That's a good idea. Although Seahorses prefer height to a tank. Why not try again to find a tall tank, and then you can breed Mandarins and Seahorses? Btw, getting Mandarins to breed is the easy part as it is quite common in mixed reef tanks. Collecting eggs and raising the fry is the bigger challenge.

So the tank is cycling nicely.

However... there are flat worms.

What is the best route to eradicate them now... before adding fish?

I do not want to add any fish to do the job. I know spotted Mandarins love flat worms.... but do Blue mandarins also eat them?

I also have heard people say reduced light cycle and/or running actinic only may help.

Has anyone got advice for me?

Again,

This is a Mandarin ONLY tank being set... so adding fish is not an option. It has sand, rock, chaeto as well as Kenya tree and GSP. I do not want to also eradicate the POD population I have built up to prepare for the Mandarin additions.... if possible.

Thanks.

I'm not sure if you've seen this? - http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

Keep in mind that any medication that kill flatworms will also kill the pods. I don't see a way around that.

- Brad

Blue velvet nudibranch will do the job to a t

Salifert Flatworm Exit won`t hurt pods.

My buddy Jason had some Blue Life Flatworm Control.

Anyone else tried this product? He said it MAY not be as good as Salifert. I can't seem to find reviews on it.

I got flatworms also in my seahorse/mandarin tank got it from a lfs store when i got some macro algae. I just added the physchedallic mandarin last night and i see he is picking at the already, dont know if he is just sampling but i saw him nip a few.

The fattest and heathest mandarins and spotted mandarins I've ever seen were in a tank that had a flatworm problem.

Yes. Spotted Mandarins do eat FWs. I used one to clear my original 20G and they do a bang up job.

However, I plan to add Blue Mandarins, and I am not finding anything that states they too will devour them.

Anyone else seen Blues eat flatworms.

Wes let me know what your results are please.

I can confirm too through experience that Salifert's flatworm exit won't harm your pods. Depending on the size of the FW population though have a pile of carbon and a large water change ready to go.