Flatworms

[riptide]

I am preparing a 55gallon refugium for my new 150gal tank and have noticed an infestation of flatworms in the fuge... The 150 is not up and running yet, and I suspect the flatworms came in on some Caulerpa I seeded the fuge with. The tanks will exchange water in a mixing sump of 37gallons with the overflow from both tanks dropping through a 100 micron filter sock so I dont think the will make it into my large tank.. I have designed the sump to provide 100% water exchange between the tanks while retaing the ability to run at dfiffering flow rates...

Do I need to be concerned with the flatworms in the fuge??? Is there an animal other than a cuke that feasts on this ugly creature???

 

[scuba_steve]

six line wrasse from what i read

 

[colorblindpicas]

According to the Oceanographic Series book on inverts the “Head Shield Nudibranch” (Chelidomura) loves eating flat worms. But you’d have to make sure your “infestation” sustained itself at least a little bit because that’s all they eat. The book also warns that they are easily harmed by intake tubes. They are fairly attractive looking IMHO. In my tank, I have a 6 line wras that seems to keep them under control. I sometimes see them in the fuge, but have watched him eat the only ones I have ever seen in the main tank.