Can you help me identify this?

[Rudolf]

I've seen these every now and then in my tank. It is about 1mm wide by 2.5mm long. What are they?

 

[returnofsid]

Yep, Flatworm. Red Planaria. Not as much of a nuisance as some say, but they can reproduce very quickly. If left unchecked, they can grow to such a population that they cover your corals, reducing or even eliminating the light that the corals receive. If treated chemically, be very careful to remove as many as you can before treatment AND after treatment. When they die, they become very toxic to your corals. Don't underestimate the strength of their dead toxicity either. Also, don't underestimate how many you could possibly have. Like, hundreds for each one you actually see...lol.

 

[Rudolf]

So, this one on my glass I am staring at right now.... should I squish it with my mag scraper? Or should I try to use a turkey baster to remove it?

I don't see them very often. Should I treat the tank? (8 gal biocube) Or should I just remove them as I see them?

 

[returnofsid]

Start with removing as you see them. Pay special attention to low flow areas. They don't handle flow very well, so tend to congregate in low flow areas. I wouldn't worry about chemical treatment just yet. Even if you find a lot more, you can put a filter sock on your water change hose, siphon out water through the filter sock, sucking up all you can see. The filter sock will catch them and you can put the water back in your tank. Chemical filtration with Flatworm Exit is a treatment to use when all else fails. There are also fish that eat them, though in an 8 gallon tank, you don't have a lot of fish options.

Suck it out with a turkey baster.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Is a planaria, but a little light for a red planaria.
Perhaps due to the lighting but I agree with returnofsid

 

[mfinn]

I had those exact same ones( transparent green with red dot) in my zoanthid tank once. Added a six line wrasse and they disappeared.

 

[tamarindthai]

Finn,,that the cure word and the eco balanced,,wrease