Biological reef safe solution to flat worms?

[pledosophy]

It's all in the title. I have a ton of flat worms does anything eat them?

[Goodwood]

Heavy skimming has worked for me with past problems. Not sure if thats what did it but I had a carpet of flatworms and then purchased a Deltec skimmer. Within 3 months no more flat worms, I did not change anything else.

Best of luck

[InLimbo87]

I believe choris wrasse's and mandarin dragonets often eat the flatworms. Don't quote me on this one, I'm sure others will chime in with a more educated answer.

You could always try siphoning them out as much as you can.

[GreenPuffers]

I had luck with my mandarin eating my flatworms.

[Vitaly]

I had a few flatworms in my tank...population never got out of hand. A few months ago I added a Halichoeres chrysus (Golden/Yellow/Canary Wrasse) and the flatworms disappeared shortly thereafter.

It was been suggested that the wrasses (canary, sixline, etc) will pick at flatworms...but I am sure it varies from individual to individual.

[just dave]

I have had repeated success with the Oscillated Dragonet ( aka Scoot Blenny.)

[p4ck37p1mp]

leopard wrasses

[BrentN]

Originally posted by GreenPuffers
I had luck with my mandarin eating my flatworms.

Not me. Although it is still small, maybe as it grows....

[pledosophy]

Originally posted by p4ck37p1mp
leopard wrasses

Glad to hear that, it's on my wish list.

Normally I read of people syphoning but the tank was setup with rock that had been "cooking: in a seperate container for 8 months, and when the rock came out, there were thousands and thousands of flatworms.

I haven't hooked up the skimmer yet so hopefully that will help too.

Thanks to everyone for there input.

Appreciate it.

Kevin

[reefD]

dont forget they also thrive in high lighting(yes they can be photosythetic) and low flow. try flatworm exit....works great .but follow directions especially focus on netting them asthey die and water change is important for sure.

[reefD]

flatworm exit is very safe ...ive seen it used in large established tanks with lots of corals ...etc....natural way is great but even a fish that should eat them may not. but flatworm exit works for sure!

[reefD]

link for flatworn exit product info
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?...FRGCGgodbRhTtw

[melev]

Are you talking about Red Planaria? It would be good to know what type of flatworm infestation you are referring to.

[pledosophy]

I believe so Marc. Not the best at my marine worm ID's but I do think it's a Red planaria.

They don't seem to gravitate to the SPS more then anything else, they are just kind of everywhere.

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by reefD
flatworm exit is very safe ...ive seen it used in large established tanks with lots of corals ...etc....natural way is great but even a fish that should eat them may not. but flatworm exit works for sure!

Well, I don't put much faith in this product. I had some flatworms in a prop tank and it did a great jon killing most of them. Dose again at double those dose once they made a comeback and once again it did a great job killing most of them. Dose again at triple the dose and the same damn thing happened. Since adding a Pseudochromis flavivertex they have disappeared. I haven't heard any other reports of this fish eating flatworms but it seems to have worked for me.

[ibjj]

blue velvet sea slugs are suppose to eat them

[amike5]

I found flatworm exit to be only a temporary solution. I found though that after time, they seemed to almost eliminate themselves.

[driftin]

LFS I trust had an outbreak in one of their large tanks. Tank already had a 6-line and mandarin and they didn't do much. Owner of the store put in some blennies... I believe he said they were scooters, and that solved it for him. Worth a try?