Killing red flat worms (1 Viewer)

[oguzman]

Hi all,

I have a 75g reef and noticed that I had red flat worms on some of my duncan corals. I've heard that wrasses eat them, is there another method that doesn't involve chemicals?

Thank you!

 

[addictedtoreefing]

I have had luck with a orange tail damsel in the past. He was cheap, good looking and went to town right away of the flatworms.

 

[DaAznGuy]

Fish are your best bet. Six lines and other wrassses are good at eating them. Various damsels eat them, i had a sapphire damsel that ate them.

 

[steveb]

Halichoeres melanurus will absolutely decimate flatworms.

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Hoeven's Wrasse

 

[CypressReefer]

Flatworm exit will get rid of it. Fishes r hit or miss

 

[steveb]

Flatworm exit will get rid of it. Fishes r hit or miss

OP was looking for a non chemical treatment..

I've heard that wrasses eat them, is there another method that doesn't involve chemicals?

Every melanurus wrasse I have ever owned is a flatworm predator.

 

[PSXerholic]

Red Planaria is actually good Food for many wrasses and some other marine pets.

Very occasional it can come to an outbreak due to high nutrients for example.
Keep it under control with Fishes and Dragonets and tank will be OK.

However, if needed, Salifert Flatworm Exit can kill them once and forever if 2-3 Treatments are performed, since the FE won't kill unborn planarias.
Lot of carbon is required to strip the toxins, leading to a bit of a shock, if the tank is not used to carbon, hence SPS burn is sometimes the results.
But that is not an actual result of the FE directly.

Cheers,
-Andre

 

[oguzman]

I think I might try one of the wrasses mentioned above. The Halichoeres melanurus looks absolutely stunning. I'm just afraid it will harass my feather duster or my cleaner and peppermint shrimp. THANK YOU fellow reefers!!