Planaria Reeking Havoc

[DiscusKeeper403]

My Discus are showing side effects of having a huge Planaria infestation. I just cleaned the tank, and need to think of a plan on how to get rid of them. The Discus have began to flick against objects, one has labored breathing, and one is getting a bit of a cloudy eye (not sure if its linked to Planaria or hitting it while flicking.) I am almost ready to give up, I honestly feel as if I can't do this. I want to also add that the temperature in the tank is different at each sides, so do I need to grab another heater?

How are Discus and salt? I have heard snails will eat Planaria, how are they with salt? Should I skip the salt, and go for an external parasite medication?

Any help would be greatly appreciated


Thanks,

DL

 

[jayjay]

The heater problem is either not a strong enough heater or not enough flow around the heater.

The planaria are living off something, take away that and they die. Too much food? Too much waste?

Cloudy eye is often due to poor water quality.

The symptoms you list could also mean white spot.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Just did a little research, and found out that snails won't like the salt. I think I have a plan.

Start off with some salt. I have heard it's okay for Discus, unless anyone says otherwise. 1 tablespoon per gallon?

If it doesn't clear up I will go for some external parasite medication (any ideas?)After that I will get an apple snail or two, just because I have heard they eat Planaria. Hopefully, this will do the job. (no more salt in the water after this point.)

What do you guys think?

The heater problem is either not a strong enough heater or not enough flow around the heater.The planaria are living off something, take away that and they die. Too much food? Too much waste?Cloudy eye is often due to poor water quality.The symptoms you list could also mean white spot.

Thanks, I will check Ammonia again, but I think algae is the reason why. The tank is bare-bottom, and I siphon 20 percent out once per day. I will try to get another heater, this one is only 150 watts.Last time I checked stats where:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0


No Ich has been seen, but planaria is everywhere all over the glass.

 

[jayjay]

Get rid of the food source, if you don't do that they will only come back.

Could you not get one of those magnetic algae magnets, so you don't have to put your hand in or something?

What sort of water change schedule do you have? How often do you clean the filters? What sort of filtration are you running?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Might I add, the isn't that bad. I am probably the only one that would notice. It looks normal, but at the black retina, there is a small amount of almost gray coloring to it. Just about to check stats.

Get rid of the food source, if you don't do that they will only come back.Could you not get one of those magnetic algae magnets, so you don't have to put your hand in or something?What sort of water change schedule do you have? How often do you clean the filters? What sort of filtration are you running?

Why? Should I be worried about putting my hand in? I am doing a once per day (I may skip a day depending on what my schedule is) siphon. I just add stress coat. I have two hang-on power filters, a aqua clear 70, and a liberty for 50 gallons. I haven't scrubbed the filters yet, as it has only been a month, but I have replaced the needed media. I guess I better scrub it down then huh?

 

[jayjay]

No need to worry about putting your hand in. It's just easier than sticking your hand in each day to remove algae is the problem is that bad.

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate aren't the only things that could be a problem in the water, other organic compounds and toxins from the air could be contributing.

Are you using RO water or tap water?

I always "squeeze" the filter media in tank water once a week, if it's been a month and you haven't done this I think is where your problem lies.

When you say siphon are you just removing water or are you clearing up the bottom as well?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Stats are in:Ammonia: 0Nitrite: 0Nitrate: 0

No need to worry about putting your hand in. It's just easier than sticking your hand in each day to remove algae is the problem is that bad. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate aren't the only things that could be a problem in the water, other organic compounds and toxins from the air could be contributing. Are you using RO water or tap water?I always "squeeze" the filter media in tank water once a week, if it's been a month and you haven't done this I think is where your problem lies.When you say siphon are you just removing water or are you clearing up the bottom as well?

Thanks.I am using just plain de-chlorinated tap water. Is there a way to test if there are any lost of organic compounds in the tank? The tank doesn't smell, isn't that a sign of a large amount of dissolved organic compounds?I better clean the filter when I get home from work today. I doubt I will have time to do it before hand.

 

[jayjay]

There probably is some way to test but it's unlikely to be easy to get, probably more of a science type thing.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thanks for telling me about the filter cleaning thing.


I whole bunch of crud was extracted, which was most likely the food source.


It was okay to squeeze the sponges right? Because, isn't that bacteria being squeezed out? I only did one filter today, i'll do the next tomorrow, and keep up on this regularly.

 

[blue acara]

Planaria are harmless to fish, very small fish will enjoy eating them. You may be feeding too much if you are getting these, make sure the Discus eat all the food you give and none gets sucked into the filter if possible.

If your Discus are rubbing on objects then they have flukes. You need to worm your Discus.
hereis the stuff I use to worm mine. It kills snails as well.

I'm not sure on the salt, it may do more harm than good. Why do you want to add salt?

Its ok to squeeze the filter sponges but be fairly gentle, I'd wait a few days before cleaning the second filter so the bacteria is the first is up to speed.

The forum on simplydiscus.com has some of the best Discus people on the net, its a good place to go if you need advice on Discus.

 

[Don Trinko]

You have several problems: 1. Planaria.... usualy caused by over feeding, Water changes will help.
2. possible flukes.... Prazipro and water changes will help. 3. Cloudy eye... anti bacterial medication and water change will help. Most of your problems can be caused by insuficient water changes. Depending on the bioload you should be changing anywhere from 20 to 30% twice a week to 50% or more each day. Don T.

 

[vancouver]

I don't think snails could catch planaria.. You just have to make sure you're cleaning everything often enough.

Planaria are pretty easy to avoid.. Just means you aren't cleaning the tank properly, or enough.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Planaria are harmless to fish, very small fish will enjoy eating them. You may be feeding too much if you are getting these, make sure the Discus eat all the food you give and none gets sucked into the filter if possible.If your Discus are rubbing on objects then they have flukes. You need to worm your Discus.hereis the stuff I use to worm mine. It kills snails as well.I'm not sure on the salt, it may do more harm than good. Why do you want to add salt?Its ok to squeeze the filter sponges but be fairly gentle, I'd wait a few days before cleaning the second filter so the bacteria is the first is up to speed.The forum on simplydiscus.com has some of the best Discus people on the net, its a good place to go if you need advice on Discus.

Thanks for the reply.I doubt my Discus have flukes, can't you see them? I have heard salt can get rid of Planaria. http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...aria_Worms.html Planaria will make fish jumpy, and they will tend to flick when they get into their gills. I have seen it before.

You have several problems: 1. Planaria.... usualy caused by over feeding, Water changes will help.2. possible flukes.... Prazipro and water changes will help. 3. Cloudy eye... anti bacterial medication and water change will help. Most of your problems can be caused by insuficient water changes. Depending on the bioload you should be changing anywhere from 20 to 30% twice a week to 50% or more each day. Don T.

I know my bio-load and what I need to do. I have 5 Discus, and 6 red eye tetras. I have 120 gallons of filteration and I clean the tank once per day, 20 percent water siphon (as stated on the abvoe posts.)The eye isn't cloudy anymore anyways, i'm not sure what it was caused by.

I don't think snails could catch planaria.. You just have to make sure you're cleaning everything often enough.Planaria are pretty easy to avoid.. Just means you aren't cleaning the tank properly, or enough.

Agian, I am cleaning plenty. Stats came out great.

 

[vancouver]

You cant be cleaning enough if you have planaria.. The only reason you get planaria is due to not cleaning enough.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

You cant be cleaning enough if you have planaria.. The only reason you get planaria is due to not cleaning enough.

....



Yeah, again I hadn't cleaned my filters for a month. I think that was why.



By the way, a bunch of nasty brown crud came out of it, and I mean a bunch!