I just treated the tank for red planaria with FWE. It's been 24 hours and I still see a very small handful of them. What's the protocol for re-dosing the tank?

renamed title.

i just decided to nuke the hell out of the "remnant" - those bastards better die...I did 1 drop per gallon.

Did you notice any nitrate spikes? I saw one in my tank the other day and sucked it out, but I might have to nuke them if there are any more.

if you're gonna nuke the tank, do it early. if you wait, they will grow into the thousands in a matter of a couple months, and then you're in for a long process. read the FWE directions, and also check this out:

http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

before you nuke, be sure that they are red planaria flatworms - they should be rust to red colored.

be sure to have a good sized water change handy, some fresh carbon, and be ready to suck out any that you see dying.

Okay... My Chemipure is about 2 weeks old. Is that okay?

i'd go pick up some basic carbon and some filter bags (that's what I did). But that's just me. Better safe than sorry.

Ok, so I've dosed twice now and there are STILL flatworms in my system. Each time I've dosed I see flatworms die. So WTF are they still in my system? Should I just keep on dosing until I don't see any more?

i used to have flatworms all over my tanks until i noticed that my TDS was creeping up to 50+ ppm. changed out my RO stuff and got it back down to <10ppm and nuked my tank with flatworm exit and my purple pseudochromis took care of the rest.

I tend to agree with some people that they can develop a tolerance to FWE.

So each time you dose, I feel you have to increase the amount, since the ones left survived the previous # doses.

yeah, dosed again tonight...if I still see them tomorrow, there's gonna be hell to pay.

Ok, so I've nuked the tank 4 times now. Still flatworms. I've dosed WELL above what the instructions say and still, flatworms.

So, What are my options?

Hey d what size tank?Is it the small one of yours?All i can think of is a fish to eat them.I was never a fan of fwe and went with a yellow wrasse and a christmas wrasse in my tank to keep in check and did a fine job doing so.Did you ever see when i first started my 30 and had them?God damn things wouldnt even die when i just removed all saltwater and put freshwater in tank.



good luck

I've dosed 3-4 times the recommended amount x 3 (a week apart).

yeah, unfortunately the top tank is only 9g's. the bottom tank has a six line that should be eating them, but I still see them on the glass. I'm really tempted to get a mandarin, lol.

my advice: don't get flatworms.


hth.

If you have the room add a small six line wrasse. Every one I've ever had ate them.

it does. thanks.

hi5




but seriously, I had them in my NW9 and I just left the lights off for a couple months. worked like a charm, haven't seen one since.

^ seems reasonable, as they have photosynthetic algae in them for sustenance.

On the other hand. My yellow-tail damsel ate all my flatworms in about three days, and I haven't had a problem since.

take the 6 line out and starve him for a few weeks put back in tank and dont feed him lol

yeah, i'm going to do a tank blackout while I'm home for Thanksgiving - about 5 days without light should do the trick. i read that 3 is enough to starve them.

blue/geen chromis, anytime i've had flatworms i add 2 of these guy to the tank, if it's 30g or less they do a great job, they consantly pick at the rock and glass and ever since getting them i don't see anymore flatworms and believe me i've used more than 4 bottles of Salifert FWE on the same tank within 2-3 months and still had the FW's until i got the chromis

yeah, i'm hearing this a lot. Ok, that's the Armageddon plan then. If it's do or die, I go get the chromis.

I have one but he hasn't cleared out the population of FW yet. How long does it usually take. I see about 3 or 4 of them on the glass per day. They are extremely small and clear colored.

I am having the same problem and stumbled on this... I am not rly intrested in adding a fish when I think that will just cover up the problem not solve it...

I am goin to try FWE first and if its a no go I think ill try this.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...orms&page=2

holy crap, i'm going to try that.

I just used FWE last night, but I still see a few flatworms on my glass today. I guess I'll have to try a higher dose next week. My zoas and palys look super pissed off today, with the skirts all closed up.

speaking of flatworms,

have any of you had a purple variety? ive had these guys in my tank for years, and no real problems. *knock on wood*

just wondering if the ones i have are a bad variety or not.

Interceptor.

whoops. that was a total hijack. lol. sorry bout that.


*goes back to her corner*

Update.

My 6 line became a destroyer of all things flatworm. He ate the he'll out of them. There are still some in my fuge but I haven't seen one in my display for weeks. He constantly picks things off of rock and glass.

i just bought some levimasole (sp?) and imma nuke the hell out of those bastards.

RedMan25x1 just had this problem. Thread under ID, flatworms galore, he ended up treating his tank 3 times and I believe he really had to increase the dose for it to be effective. He had no corals or fish, so it was alot easier for him, but you may want to see what he has to say.

I have heard that people usually leave FWE in longer than recommended, but then you have to worry about the flatworm toxins.

Good Luck

:-( I now share your pain. Discovered flatworms today when the lights came on.... and the more I stared the more I saw. I think I have a controllable outbreak so far, my flatworms all seem copepod sized and sprinkling the sand in spots. I'll reduce feeding and buy another powerhead too. Maybe I don't have enough flow

Sounds like the steps are: pull out media, FlatwormExit 1drop/g. start siphoning, 30 min drop in media and more activated carbon, 20% water change. Evaluate progress and repeat if needed in a week.

PS, Can I pull out the activated carbon and reuse it later? Or do I need to buy extra carbon?

--- Edit: I'm wrong, even more flatworms than I thought. They blend in with the rock :-(

Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are all "Siphon out as many flatworms as you can see BEFORE adding any chemicals."

Yes. I'm going to increase flow and try the flashlight trick til Sunday.

How long have you been battling flatworms? I've read stuff between 1 week to months!

i've had them for months. tried FWE and it killed a lot but not all. i'm moving to a stronger chemical.