Angel tail and water trouble

[Miss Dib Dabs]

My 55g was looking a little cloudy (I literally do mean just a bit) yesterday so I did a smallish water change and tried (for the first time ever) filter aid which is supposed to clear the water. What happened after was horrid. The water went murky and could barely see the back of the tank. I decided to give it time to settle and clear but it didn't and at 10pm last night I did another small change to try and help it. It was then I saw some free swimming wriggly white wormlike creatures!
This morning one of the angels tails looks slightly damaged at the end but no darkness indicating fin rot. The fish is obviously irritated aswell by the fact it is twitching like something is irritating it's skin.
I plan on yet another w/c today in an attempt to get the water looking better (Ought to point out ammonia and nitrIte at 0 and nitrAte approx 12. PH is a smidge under 8.) but what can I do to help the angel and to rid the tank of these obvious parasites!
Hugs,
P.
Edit:Have just completed a large water change, approx 20-25g worth.
Have done a half dose of fin rot med for the angels tails but I can still see a few of these small white free swimming wormlike things in the water.

 

[black angel]

the white worms are planaria and though harmless are unsightly.
I would do 40% water changes each day with a good gravel vac each time. After a week of this do the same water changes twice a week. I would cut back on feeding and clean out the filter more often.
The angel might just not be happy with the water quality.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

^Thanks for the reply. I spoke to some friends at the lfs and they told me they are harmless if icky too. Having done the 40% today the water is spot on again and looking far better. They weren't overly shocked that the filter aid stuff had made it worse. Needless to say i won't use it again but just continue my regular changes. I tend to do 3 smallish ones per week in the less mature tanks and the others get a medium sized change once a week. More if needed. I also have live plants in all of them which really does make a difference. I have such crystal clear water in my older tanks that to see even slight cloudiness made my react where all I should have done was a few extra larger changes. Ah well.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Kopix Nation]

I have whiteworms too. But my fish eat them.

claire