Red flat worms, need some advice

I have recently set up a 24 gal nano. Its in the 3rd week of cycling and everything is going well except I noticed tonight a few rusty colored flat things that seem to be moving on my rock. This is the first time I have noticed them as I usually inspect my tank very regularly. There is nothing as far a live stock in the tank as its just completing is cycle. Just wondering if I should treat the tank now before anything gets added and before they get out of control, and if so what do u guys recommend? Also is this going to cause a cycle again and kill off all the beneficial critters that came on the rock?
Thanks

 

Must have come in on the rock.

I highly recommend using Flatworm exist at least 2 treatments at this point.

While a significant pest you have caught it early and saved yourself a major headache later.

Flatworm exit will not affect the beneficial bacteria but you will have to do some major water changes and run some carbon after use.

I would not purchase any further products other than dry supplies from whatever distributor you got the rocks from.

Good Luck

 

If you just have a few of them, I'd hold fire on anything chemical, and simply siphon them out as you see them. If you use airline tubing with a rigid tubing "wand", you can get a lot of dwell time without removing a lot of water.

It's really all in how you want to deal with them at this point, but I personally dislike dosing my tanks if I don't have to do so.

 

There are a few ways you can attack this. Here are a couple:
1. syphon them out like stated above.
2. use a fish to control them. A small wrasse would be a good place to start. (this is what I would do)
3. Pull all of your rock, bleach it and start over

 

Are they really that bad? Maybe not as good as pods but is there really a lot of harm they can do?

 

If you have a sudden die off, their toxins could crash your tank. That, and most think they are unsightly.

 

I have seen absolutely horrendous infestation of the type of FW the op posted about. So many that they cover the rocks and smoother the corals.

Some FW are now resistant to Flatworm exit.

It makes no sense to buy a fish soley for the purpose of eating FW if you are not including that fish in your stocking plan.

Nuke them while the tank is cycling instead of taking subtle interventions.

I have known two LFS that had infestations they could not cure.

I would not wish this type of FW on my worst enemy. While I am not sure of the exact ID as there are thousands of different types I would not risk it in a tank newly set up.

 

A lot of the fish I buy are for one purpose or another. Rabbit Fish for algae, sixline and leopard for pests (they took out what few redbugs I had and some monti eating nudies). Is their sole purpose for pest control? Nope it isn't. They sure do a good job at it.

 

Thanks for all the advice. At this point while there is still nothing in the tank I have ordered the flat worm exit and gonna give it a go and see how it works out. I would really rather not have to nuke it and start all over, that is going to be an absolute last resort. At this point I have time on my side and can wait and see if they return after the treatments and multiple water changes.

 

They can double their population in six hours, so you better hurry.