Nervous about Flatworm Exit

[SMSREEF]

I had it in the sump section (BioCube 32) in a spot that should have been getting excellent flow right off the overflow, but it turns out that the water just backed up around it and flowed elsewhere. I'm tempted to go to the store RIGHT NOW and buy a canister.

I’m so sorry about the issues with the tank. Don’t give up...

That may be a good idea to get a canister to run the carbon for now. You can make 100% sure carbon is getting flow.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

OMG. Sooooo many dead flatworms in the water column. I dosed the tank about 20 minutes ago. In another 10 I'm going to start carbon and then in about another 15 I'll do a 40% water change and suck out as many corpses as I can. It seems I *still* had no idea how bad the infestation was.

Sorry your going through this, it's not fun. It took about 6 treatments in our 32. Everything will probably be mad while your doing this. Did you test for amonia after the treatment (I didn't remember seeing it in your post? Also a small tip, I tried sucking them out, small fine woven fish net worked best for us, taking it back and forth in the water column, catching a bunch of the dead, rinsing it out and going back for more. The chamber you had worked fine for us, we had it in exactly as you discribed. Allot of our fish simply hid while we were doing this. The first time using this is the scariest, it does get easier.

 

[James77]

I had it in the sump section (BioCube 32) in a spot that should have been getting excellent flow right off the overflow, but it turns out that the water just backed up around it and flowed elsewhere. I'm tempted to go to the store RIGHT NOW and buy a canister.

Well that sure sucks that the carbon was not filtering as it should.

Even a power filter like AquaClear with a mesh bag full of carbon, something to allow you to run a large amount of carbon.

 

[Barry_Cuda]

Went out and bought a canister and did a 40% water change plus running carbon in the canister. We'll see if I manage to save anything.

 

[James77]

Went out and bought a canister and did a 40% water change plus running carbon in the canister. We'll see if I manage to save anything.

Well good luck and I hope you are able to. Its all part of the lessons in this hobby....

You're running a good sized amount of carbon in the canister filter?

 

[Barry_Cuda]

You're running a good sized amount of carbon in the canister filter?

As much as it will hold.

 

[James77]

As much as it will hold.

Ok good, heres hoping it turns this mess around for you

 

[Barry_Cuda]

Corals were no worse this morning, possibly slightly better. I've still got the carbon running and I plan to leave it in place for a couple days or until I start seeing some extension from the corals. Still too early to tell if anything's going to come through alive.

 

[SMSREEF]

Corals were no worse this morning, possibly slightly better. I've still got the carbon running and I plan to leave it in place for a couple days or until I start seeing some extension from the corals. Still too early to tell if anything's going to come through alive.

How are things going tonight? I hope everything is still getting better.

 

[James77]

Any update on how your tank is doing?

 

[Barry_Cuda]

Well, a week later... neither of the fish in the tank made it. Corals are all recovering, although my trumpet colony is still looking pretty beat-up. I've now got a raging cyano bloom, but I'd rather have that than a tankful of dead corals. I still see a few small flatworms, so I'll probably treat the tank again once the corals have had a few more days to recover.

 

[Hemmdog]

I used this product last week. No ill effects. I didn’t even water change after. Just reintroduced the carbon I had in there before and turned the skimmer back on an hour after treatment. I siphoned out the dead flatworms through a filter sock returning water to my sump. Corals seem super happy!

 

[Barry_Cuda]

My watchman goby is alive and well! I hadn't seen it for days, and I thought it was a casualty of the flatworm toxins like the Banggai was. But I just walked past the tank and saw him sitting all fat and happy on top of a rock!

 

[James77]

Well, a week later... neither of the fish in the tank made it. Corals are all recovering, although my trumpet colony is still looking pretty beat-up. I've now got a raging cyano bloom, but I'd rather have that than a tankful of dead corals. I still see a few small flatworms, so I'll probably treat the tank again once the corals have had a few more days to recover.

Sorry about losing the fish you did :(, but at least the goby made it as a surprise!! The corals as well seem like they will be fine.

Definitely treat the tank again, even a 3rd time to be sure you are rid of them for good. You won't experience what you just did since the vast majority have been killed off. Consider using a bit of a stronger dose if you treat the tank again. I say that with the caution that it is not technically following instructions. But the FWE itself is not the toxic part it is the FW's.

If you search online for "Flatworm exit stronger dose" you will see others experiences and amounts they used.

 

[Brent Harpe]

I too am dealing with a flatworm problem red planaria to be exact. I’m going to be dosing flatworm exit. How much carbon is actually needed? I have a 180 gal and don’t really want to buy carbon I won’t use. Is there any brand that’s better than others? Or is all carbon going to do the same job? I’m currently daily siphoning as many out as possible to make the dosing less nerve racking.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I too am dealing with a flatworm problem red planaria to be exact. I’m going to be dosing flatworm exit. How much carbon is actually needed? I have a 180 gal and don’t really want to buy carbon I won’t use. Is there any brand that’s better than others? Or is all carbon going to do the same job? I’m currently daily siphoning as many out as possible to make the dosing less nerve racking.

I would put a big bag some where in the sump area if possible. The main thing is the toxins that come from the dead flatworms. What ever you can see you probably have that X5

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I too am dealing with a flatworm problem red planaria to be exact. I’m going to be dosing flatworm exit. How much carbon is actually needed? I have a 180 gal and don’t really want to buy carbon I won’t use. Is there any brand that’s better than others? Or is all carbon going to do the same job? I’m currently daily siphoning as many out as possible to make the dosing less nerve racking.

I have a 90 gallon and I used around 1/2 pounds of carbon in my sump.

 

[Brent Harpe]

I have a 90 gallon and I used around 1/2 pounds of carbon in my sump.

So with my 180 I should be alright with a pound or 2? Does it matter much which brand carbon? Or not really?

How big of a water change do you guys recommend? 30%? 40%? 50%?

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

So with my 180 I should be alright with a pound or 2? Does it matter much which brand carbon? Or not really?

How big of a water change do you guys recommend? 30%? 40%? 50%?

A pound or two should be fine and do about 30 percent water change.

 

[JMetaxas]

I've used it a couple times. No major problems. I did a 25% water change shortly after treatment, and ran about 1/2lb of BRS carbon for a few days.(65 gallon mixed tank)

The flatworms came back a few times and got pretty bad. I left them alone, and they've since disappeared. Strange, but true.