Nuisance algae

[AlexKilpatrick]

Yeah, I would have treated it earlier if I had known what it was. I just thought it was some kind of algae, and it would go away on its own when I got my skimmer working again. My experience with nuisance algae has been that once you get the tank stable, it will go away on its own. Clearly, this is not the case with the flatworms.

I am majorly impressed with Flatworm exit. It was expensive for such a tiny bottle, but well worth it.

[MattK]

I am majorly impressed with Flatworm exit. It was expensive for such a tiny bottle, but well worth it.

I agree. I've had to use it once before and it worked like a charm.

[jroescher]

So what do flatworms eat? If left alone will they eventually follow the same course as algeas that cycle through the tank in stages? Form Alex's experience, it looks like they just keep getting worse and worse.

[AlexKilpatrick]

They are detrivores. I guess if I had starved my tank and did a really good job cleaning up detritus, then they would have starved. However, from what I have read with a large population, they can "crash" and die almost all at once. Then you have the same problem of the toxin release that I have with treatment, but in an uncontrolled way.

[Texreefer]

IMO,, once you have them you always have them,, you may be able to get them to controlable levels, but they never seem to go complelety away. i fought them i a tank for over a year and could never get rid of them... when i set up my new tank you cannot beleive the lengths that i have gone to in order to not accidentally introduce them into my tank

[JeremyGlen]

So, now that my tank has no fish in it I should be able to starve the flatworms out? I only have to add stuff for the starfish and one shrimp I have left.

Don't they have zooanthelle that make food for them in the light? All I ever see my FWs doing is clinging to the rocks and acrylic in the light.

[AlexKilpatrick]

They must be somewhat photosynthetic. I never saw any that weren't in the light. But I have heard they are detrivores. If that is true, you could never get the tank clean enough to starve them out, I expect.

It seems like the best bet is to find a predator.

[JeremyGlen]

I had a six-line that was eating them real well. It ended up in the sump sqiushed between a pump and a baffle and died. I got another one and it wouldn't eat them. It can be a hit or miss thing with six-lines, but that is the only FW predator that I can buy for my small tank.