1 hour after Flatworm Exit

[pickle311]

it's been an hour an all looks well. As soon as I put the drops in, you could see them curling up. I immediately started siphoning out as many as I could. After I sucked out about 5 gallons of water I had to add more water to the tank. After that I started netting them out and pointing powerheads everywhere to keep them suspended. I kept netting until I got to the point were I don't see anymore free floating. It's been an hour since I put the drops in and all fish and corals seem to be ok. The corals are closed up because I was spraying them with the powerhead, but some are starting to open again. Hopefully I am done, but I have about 20 gallons of water ready just incase something goes wrong. How long before I can quit worrying about it? I hope all of these dang things are dead.

[::pete::]

Run some carbon if you arent and do a water change tomorrow.

[pickle311]

I am running carbon, and the water change sounds good, thanks

[GaryP]

You are actually supposed to siphon as many as possible before you treat with FE.

[pickle311]

You are actually supposed to siphon as many as possible before you treat with FE.

I did, I got out what I could and then treated.

[gjuarez]

why is that Gary?

[::pete::]

The flat worms release toxins when they die so the lower the number the lower the toxin level.

[gjuarez]

cool, I didnt know that. THanks pete

[GaryP]

Sounds good Pickle. I would suggest treating again in a week or two.

My experience has been that it will kill 99%, but not all of the flatworms.

[witecap4u]

Sounds good Pickle. I would suggest treating again in a week or two.

My experience has been that it will kill 99%, but not all of the flatworms.

True, you should also double/or triple the recomended dosage at least for the first treatment.

cs

[GaryP]

True, you should also double/or triple the recomended dosage at least for the first treatment.

I agree, the biggest problem with FE is not the toxicity of the product itself, but the toxicity of the stuff the flatworms release. On the second dose, I would recommend increasing the concentration and treatment time before doing the water change, starting to skim, and doing a water change.

You have reduced the numbers of flatworms with the first treatment to the point you can really go after them and zap the guys. Besides, you don't want to leave the ones that are left. They are going to tend to be more resistant to FE and a higher dosage and longer contact time may be necessary to knock off these guys. Its sorta like antibiotic resistant bacteria. The few that survive are going to be a long term problem.

On a slightly different note, after trying practically every fish and invert that is "supposed" to eat flatworms, I have finally found one more or less by accident. Louis at Aquatic Whse. turned me on to it. He said it had cleaned out one of his tanks. It was a nice looking fish so I thought I would give it a try. Its a Hoeven's Wrasse, Halichoeres melanurus. I have another one on order for my other tank. :)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2285

[::pete::]

Hoven Wrasse (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2285)




It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. It may also eat parasites off of tank mates. When first introduced into the aquarium, live saltwater feeder shrimp should be used to entice this fish to eat. Regular feedings should include a variety of prepared and live meaty foods, such as feeder shrimps, flaked foods, and marine fish.

Courtesy of Live Aquaria.

[JimD]

Seeing as how toxicity is a major issue with these flatworms, I dont realy see how predation would be an option in a closed system. Fish eats worm, fish digests worm, fish expells undigested worm remains (toxins) back into the water exposing inhabitants to these toxins. Almost like a vicious circle.. Id much rather have them removed than re-cycled... Just my buck two ninety eight.

[GaryP]

A fish isn't going to eat thousands of flatworms at one sitting, which is the case with treating with FE, but rather just a few at a time. If the toxins do make it through their digestive system, which I'm not sure it does, its going to be at a very low concentration that skimming and carbon can handle. I have seen zero negative effects in my system since I introduced it to the tank.

I will make one cautionary note. My experience with this species is based on one individual. For those of you more statistically inclined that a pretty poor sample size. I don't know if its just a good individual of perhaps I have found a good predator. I have heard of several other species that are supposed to eat flatworms and have no luck with them. I have tried several other species of wrasse, arrow crabs, and both species of mandarins with no success. I think these species may munch an occasional flatworm, but do not make them a main course. I know this wrasse is eating other things because it dives in at feeding time. I assume its also getting an occasional pod as well. In either case, its a cool fish. I just didn't want to start a stampede to the LFS by a bunch of worm infested reefers. Like I said, I'm going to try one in my other tank when I can get one. I'll report back.