Free - AEFW

WarDog · #1 06-08-2014, 12:48 AM

Sorry to hear about the flatworms.

I see on your new build you will have a Zeo system. Were you not using it on the tank you are tearing down? Did you use the flatworm stop? Has anybody used it?
I ask because I am starting my system with Zeo and I was planning to use the flatworm stop from the get go.
Guess I am asking if your flatworm problem could have been avoided if you used this product (without being insensitive about your losses)?
Following along with the new build!

Proteus · #2 06-08-2014, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarDog

Sorry to hear about the flatworms.

I see on your new build you will have a Zeo system. Were you not using it on the tank you are tearing down? Did you use the flatworm stop? Has anybody used it?
I ask because I am starting my system with Zeo and I was planning to use the flatworm stop from the get go.
Guess I am asking if your flatworm problem could have been avoided if you used this product (without being insensitive about your losses)?
Following along with the new build!

Flatworm stop does not stop the flatworms from existing. It makes the tissue of the coral thicker giving a bit more resistant. Also flatworm stop needs a min of three months before you may see a benefit

It's also good for richer colors

Aquattro · #3 06-08-2014, 01:38 AM

Zeo has nothing to do with flatwormStop, and no, I haven't used it. As Proteus said, it doesn't stop them, just slows them down. Using it for no reason sounds expensive, and I think the money is better spent on dip and a magnifying glass. Dipping all incoming pieces, every.single.time should avoid them. I go them because I missed dipping a couple pieces that I shortly after realized were infected. I thought I'd got the affected frag out in time, but apparently not

As for losses, I've only lost one full piece, and half of another. So far no other coral has shown them after dipping.

WarDog · #4 06-08-2014, 02:29 AM

Good info, thanks guys!

Ryan7 · #5 06-11-2014, 12:23 AM

Have you considered powerhead and wrasse method?

I have AEFW in my 325G, there was no way I was going to take 30 plus colonies out and dip/frag them ect...

I have 2x 6line wrasses, melanarus, 3x blueside fairy, 3x lubbocks, 2x leopard.

Powerheading the colonies every chance I get, which ends up to be only once a week (not enought at first). Flatworms fly off and get eaten by the wrasses. So far I have noticed improvement in the colonies. On a few in particular the coral has healed where there had been bite marks, and no further signs of distress.

I have heard some of the great German tanks have had success with this also.

This may only be a means of control, but time will tell....

Aquattro · #6 06-11-2014, 12:30 AM

Not something I wanted to do. Not fond of wrasses, and I'm not going through the tank with a power head twice a week. And so far, it seems it was only 2 colonies that had any. Weird. But, it's an excuse to rebuild and the new tank will hopefully fulfill a vision I missed with the current tank.

I am willing to bet that if I had just left things alone, the corals would have been fine (mostly)

trilinearmipmap · #7 06-11-2014, 03:41 PM

I am really interested in doing some trials of various meds I have on hand to find a cure for AEFW's. Problem is I have no AEFW's. But I'd like to do it to contribute back to the hobby, and to make it safer for me to get frags in the future.

So far as I can see, there is no great financial incentive for any company to find a good cure for AEFW's, if there were, a cure would have been found.

My plan would be:

1. Choose prospective medications based on what is known about AEFW biology so far - already I have thought of a couple of candidates

2. Do efficacy assessments with AEFW's in a container of tank water to see if the med kills the AEFW's and at what dose

3. Do safety assessments by dipping a few frags for longer and longer periods of time to see if a med is tolerated and at what dose

4. If a compound passes test #2 but fails test #3, look for a related compound, or try to find a dose or combination of meds at lower doses that will work and be safe

If there is anyone with AEFW's in Vancouver who has an hour or two to experiment with AEFW treatments next time I am down there (preferably within 20-30 minutes of downtown on public transit) then lets experiment.