Another red planaria hunter?

Triggreef · Jan 12, 2015

I just made an interesting observation today. I have red planaria flatworms for quite some time now. In my display, they are completely eradicated by my wrasses. But I have a frag tank which my display drains into. I haven't found a good wrasse for that yet despite several tries, so the frag tank always has a ton of planaria. From the frag tank, water flows to my sump, which also used to be loaded with planaria.

Today I noticed my chocolate chip sea star eating an asterina star in my sump. I realized that must be the reason for having barely any asterina in there. Then I noticed that I could not find a single planaria worm in the sump. The choco star is the only thing I could see that might go after the planaria. Thoughts?

Triggreef · Jan 12, 2015

Also just thought I should add to this Choco stars aren't considered reef safe so caution on that.

Maximo · Jan 13, 2015

Red planaria are photosynthetic so you won't see them easily/ if at all if there are no lights! I have them in my display and my refugium but my Rubbermaid tub is not lit and I have never seen any in there! I don't even notice them in my tanks when the lights are off even with a flashlight! It seems they take some time to come out and catch sum rays! The Chico star may be eating them but I just don't think they are populating that area I your system! I have tons of planaria my melanurus can't even keep up

Triggreef · Jan 14, 2015

Maximo said:
Red planaria are photosynthetic so you won't see them easily/ if at all if there are no lights! I have them in my display and my refugium but my Rubbermaid tub is not lit and I have never seen any in there! I don't even notice them in my tanks when the lights are off even with a flashlight! It seems they take some time to come out and catch sum rays! The Chico star may be eating them but I just don't think they are populating that area I your system! I have tons of planaria my melanurus can't even keep up

I should clarify I meant refugium. It is well lit 24/7 and I grow several different macro algae in there. There used to be a ton of the flatworms in there to the point that they were all over the macros as well as the glass.

I have 6 halichoerus and many other wrasses in my display, so they keep the display clean of planaria. I still see planaria in my overflows, and my frag tank is loaded. My refugium I can't find one lately and the choco star has gotten huge. I really can't think of anything else in the fuge that could be keeping the planaria in check.