Flatworm Exit

[JAS927]

I’m about to give it a shot and wondered how meticulous I actually need to be with immediate sucking out worms and water change, carbon etc.? There not a ton visible, I know they’re probably everywhere I can’t see too but it’s not a horrific outbreak. What creatures will flatworm toxins hurt?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A severe flatworm outbreak could kill your tank if FE exit is used and they all die at the same time, so it is serious. Since your outbreak is not so bad, then much less chance of anything bad happening, but I would add an airstone and run carbon to be safe.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I just pulled the lid off my skimmer and let it overflow. You may be surprised how many you have. I would follow up with carbon every time and the water change the first time.

Don’t forget to dose a few more times to kill the eggs as they hatch. I cant remember how long I went between doses. Something like 5-7 days.

 

[exnisstech]

Do you have any natural predators? I had a severe outbreak where I had to keep blowing them off my leathers. I added a melanurus wrasse and have not seen any in a few weeks. I was tempted to use flatworm exit but the tank is 285g and I have fish that have been with me for 8+ years so I was scared to use it.

EDIT : My were pumpkin flatworms.

 

[JAS927]

I’m a bit hesitant now. I have a thriving mandarin in the tank and from what I keep reading, the flatworm exit will kill copepods too? I have a very healthy supply of them for the mandarin. I’m wondering if I should try a wrasse first since they’re not that bad. They’re on the LPS corals bugging them and maybe one on the glass every so often.

 

[BriDroid]

Flatworm Exit didn't bother my copepods at all. Some corals got mad for a day or so, and my cerith snails didn't move around for a couple of days. Nothing died and everything made it except for the flatworms.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I’ve used it 3 times over the years with no issues.

 

[JAS927]

Have you both (who had no issues) gone above and beyond with carbon and water change?

 

[bobnicaragua]

I did the carbon every time after dosing. Water change only the first time. I saw very few flatworms on the 2nd and 3rd doses.

 

[BriDroid]

Have you both (who had no issues) gone above and beyond with carbon and water change?

Nope, I followed the instructions on the bottle. I ran a double dose of Rox 0.8 carbon, 2 tablespoons vs the normal 1 tablespoon, and the large water change. I only did one treatment. I see a few flatworms moving around from time to time, but I have added a Springeri damsel, and he seems to help keep them in check.

 

[CrayHawk]

Likely some user error but FWE crashed my beautiful 60g tank about 7 years ago.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Likely some user error but FWE crashed my beautiful 60g tank about 7 years ago.

The dead flatworms are toxic, too many and they can poison the tank. That’s why they recommend siphoning them out.

 

[BriDroid]

The dead flatworms are toxic, too many and they can poison the tank. That’s why they recommend siphoning them out.

Following the instructions to a "T", and I had no issues with my tank. And I had a TON of flatworms in my 10 gallon!

 

[CrayHawk]

The dead flatworms are toxic, too many and they can poison the tank. That’s why they recommend siphoning them out.

I should’ve clarified in my original post. I ran carbon and siphoned them out. It was a two or three hour ordeal and I still lost my tank.

 

[ScottJ]

I have them in my 55 gal. Used FE, removed a bunch of dead ones, ran carbon, 25 gallon WC, took all day. The next day, all my fish stayed in hiding. I honestly thought I lost them all. (only had 4 at the time) The only one I could find was the flasher wrasse. He looked like he was going to die, breathing really fast. It took a few days for them to come back to normal.

I have since added a springer's dottyback and a springer's damsel. Both nice fish, but I don't think either one has eaten a single flatworm!

Almost every day I siphon put the ones I can find. Sometimes I blow the corals and catch them that way. Only takes 15 minutes or so. I'm just trying to keep them under control.

So no, I don't think I will use it again.

 

[bobnicaragua]

If you use it, go with multiple doses and wipe them out. The 2nd and 3rd doses won’t be a big deal since there will be very few left. (Only freshly hatched flat worms)