| Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: Flatworms Posted: September 02 2010 at 4:33pm |
Mark Peterson wrote:
Fish are great Flatworm eaters if they are hungry enough. Besides the Six-line, other fish that eat flatworms are Yellow-tail Blue Damsels, Mandarins and some other wrasses, one especially good wrasse whose name I don't recall now, but I believe it starts with the letter M.
Show us your tank by posting a few pics. It could help us help you. To get fish to eat things like Flatworms, it is sometimes necessary to stop the feeding. Let them go hungry and they will search for other food in the tank.
There is another medication, much cheaper than FW Exit. It is a pig medication called Levamisole.
When using any medication, we have found that it is better to utilize a sequence of increasingly larger doses. I have discussed this here on the MB many times regarding Flatworm Exit. Basically you start with a 10% dosage (1 drop FW Exit per 10 gallons) and see if the flatworms start to wiggle and move around. If they don't show signs of irritation in about 5-10 minutes, add another 10% dosage. When you see some flatworms releasing their hold and floating around the tank, wait 30-45 minutes and then add a bag of AC (Activated Carbon) in a place of good flow, typically this is near an intake or if you have a HOB filter use that. Don't use a so called "AC Reactor" That works too slowly. The next day remove the AC and repeat the procedure above. This dosage will probably reach 50% before the remaining flatworms start to die. Repeat this each day until the dosage has reached 100-200% and no flatworms are left. Don't forget to add the AC after the last, largest dosage.
There are two extremely important reasons for using Flatworm Exit according to this slow dosage procedure rather than the manufacturers directions.
1. ** Some tanks have so many flatworms, many of them hidden, that the full dosage overwhelms the tank with dead flatworms releasing lethal toxins into the water and even with major water changes, fish and coral may be lost. The slow dosing procedure puts NO fish or coral at risk of death. 2. The trouble and effort of siphoning flatworms and doing a massive water change is completely unnecessary with the slow dosing method. 
|
Ok i took sometime to find this post. no signs of flatworms any other place than my cup coral. Started noticing them 48 hours ago only on my cup coral nowhere else as far as i inspeced.
3.19 pm i remove the activated carbon
3.21 pm added six drops with is equal to the 60G of my water volume
3.24 pm i see that flatworms are starting to move,
3.26 pm Button polyp tentacles retracted.
3.43 pm flatworms still moving no sign of any i see floating to the top
3.58 pm turn off skimmer, added another six drops
4.20 pm flatworms still moving, no sign of them losing hold and floating to the top in the cup coral.
4.50 pm flatworms still moving on the cup corals no sign of losing their hold.
5.20 pm Added AC to remove medication and will medicate tomorrow
Note
I just saw one flatworm lose it hold on the leather, not same species as the flatworm in the cup coral. Hopefully 20% of the dosage has killed some of the flatworm
Ok at 2.30 added 150% of dosage and decided to physically remove the flatworms i saw only 3 where present on my cup coral. at 3.20 added AC to remove any toxin left by flatworms and FWE. im looking forward to see no more FW during the future
Edited by SGH360 - September 03 2010 at 4:31pm
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 11:07am |
Today i decided to do it early.
9/3
9.00 am remove AC and turn off skimmer. Added 6 drops of FWE
9.10 am no sign of movement added 6 drops of FWE
9.20 am no sign of movement added 6 drops of FWE
9.30 am no sign of movement added 6 drops of FWE
9.40 am no sign of movement added 6 drops of FWE notice couple of FW turning black?
9.50 am no sign of movement in the cup coral, added another 6 drops of FWE. a few more started to turn black. whats going on?
10.00 am no sign of movenment on the cup coral decided add 6 more drops
|
 |
Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 11:50am |
|
How large is your tank?
Not to contradict Mark, but if you are sure there a very few flatworms in your tank I would do a full dose of FWE give it a good hour or so and then run a large amount carbon to remove the FWE and the flatworm poisons. Very easy, very quick and usually you get the flatworms in one dose.
|
 |
rwccomptech
Guest
Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Magna
Status: Offline
Points: 505
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 11:57am |
|
He already stated its a 60g
|
|
Ron
20g
60x turnover
30" current pc fixture
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 11:58am |
|
ok guess i'll will dose the 40% that remains because those flatworms are not responding that ones on cup coral. or should i dose 60 drops? 100%
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 11:59am |
rwccomptech wrote:
He already stated its a 60g |
I counted the volue of the sump and the DT i dont know if i needed to add the sump to the water volume
|
 |
Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:03pm |
|
Somehow I missed the tank size. Sorry. Yes definately add the sump water to the total volume.
You know as I re-read Marks info I thought I'd go check out my tank that has had flatworms in it. I've been meaning to FWE soon, but haven't gotten around to it. As I looked now to see how bad it was I could not find a single flatworm. This makes me wonder if the school of 7 Yellowtail Damsels have been munching on them since I have also been lax about feeding my fish. Could be. I'll keep a closer eye on the tank and see if I can find any flatworms, but I've looked pretty close this morning and see none.
|
 |
Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:05pm |
|
I would start by bringing the total amount of FWE up to 100% rather than dosing another 100%. I believe the instructions state that if 100% does not work you can still dose more.
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:11pm |
|
ok i'll those the rest. some of the flatworms are turning black? whats going on? ok im getting real annoyned this things show no sign of distress i already dosed 100% im thinking i got a dud FWE
Edited by SGH360 - September 03 2010 at 12:28pm
|
 |
Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:28pm |
|
Honestly, I have no idea. Hopefully they are getting sick and starting to die.
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:37pm |
|
When I had flatworms I bought a sixline wrasse, took him maybe a week or two and I saw no signs of them again.
|
|
Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 12:38pm |
bstuver wrote:
When I had flatworms I bought a sixline wrasse, took him maybe a week or two and I saw no signs of them again. |
I do have a six line but i want to wipe them out. before they get out of control. it really annoying i poke them with a stick and yup still alive  oh man wish they could just float and die so i can setup my 75G already
Edited by SGH360 - September 03 2010 at 12:46pm
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 1:15pm |
|
I use a suction thing and pulled whatever ones I could see.
|
|
Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
|
 |
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 2:14pm |
|
Are you sure they are flatworms?
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
 |
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: September 03 2010 at 2:30pm |
yea flat red looking jello blobs, they reacted to the 20% of FWE yesterday they were moving all over the cup coral. today with 150% i see no movement wth? i pic the flatworms that i physically removed by hand which was only 3 they did not even stuggle when i touch them they just shrunk still showing life do not know if thats a good sign. they look nasty i know but here they are
Edited by SGH360 - September 03 2010 at 3:14pm
|
 |