Help with bugs in refugium

kristybe · 06-08-2006, 09:32 PM

Just purchased a full set up 125g reef tank. Multiple corals and a few fish. I was checking today and saw a lot of small bugs in the refugium. Some of them are white....copepods??? and some red????? I am concerned about "redbugs". We don't have any Acropora, so are redbugs even a problem? What are these things? First time poster so I hope I loaded the pics right.

ChrisPrusha · 06-08-2006, 11:02 PM

I'm not sure what that is. I do know that acro bugs need acros to survive...without acros, they die fairly quickly. Hopefully someone else will chime in on what they are.

Welcome aboard, too!! w00000000000000000000000t!!!

Ms. K · 06-09-2006, 05:04 PM

They look like flatworms. Some flatworms are bad for corals; some are not. If I'm not mistaken, the type you have are not harmful to corals. They just don't look very pleasing in your tank. The right kind of fish will eat them.

ChrisPrusha · 06-09-2006, 08:04 PM

I have seen threads describing the red ones as harmful, and others describing them as okay, just ugly.

Here is a fairly recent thread that you might want to take a look at:

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showth...=red+flatworms

kristybe · 06-09-2006, 08:38 PM

Thanks, I read the other posts. It seems like they are probably red flatworms.

The post say to try Flatworm exit. Is this safe for all corals, inverts etc.... I have several (more than 30 different) corals, inverts etc....

Is there a fish that is reef safe and may eat these flatworms? The bugs only appear to be in the refugium. I can't find any in the main tank???? All the corals seem to be doing fine.

customshopguy · 06-18-2006, 05:25 PM

They are flatworms. the best thing you can do is to get the most out as possible and then treat with flatworm exit. I've found using a piece of airline on a stick to start a siphon works pretty good to get them out. when you use the flatworm exit get them out as they die and follow up with a big water change. also you should use twice the reccommended dose of the exit for it to actually kill all of them. Hope this helps.
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clint

monkeyreefer · 06-19-2006, 08:49 AM

spotted mandarins eat them, as well as yellow/gold damsels. id try a natural preditor before any chemical

ChrisPrusha · 06-19-2006, 08:53 AM

I would continue to suck them out with a siphon at water change time. You will win this battle...it just may take a while.

kristybe · 06-20-2006, 08:57 PM

For now they are only in the refugium. I think our checkerboard wrasse may be eating them. They don't seem to be bothering any of the corals seeing that they are not apparent in the main tank. I will just leave them alone and siphon at water change time as you all suggested.

Right now I am currently battling the mistake of using red slime remover in the tank. I think I am officially against chemicals if at all possible in the tank.

Thanks for everyone's help!

ChrisPrusha · 06-20-2006, 09:26 PM

Kristy...I didn't see a thread in GRD about your situation concerning red slime remover (although I very possibly just missed it).

What happened?

Little Luey · 06-21-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristybe

For now they are only in the refugium. I think our checkerboard wrasse may be eating them. They don't seem to be bothering any of the corals seeing that they are not apparent in the main tank. I will just leave them alone and siphon at water change time as you all suggested.

Why not throw one in the main tank to see if the fish really eats it? Just be ready with a net in case he doesn't.

Welcome aboard!!

kristybe · 06-21-2006, 05:23 PM

Well the red slime remover made the skimmer go crazy!! corals started sliming and closing up.....finally I rearranged my Caulerpa iin the refugium to absorb more of the bubbles so they wouldn't reenter the tank. Everyone is happy again and the bubbles are now back to normal in the skimmer. Red slime is gone!

The is a post in the GRD. under "Red slime Remover".

Loverotties · 06-21-2006, 05:32 PM

Flat worms!