Red Flatworms in Barebottom LPS tank?

MaverickReef

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 17, 2019
Messages
41
Reaction score
26
Location
Mason, OH
What state or country do you live in
Ohio
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all,
I have a 125 gallon LPS dominant barebottom reef tank. Recently I've started noticing some red flatworms (planaria) on my live rock and want to do something to combat them. They haven't been noticably affecting my corals, but I'm sure it would be better if I get rid of them. I've been researching ways to get rid of them and have come up with 3 ways to combat them, but I'm not sure what is the best long term for the reef.

The 3 main options I have seen are:

Manually remove with 3/8 siphon and filter sock, then use a chemical product such as flatworm exit. Would have to do multiple rounds because it doesn't kill the eggs and it could cause a mass toxin breakout from the die off. Can use carbon to mitigate that risk.

Option 2: manually remove and add a wrasse such as a six-line or melanarus. Would have to add a bowl of sand behind rockwork for them to sleep in. A bonus with this is that they have other pest control benefits, but probably won't exterminate all of the flatworms.

Option 3: similar to option 2, but use blue velvet nudibranchs.

Any advice on what you would do in this situation or how you were able to beat red flatworms?
 
I’ve had success with flatworm exit multiple times over the years. I always hit them as soon as I notice, because they tend to progress to plague numbers. As you stated above, multiple applications will be needed.
 
Upvote 1
Hello all,
I have a 125 gallon LPS dominant barebottom reef tank. Recently I've started noticing some red flatworms (planaria) on my live rock and want to do something to combat them. They haven't been noticably affecting my corals, but I'm sure it would be better if I get rid of them. I've been researching ways to get rid of them and have come up with 3 ways to combat them, but I'm not sure what is the best long term for the reef.

The 3 main options I have seen are:

Manually remove with 3/8 siphon and filter sock, then use a chemical product such as flatworm exit. Would have to do multiple rounds because it doesn't kill the eggs and it could cause a mass toxin breakout from the die off. Can use carbon to mitigate that risk.

Option 2: manually remove and add a wrasse such as a six-line or melanarus. Would have to add a bowl of sand behind rockwork for them to sleep in. A bonus with this is that they have other pest control benefits, but probably won't exterminate all of the flatworms.

Option 3: similar to option 2, but use blue velvet nudibranchs.

Any advice on what you would do in this situation or how you were able to beat red flatworms?
FW exit or wrasse
 
Upvote 0

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHICH PART OF YOUR SETUP IS HARDEST TO REACH OR REMOVE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE?

  • Glass behind or beside the tank

    Votes: 11 22.0%
  • Powerheads or wavemakers

    Votes: 4 8.0%
  • Sump or rear filtration chambers

    Votes: 7 14.0%
  • Skimmer or other filtration equipment

    Votes: 6 12.0%
  • Overflow or plumbing

    Votes: 10 20.0%
  • Lights or lids

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Mine is pretty easy to access!

    Votes: 11 22.0%
  • Other—tell us what I missed

    Votes: 1 2.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new