Is it a copepod or something else?

Well, that sucks about the flat worms. I've seen some flatworms that look different at my LFS. They had a softy tank plagued with them and they didn't look like the ones I have. It may be a different variant.

But it's true, they started to multiply quickly. I'll try to get them with the pipette if they're not too strongly attached to the glass. And the good thing is that they only seem to be in the sump.

Check back later, I'll try to get a pic of the E.T head worm if he ever comes out. Snails are all over the corner where he lives and he won't come out. I may move the snails to encourage him a bit

Oh! By the way... what's the good about flat worms? Don't they eat zoas?

- Mag.

 

Update:

The pipette works very well to get them out of there. It took me about 20 minutes and I can't see any more of them. I'm sure they're there, but they're not out in the open. Probably in the cheato ball and LR rubble. You need one of the 11 or 12" long pipettes though.. otherwise you'll be in for a long sitting. A turkey baster may work, but it may get too much water, which is important if you don't make your own RO water.

Oh! And the E.T finger headed worm still doesn't come out.... don't know what's up with him tonight... but I'm getting ready to just go to bed and try again tomorrow

 

Yeah just keep it up every time you see some. I got some in some coral skeleton from my LFS. They'd just crawl out of the hole and swim to the glass. It took me a few days of dropping everything each time I saw a few survivors but I managed to get them all out.
I don't think it would hurt your chaeto to give it a freshwater dunk in a bucket and you could seltzer water the rubble or iodine dip it. I think that would get em shaken up and off those items at least. I know they bailed out of that piece of coral skelly when I dropped it in a bucket of straight r/o.

 

Those particular flatworms are harmless acoels and not anything you have to worry about.

 

Really? I was under the impression that even though some don't eat certain corals they still are a threat because the population becomes so dense they actually smother corals. Learn something everyday.

 

Would you happen to know this species scientific name? I would like to research it more to be fully informed on what to expect.

I'm currently still getting them out with the pipette. They have reproduced super fast (triple the population in a matter of 3-4 days) and scared me to see so many. I have them currently in a cup since last night... they're quite the survivors.

- Mag.

 

It varies from species to species as to whether something is harmless or harmful.

The species in the acoel genus Convolutriloba reproduce very rapidly, covering tank walls, rock, & corals. Of the 4 species in the genus 2 reproduce by budding off new individuals from one of the tail lobes while the other two reproduce by splitting off the entire hind end. They all contain symbiotic green zoochlorellae & eat micro-inverts like rotifers, copepods, tiny polychaetes, & crustacean larvae like Artemia naupli. They don't smother or damage corals directly but it's thought that high densities of Convolutriloba will prevent needed light from reaching photosynthetic corals. Also, most reefers just don't like how their tanks look when covered with flatworms. They do have toxic compounds in their gland cells. A dying flatworm will emit secretions which will cause other flatworms nearby to die & release secretions. In high enough numbers this can sicken or kill other tank inhabitants.

Another acoel genus, Waminoa, is a commensal. It's not known if this one is toxic but as they only live on corals these really can cause damage by shading their hosts. Even if it doesn't release toxins at death if the population is huge a die-off will create parameter spikes.

Magnus, the ones you have belong to an acoel group that requires specialized techniques in order to identify the species. Take a look at the papers of Matthew Hooge if you want to see just how specialized. I identify worms for my living & I couldn't possibly id one of these! If you frequently clean your tank glass & hard surfaces it will help keep the population down.

"Evaluation of chemical eradication methods of acoels (Acoelomorpha) from marine aquaria" by Andrew Lynford Feature Article: Evaluation of Chemical Eradication Methods of Acoels (Acoelomorpha) From Marine Aquaria | Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine is an excellent source of information about this group & how to control them.

 

Wow! Your post was a pleasure to read. I will read that paper tomorrow with a bit more time. But I really appreciate the input. Very interesting indeed.

So.... you ID worms for a living? What's the job title? sounds interesting... Are you like a forensic detective that check the worms out of dead people?

Well... I will like to ID these guys... so unless chem test are required, I'll read the paper and see. I just didn't like how fast they reproduced/split themselves into new flatworms and in so little time! I extrapolated that into a month and decided they can't stay. They're too noticeable and not the type of creature you'd like to display

But, If I can control their numbers and keep them in the sump only, I may try to leave a few.

Thanks for the reply. Very informative.

 

Worms are interesting, aren't they?

My official title is Collection Manager, Polychaetes, and the primary focus is taking care of the museum's preserved polychaetes & helping others use it. Part of the job is identifying specimens. I also do IDs as a consultant for ecological & pollution studies. No one's ever asked me to check worms from a body (thank goodness).

To id these you'll have to know where your critters came from & get all the relevant literature with descriptions. Next you'll need a shelf full of chemicals, dissecting, compound, & confocal microscopes, a microtome, embedding epoxy, and a microwave oven. Good luck!

 

Crap!! I guess I'll just get them out then... too much work and they do in fact reproduce ultra fast and I don't like them in my tank.