Acropora Eating Flatworms (AEFW)

[monte87ss]

My husband (I'm actually using his login right now) is finally getting me interested in this whole saltwater aquarium stuff but to his dismay it has led to many, I'm sure quite obnoxious, questions. Last month we set up our third tank, a 55gal. We've been busy ;ately and since it has finally cycled, I thought I would go to the lfs and get him a decent clean up crew. I picked up a dozen hermit crabs, some peppermints but I forgot the snails. So, after work I went to another lfs with the intentions of only picking up a few snails. Ended up with 20 snails, 10 more hermit crabs and a few more peppermints. Anyways, when we got home he did a water change. After the water change we noticed a few of the roundish looking flatworms. I've done a bit of research and I believe them to be AEFW. The only thing in this tank is some live sand, live rock and the items mentioned above that were purchased today. My intentions with this tank is to be a fish only because he already has two reef tanks. Here's my question...

With this being my only tank, and my first one at that, I want to make sure I keep it as healthy as possible. He says since I don't have any acro in the tank the worms will die off and I have nothing to worry about. But from what I've read it looks like they are impossible to completely irradicate. Should I be worried or are they all just going to die off? And, should I go buy him a new siphon and net for his other tanks since they've been in mine? I don't want there being any chance of them transferring to his tanks. He says it should be fine but I know we have a lot of money invested in the other tanks and I would hate for anything to happen to them. Should I just take his advice, relax, and let the worms die off or should I be looking for a way to kill the little *******s?

Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks ahead of time.
Rachel

 

[lilrobb]

If you can see them with the naked eye, most likely planaria...

 

[frantz]

if they are AEFW then they will starve without food in a FO tank. Separate nets/siphon are never a bad idea considering how cheap they are, but i wouldn't call them necessary by any means.

 

[monte87ss]

LilRobb;687123 wrote: If you can see them with the naked eye, most likely planaria...

This may sound stupid but I thought planaria and flatworms were the same thing. What's the difference? I'm trying to post a picture of what they look like. I found a good one online. And so far I have seen three of whatever these little guys are in the tank on the glass.

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[lilrobb]

Planaria and AEFW are both flatworms.

Like Ferrari and Ford are both cars - just totally different ones...

 

[monte87ss]

LilRobb;687137 wrote: Planaria and AEFW are both flatworms.

Like Ferrari and Ford are both cars - just totally different ones...

Gotcha. So that picture that I posted, are they bad to have in a fo tank?

 

[mvm]

No. AEFW are very small. It's virtually impossible that you have them in your tank w/o acros.

 

[acroholic]

MvM;687142 wrote: No. AEFW are very small. It's virtually impossible that you have them in your tank w/o acros.

+1, except that AEFWs can get decent size, but without SPS corals you wouldn't have them.

 

[Jaycen B.]

monte87ss;687136 wrote: This may sound stupid but I thought planaria and flatworms were the same thing. What's the difference? I'm trying to post a picture of what they look like. I found a good one online. And so far I have seen three of whatever these little guys are in the tank on the glass.

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Harmless algae eater.

 

[monte87ss]

Jaycen B.;687197 wrote: Harmless algae eater.

Not that I am trying to discredit your comment about this thing being a "harmless algae eater," but do you have, or know of, any reputable source in which I can learn more about these things. Especially any information as to how to get rid of them. The other day there were only 3 but so far today I have seen 6. I'd really rather get rid of them then have them in the tank.

 

[Jaycen B.]

http://melevsreef.com/id/clear_flatworm.html">http://melevsreef.com/id/clear_flatworm.html</a>

You will have to find something that eats them, like a wrasse or manarin or something because flatworme exit will not kill this type of flatworm IME.

 

[monte87ss]

Jaycen B.;687554 wrote: http://melevsreef.com/id/clear_flatworm.html">http://melevsreef.com/id/clear_flatworm.html</a>

You will have to find something that eats them, like a wrasse or manarin or something because flatworme exit will not kill this type of flatworm IME.[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much for the advice. I will try to do a little more research to see which types of fish eat them because this morning I saw several more that were much smaller. I just don't want the tank overrun by them. :)