Flatworms ... I like Flatworms (not really)
As if Aiptasia anemones weren't nuisance enough, now we have these little buggers to contend with.
It can be difficult to rid ones tank of flatworms. Our 24-gallon AquaPod has an infestation of your common Rust Brown Flatworm (or Convolutriloba retrogemma, for you true fish geeks out there).
I should preface that we got a Six Line Wrasse to help, but he jumped into the back of the tank and croaked before we even got a chance to put him to work. Next we thought about getting a Blue Velvet Nudibranch to eradicate the flatworms, but after the untimely death of Nudi Giuliani and then the Six Line, we thought it best to try something new.
Fortunately, Jeremy from Blue Life USA visited the office recently and dropped us off some supplies to help us remedy the problem.
He advised us to check our Phosphate level using a 2-part solution test kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Heeding his instructions, we learned our Phosphate was nearly 0.0 ppm, so there was no need to use the Blue Life Phosphate Control he so generously provided us.
The box for Blue Life's Flatworm Control states that you should "add 2 drops of Flatworm Control for every 10 gallons of water."
That's where we're at as of this writing. Since flatworms can be toxic to aquarium inhabitants, we'll be performing a 25% water change once the results are visible.
I'll report back soon to let you know how everything worked out!
Posts
hey jeffry,
ReplyDeletei'd suggest two things....first being, the aggressive use of carbon when dosing the blue life product....in conjunction with water changes it will help remove the toxins from the dead flatworms and keep your acropora (singular ;o) ) happy.
the second suggestion i have, is try using a hanna po4 meter, d-d kit, or even the new elos kits you guys are now selling to measure po4. the API kit does not have the resolution to accurately test it. in general if you have algae, you have po4.
let us know how the flatworm adventure goes.
e&f
Nooooooooo.. Flat worms suck. Though I havent experienced them myself I have friends that have. They seem to move pretty quick and they multiply fast.
ReplyDeleteFlatworms... I like Flatworms (REALLY)
ReplyDeleteBefore putting your tanks on chemotherapy, try to determine which acoels you have. For the most part, it's pretty much just the acroporid-eaters that folks should be concerned about. Most acoels are harmless to the tank and its denizens, but as the poster has stated, killing Convolutrilobids will result in release of toxins. For more info on identifying Convolutrilobids, go to http://macropyga.googlepages.com/identification
Tom
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Drew and I am conducting flatworm research at Hofstra University in Hempstead New York. I would love for you to check out a survey I created to document flatworm infestations. Your answers will be included in a my graduate research
as part of a real time distribution map that will document this phenomenon across the United States.
The Link is:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tHdxBtKxI5_2fbbWrqOswQ9g_3d_3d
Thanks,
Drew Lynford
Elmont New York
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