What is this? Blows off like Cyano, but is is Cyano?

[WallyB]

I've been battling what I thought is Cyano for over a year.

Did various treaments, like ChemiClean (Many months ago...Once) , then I stopped using Amino's which would fuel this red Cyano like growth.
I even added more pumps for flow to eliminate dead spots.

OLD PHOTO FROM a few months ago (with Cyano Coverage)

Now my tank is clearing bit by bit up but the Red stuff does come back.

Tank looks like this now as the Cyano bloom is SLOWLY Fading.

It does behave like cyano. Red Film, blows off easily...Come back with lighting every after few days.

However as I zoom in it seems like something else.

As I zoom closer it looks like some kind of individual Red Large individual Organism. Is this what fading cyano looks like?

These RED BLOBS do NOT MOVE, just accumilate over time, till a complete red carpet.


Is that Cyano? or something else?

 

[MCatano]

Flat worms

 

[WallyB]

Flat worms

Really?

But they don't move.

If they are flat worms....BAD TYPE?

Maybe these...
https://firsttimemarinekeeper.com/2020/06/03/critter-identification-red-planaria-flatworms/

 

[Sunny in Miami]

Almost look like flat worms. I have flat worms in my tank but these look rather big!

 

[WallyB]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time but never got around to it.

Going to take out a rock covered with these and look under my digital microscope for a closer look.

 

[MCatano]

Really?

But they don't move.

If they are flat worms....BAD TYPE?

Maybe these...
https://firsttimemarinekeeper.com/2020/06/03/critter-identification-red-planaria-flatworms/

I don't think there are any "good" type. Sorry to deliver the bad news.

 

[KevinC]

Suck it up and put it on a dish, you will see it move soon enough

 

[Opes]

Suck out as many as you can, then use some flatworm exit. Get as many as you can out first, because the die off when you hit them with the Flatworm Exit puts toxins in the water.

It works great, but follow the instructions.

 

[WallyB]

Suck it up and put it on a dish, you will see it move soon enough

You're right.

I zoomed in on a patch of them on glass with SLR. They move!!!

So my tank has tons of these.

What are my options to eradicate.

I know folks who have used Flatworm-X and the toxins wiped out his tank.

Going to have to do some reading.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

Red Planaria flatworms, 100%

 

[KevinC]

You're right.

I zoomed in on a patch of them on glass with SLR. They move!!!

So my tank has tons of these.

What are my options to eradicate.

I know folks who have used Flatworm-X and the toxins wipe out his tank.

1) suck as many out as you can
2) do flatworm exit as mentioned
3) introduce some more wrasse. Six line etc, do research first
4) repeat step 1-2 as needed

 

[MCatano]

Suck out as many as you can, then use some flatworm exit. Get as many as you can out first, because the die off when you hit them with the Flatworm Exit puts toxins in the water.

It works great, but follow the instructions.

Agree with this. Because you have a large amount I would do a large water change. Use the water you pulled out with flatworm exit and dip what you can in a tub and then put back in main tank

 

[MCatano]

Don't forget to clean up your filtration too. Refugium as well if you have one.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

helps to starve your tank for at least a few days., they eat detrius so anything you can do to eliminate will help the overall battle tip in your favor.

 

[Gtinnel]

Add a melanurus wrasse and you'll have the fattest, happiest wrasse of anyone on the forum. I have some in my sump (I used to say a lot but after seeing your tank I guess I only have some) and any that make it to the display become melanurus food.

Seriously though if you go with faltworm exit make sure to read up about it so they don't nuke your tank. The flatworm exit is fine for the tank, but each worm will release a little toxin that when accumulated from all of them can cause big issues.

 

[WallyB]

Thanks everyone. At least I FINALLY know what I have.

Going to take things slow and careful. Do my research and plan.

Makes sense now since I did have a wrasse till a few months ago, till the guy found a tiny hole in my net top and jumped out.

• I like the Melanarus Wrasse Solution for DT.
• I can treat my Live Rock in Sump with Flatworm-x in containers
• etc, etc, etc

This will be a journey!

 

[Opes]

Now that you know what it is they really aren't hard to get rid of.

 

[WallyB]

Now that you know what it is they really aren't hard to get rid of.

Yes indeed. Good to know they are no the AEFW type flatworms. If they were, I'd have no SPS by now.

 

[Gtinnel]

Thanks everyone. At least I FINALLY know what I have.

Going to take things slow and careful. Do my research and plan.

Makes sense now since I did have a wrasse till a few months ago, till the guy found a tiny hole in my net top and jumped out.

• I like the Melanarus Wrasse Solution for DT.
• I can treat my Live Rock in Sump with Flatworm-x in containers
• etc, etc, etc

This will be a journey!

They're not good, but as far as pests go they're not that bad either. They're really only an issue if they grow to a population where they start smothering your corals.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Springer's damsel is a more reef safe alternative to a melanurus wrasse