What are these things? Flatworms? Pods? Aliens?

[rvamarcel]

I notice today a few of these really tiny things on the glass, specially in areas where there's a bit of algae. Are they good? If they are bad, how do I nuke them safely?

 

[Khh27]

Flatworms just not an expert on whether they are the harmful or harmless ones

 

[ebushrow]

Typical flatworms.....many wrasses eat them....you could also use the product "flatworm exit" to get rid of them....but follow the directions on the box!

 

[rvamarcel]

So, def flatworms. Now, the question is, are they the safe kind?

Although they are really similar to the previous photos, I'm adding two more pictures of the worms. I am torn between letting these things be or using flatworm exit. I know water changes and carbon are vital if I go the chemical route, but it seems like a huge risk considering it is a 14G tank ( It's a 14gallon with softies, LPS and small pieces of acro, monti and bird nest).

@Lionfish Lair please help! Are these safe?

 

[KJ]

Brown Flatworms http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I'm probably the wrong one to ask about chemical treatments, as I've never done them and it would have to be extreme for me to ever consider doing it. A lot of times you'll see me ducking out of conversations at the point when it turns to treatment options as my views are not a fan favorite, I'm afraid, so I kind of stopped fighting that fight. LOL!

I've always had flatworms here and there. Most would gather at the water line or a few just above the substrate on the glass. You can see in these pictures I was taking of isopods, there were a flatworm or two scurrying around.

Here you can see a couple of the Convolutriloba sp. towards the top I didn't treat and they didn't take over.

BUT!! You can't exactly sit back and watch their numbers grow. Usually they will just burn themselves out because everything waxes and wanes, but if you don't clean up or stop feeding the copepods, you could be looking at this (my picture, but NOT my tank).....

 

[rvamarcel]

I'm probably the wrong one to ask about chemical treatments, as I've never done them and it would have to be extreme for me to ever consider doing it. A lot of times you'll see me ducking out of conversations at the point when it turns to treatment options as my views are not a fan favorite, I'm afraid, so I kind of stopped fighting that fight. LOL!

I've always had flatworms here and there. Most would gather at the water line or a few just above the substrate on the glass. You can see in these pictures I was taking of isopods, there were a flatworm or two scurrying around.

Here you can see a couple of the Convolutriloba sp. towards the top I didn't treat and they didn't take over.

BUT!! You can't exactly sit back and watch their numbers grow. Usually they will just burn themselves out because everything waxes and wanes, but if you don't clean up or stop feeding the copepods, you could be looking at this (my picture, but NOT my tank).....

So, if I leave them be, will the eventually kill corals? How can I reduce the population, considering it is a 14 Gallon tank?

 

[ahiggins]

I think the only safe ones are the white/clear ones...
Do you dip your corals before you put them in there?
It might be a good time to start moving livestock over to the 40 if you are ready

 

[rvamarcel]

I think the only safe ones are the white/clear ones...
Do you dip your corals before you put them in there?
It might be a good time to start moving livestock over to the 40 if you are ready

The 40 is going through the uglies, algae here and there, etc.

I'm also struggling a bit with top offs. I'm experimenting putting a bit of filtration media between the walls of the bubble trap, which has worked for polishing the water, but it affects the water level in the return chamber. My salinity at this moment is pretty pretty high [emoji849]

I'm actually getting ready to start a thread to get some advice on that tank...

 

[Lionfish Lair]

So, if I leave them be, will the eventually kill corals? How can I reduce the population, considering it is a 14 Gallon tank?

How old is your tank? No, it won't kill your corals.

 

[Dtfnemo]

Aliens!!!

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

 

[rvamarcel]

How old is your tank? No, it won't kill your corals.

Sorry I didn't reply yesterday. Everything decided to happen at the same time :|

The tank is 5 months old. Here's pictures from today. Everyone is kinda ticked off. Please excuse the dirty glass, if I cleaned it the worms would have been squashed releasing the toxins that would nuke everything to smithereens (right?)

So, there are growing in size and quantity...

 

[d2mini]

Remove what you can and treat with FW Exit.
A small siphon hose that drains into a filter sock works well.
Pay close attention to the instructions and remember that they will be toxic so large amounts dying off at one time can be harmful.

 

[rvamarcel]

So, three attempts and about 40 drops of flatworm eXit later, those things are still in the tank thumb nosing me.

I made sure nothing could interfere, carbon or anything else. Any tips before I double the dose tonight?

 

[Samuel111]

... my picture, but NOT my tank).....

sorry, an old post, and my question is not related to the initial one but rather refers to this last photo — these hard green like-bubbles - what are those? A plant? Good or bad? I have few grown by my meat coral...

thanks for an answer.

 

[sfin52]

sorry, an old post, and my question is not related to the initial one but rather refers to this last photo — these hard green like-bubbles - what are those? A plant? Good or bad? I have few grown by my meat coral...

thanks for an answer.

Those are bubble algae a nuisance algae. If you have some post a new thread you will get a better response.

Welcome to reef2reef

 

[DSC reef]

sorry, an old post, and my question is not related to the initial one but rather refers to this last photo — these hard green like-bubbles - what are those? A plant? Good or bad? I have few grown by my meat coral...

thanks for an answer.

If you can remove the coral from the tank, you can gently remove the bubble algae from the coral. Rinse the coral in some extra tank water in a bucket if you accidentally pop one.

 

[Paul B]

I have millions of them. Free livestock. I like them. I am going out to dinner now where I won't be able to see them and they can't see me. No problems.

 

[Samuel111]

Those are bubble algae a nuisance algae. If you have some post a new thread you will get a better response.

Welcome to reef2reef

Thank you.
And Thank You! glad to join.