetti worms. I have a lot I need I need for the DSB.
Personally I'm not worried about my flat worms they come and go like everything else. But my concern is for down the road that I may have to consider a nuclear option to get out a real nasty. My concern with all those is the collateral damage as right now now my bug population really seems balanced. And I like bugs.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Maybe I need something in my fuge/DSB that will out compete them for the available detritus. Seems like I have A LOT. Probably due for a detrivore kit to restock and diversify.

Maybe some lights out time.

Thanks for all this input!

Thanks for bringing it up for me to chew on. And I'm sure it's in the back of a lot of folks mind.
We all work on stability as mantra in Reefing so to intruduce elements that will really effect the entire system is always a concern so knowledge is power. So is experience. To be able to share those and learn more from a lot of other people here at r2r is gold to me.

I'm working on my qt right now and one thing I know I will have to do is nuke that tank. FWE Interceptor peroxide etc. it's set up for me to do over and over. It's coral qt. being able to put a fish in too for qt (not hospital)is just a bonus.
Made this thread really good food for thought.

 

[Steve Dillon]

Yall do realize that flatworms can release a toxin that will kill the tank.. I'm not the pros yall are but I have had way too much bad luck to chance it.. I have rust brown flatworms.