TLDR: How should I proceed in dealing with this tank now that I know it has parasites but have no idea what they are?
Objective: obtain a species ID(s) of the shape/color changing flatworm-like creatures.
Pertinent details: similar (but not identical) infestation's crashed 2.5 of my previous saltwater tanks all 3 of my old freshwater tanks(all in same vicinity, infection spread from saltwater to freshwater.
Predicament:
I was planning on adding the live rock, sand, and livestock of my current 3g tank into my newly set up 29g +10g sump. But if I can’t be 100% the parasites are
Background
I have been trying to catch these critters on camera for the past few years now. My guess was some sort of flatworm that can change shape to camoflauge, they were visible only when trying to get into their host organisms or when rapid die off was occurring.
could an egg/spore of whatever those critters were survived the tank being bleached/disinvited on all surfaces and inside/outside of all equipment? Even if they could have survived
this, they would still have to survive being stored in the damp bag/box they came in up in my non-climate controlled attics for about 6 months during the MN cold half of the year.
General behavior: Appears to work as a colony, kind of like a coral, but much faster at growing and moving. I believe the individuals parasite seems be some sort of Vermintide -like worm. I think this because they live primarily in live rock. If a piece of live rock rubble was infects, it would look as if the piece had arms, legs and a face from how the worms inside the rock work control the rocks movement.
Please let me know if you disagree with any of my observations or conjectures!