new2this
Community Member
i started noticing flat worms on the glass of my tank...bought flat worm exit..when i opened the box and started reading i realized i would be in over my head...any advice would be appreciated...thanks again
thoughts and advise on flatworm exit
- Thread starter new2this
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What kind of flatworms?
Some are harmless and populations will fluctuate with the tank.
Also, Ive heard of a way to stun them so they lose their "stickiness" and then you can mechanical filter them out rather than nuke them and worry about the poison they release.
Some are harmless and populations will fluctuate with the tank.
Also, Ive heard of a way to stun them so they lose their "stickiness" and then you can mechanical filter them out rather than nuke them and worry about the poison they release.
Let's get @Lionfish Lair
I think they're the good ones-mine looked transparent. No fish in the system at the time. They died off eventually. Haven't seen one in months when I had maybe 20 in my 10 gal
I think they're the good ones-mine looked transparent. No fish in the system at the time. They died off eventually. Haven't seen one in months when I had maybe 20 in my 10 gal
Mini Coop
Valuable Member
I am going through the same thing. Mine are kind of brown with a pin head and their tail looks like it is kind of split. Had a bunch, didn't see them for a while, then now have quite a few. Luckily I just got a flasher wrasse in about a week ago, and will be adding him out of QT soon, so I am hoping he will go after them. Not sure of anything else I can do, but the flatworm exit looked like it could do more damage than the flatworms themselves! 
Mini Coop
Valuable Member
Awesome. LOL! I have a McCosker that I am hoping will enjoy dining on them and am checking at the LFS for a yellow corris wrasse later this week.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
No, those are the "good" Ghost Flatworms.
How many do you have in there? Is it just at the waterline? Is your tank new?
How many do you have in there? Is it just at the waterline? Is your tank new?
I discovered them after I had purchased coral from a known online vendor. Damaged a lot of high end SPS, went looking and there they were, transparent flatworms. I dipped in Bayer, flatworms came off. Decided after reading reviews I would try KZ Flatworm Stop. Corals seem to like it, supposed to make corals taste bad to the flatworms. So far it's doing alright.
OP
OP
new2this
Community Member
Today I counted twenty...I see them mostly laying on the sand bed (looks like they are laying out for a tan.)..some are on the bottom third of the glass...and crawl up the seals....I did see one the other day on a frag plug. ..I don't see any visual effects on any coral...but it has me concerned. ..on the age of the tank ....I bought it ten years ago (fowlr)...work made it impossible for me to take care of...I gave it to a family member. ..she gave it back to me six months ago.....the only thing I did was swap everything to new glass...
Lionfish Lair
Renee
With the change over it probably went through a mini cycle which leads to greater numbers of diatoms and such, which in turns feeds the copepods and their numbers climb who in turn yet again, feed the flatworms. Eventually, the diatoms dwindle, the pods dwindle and then the flatworms dwindle.... usually.
Yours look like a species of Convolutriloba. Their numbers can definitely climb when they're fed well. Problem is, they can also use your light as energy once the food is gone. That's where the clear ones (Ghost Flatworms) are at a disadvantage. Once the food is gone, there's no other energy source for the Ghosts to turn to, so they die off. Their numbers don't climb because they are usually limited by the numbers of pods.
As far as advice on the Flatworm Exit... I don't have any. It's not something I would use personally.
Yours look like a species of Convolutriloba. Their numbers can definitely climb when they're fed well. Problem is, they can also use your light as energy once the food is gone. That's where the clear ones (Ghost Flatworms) are at a disadvantage. Once the food is gone, there's no other energy source for the Ghosts to turn to, so they die off. Their numbers don't climb because they are usually limited by the numbers of pods.
As far as advice on the Flatworm Exit... I don't have any. It's not something I would use personally.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Lionfish Lair
Renee
No, because you'll bring it back to the tank via your fish and coral.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Have you tried manual removal? What are you feeding your fish? Could the tank use a good cleaning? Be honest. LOL!
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