What is this? Blows off like Cyano, but is is Cyano?
- Thread starter WallyB
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OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
ok. Thanks for the tip. I didn't check out my shopping cart quite yet.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
Hmmm. The Springer Damsel may not get along with my Blue Green Chromis.
However the Chromis is the biggest Jerk you can imagine. I have a trap ready to catch him, but never got around to it.
That may have to be step #1.
Red planaria flatworms.. theyll cover ur rocks and if ur corals are lazy.. them too
Flatworm exit should do it
Broke down a tank in the early 2000’s cuz of these freakers..
Got any wrasses?
6lines are a must in all my tanks
Gl
Flatworm exit should do it
Broke down a tank in the early 2000’s cuz of these freakers..
Got any wrasses?
6lines are a must in all my tanks
Gl
fishandstangs
Community Member
I agree, I added one of these to my tank and it does nothing but help. Melanurus all the way.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
Just watched the video. Very informative thanks.
I'm still lost for best solution, except to start siphoning these guy out of my tank where visisble to cut down the population.
Flatworm-Exit would be my last resort....down the road, if ever.
I do want to replace my lost wrasse. My tank is 100% SPS, so melanurus-wrasse should be ok.
However my Tank is Glass bottom, and I don't think that will work.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
Have you purchased the melanurus wrasse yet? I went back and looked at your tanks pictures and is your tank bare bottom, it seems to be but with what looks like probably corraline growing I wasn't positive.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
I didn't. Was just window shopping.
No sandbed (Glass bottom), so can't have that wrasse.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
Right I was just wanting to make sure you were aware before buying one. I guess I should've paid more attention before making a suggestion.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
I'm taking a step back to think things through.
These flatworms have been around for quite some time, so no need to panic and mess things up much worse, like kill my fish or SPS collection.
Not sure what I'll do, till I know what's safe and effective, and not a minute sooner till I'm prepared.
No harm in siphoning these guys thru a sock into my sump to cut down population.
At least I know the red plauge isn't cyano anymore.
Thank you everyone!
These flatworms have been around for quite some time, so no need to panic and mess things up much worse, like kill my fish or SPS collection.
Not sure what I'll do, till I know what's safe and effective, and not a minute sooner till I'm prepared.
No harm in siphoning these guys thru a sock into my sump to cut down population.
At least I know the red plauge isn't cyano anymore.
Thank you everyone!
Gtinnel
10K Club member
No matter what method you eventually decide to go with, siphoning them out is a great first step.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
Ok. I tried to siphon them out. Tried to make some DIY tubes and stuff. Tedious slow, and ineffective work.
I just have to many of these flatworms. For each day I suck out a few, more will repopulate.
Now that I know what they are, and not the lingering Cyano I thought it was, it revolts me to see the carpets of planaria all over my rocks.
It would be extremly risky to use Flatworm-Exit. I would have to treat multiple times, and use lots of carbon and water to lower risk.
Another factor is my tank is an In Wall Tank, so have NO access the front side to siphon. Almost impossible to reach many areas of rock scape. Deep caverns impossible.
Even from Sump room side, my hanging lighting (T5/LED) is a chore to get out of way.
My large Euro Rim tank adds to the challenge.
Again, too risky to TREAT until planaria population is brought down. My fish are worth $$'s (Large FAT Yellow Tang, Wanatabei Angel, Black Capp Basslet....raised for years.... are not easy to replace), and all that QT work over the years.
I don't want to add a sandbed for a wrasse......
A little luck has come my way. LFS had a Velvet Nudibranch available.
Only one (Large too). I placed order for pickup tomomrrow.
They don't get them often.
Certainly worth the $60 to do my Planaria reduction for me.
The Nudi should be happy to have tons of food. I will lower my flow and move my pumps for his safety.
Once I have population under control..... I can do the Flatworm-Exit with much less risk.
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Gtinnel
10K Club member
I knew of the nudibranch but they seem to be pretty uncommon in the hobby and it slipped my mind to mention it honestly. I have no experience with them but have heard good things about them, but that looks like a monumental task for a single nudi (but gain just a guess). Anyway you seem to have a really good understanding of what you can and can't do to work on getting rid of them.Ok. I tried to siphon them out. Tried to make some DIY tubes and stuff. Tedious slow, and ineffective work.
I just have to many of these flatworms. For each day I suck out a few, more will repopulate.
Now that I know what they are, and not the lingering Cyano I thought it was, it revolts me to see the carpets of planaria all over my rocks.
It would be extremly risky to use Flatworm-Exit. I would have to treat multiple times, and use lots of carbon and water to lower risk.
Another factor is my tank is an In Wall Tank, so have NO access the front side to siphon. Almost impossible to reach many areas of rock scape. Deep caverns impossible.
Even from Sump room side, my hanging lighting (T5/LED) is a chore to get out of way.
My large Euro Rim tank adds to the challenge.
Again, too risky to TREAT until planaria population is brought down. My fish are work $$'s (Large Yellow Tang, Wanatabei Angel, Black Capp Basslet are not easy to replace), and all that QT work over the years.
I don't want to add a sandbed for a wrasse......
A little luck has come my way. LFS had one of these for sale. Only one. I placeed order for pickup tomomrrow.
They don't get them often.
Certainly worth the $60 to do my Planaria reduction for me.
Once I have population under control..... I can do the Flatworm-Exit with much less risk.
With that many there is no chance I would use flatworm exit until the population was reduced considerably.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
I knew you would agree on the risk of toxin levels.
This Nudi is a large one, so it will be interesting to see his abilities since he only eat flatworms.
I'll document progress on this thread.
I did something similar when I had a Asterina outbreak...I also had hundreds. I got Harlequin Shrimp...it took a few months but he wiped them out. Almost starved at the end, but I got him out just in time.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
Cool in interested to see how good of a job it does.
OP
OP
WallyB
REEF Techno-Geek
hmm.
I just read that if you don't remove the Vevlet Nudi before it starves it will release the Flatworm Toxins into the tank.
I wonder if that's true. He'll have to be removed at some point. Probably easy to locate. (I hope).
Another worry is my high flow tank, with a quite a few powerheads. I read the nudi can release from rocks and possibly float around.
I'll have to make some powerhead intake covers.
Just when I thought I had a easy solution.
Will do my research to make sure I don't make any dumb mistakes.
One additional fish for consideration would be a pipefish. I have read about dragon faced pipefish and potentially blue striped pipefish eating red planaria. I have a blue stripe in my 330 that handles the flow in my system. May or may not work for your situation, but worth mentioning.
damsels are not mean
Valuable Member
If you do use FW exit be prepared to run extra carbon and filter socks. You'd have to change them a lot to try and get as many out of the tank ASAP and keep carbon going to suck as much of the toxins out as possible. This is all a bad idea though unless you siphon some out.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
I could see the logic of the nudi consumes the toxin and then can release it if the nudi dies, but I have absolutely no clue if that's true. There is a chance that the spotted (target) mandarin would eat them as well.
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