General Care Discussion :: Grossed/Freaked Out

[Mom2RES]

UGH, so I spoke to soon on another thread just last night about what I did to get rid of my worms and guess what... I just went downstairs to take a close look at the tank, and it appears I have a couple planaria. Really??? I don't have a clue what else to do.

As far as I can see, I have no algae. 3 of my 4 mystery snails have even died since I took the tank apart and scrubbed. I assume they died because of lack of algae/food to eat.

I cannot have to tear the tank down, disinfect and put back together every couple of months.

So since I've found where salt kills planaria, would it be possible to take Angelina out, douse (spelling ?) the tank with salt let the salt water filter a few days, do a 50% water change (or even more), then put Angelina back in?

What is the potential harm to Angelina if I do nothing?

I am beside myself.

[steve]

Can you keep the tank dry and set the filter up on a small container?

[Mom2RES]

You mean get a tote/tub and set the filter up there and keep Angelina there while the tank dries out completely? If that's what you mean, I could do that. I have an FX5. I assume I could just dial back the flow and point the output upwards or toward the container.

You think emptying the tank and letting it completely dry will eliminate my problem? I just don't see how it is possible they lived/remained through all I did a month and a half ago. I literally washed the tank twice with vinegar and water and then while wet I put salt all over it and washed it with the wet salt mixture. I cleaned in every corner as well as everywhere else. I did the same thing with my filter and tubing, all decore, heater... everything. Sand was replaced with new.

Is there a chance they are in my biomedia in the filter? I rinsed it well, but was afraid to do anymore to it other than rinse it in tap water for fear of killing off the good stuff. I cleaned the sponges in hot vinegar and salt water. I replace the carbon and purigen.

What about bleach? Someone mentioned using bleach. I'm very reluctant to that for fear of harming Angelina.

I also don't get why she was in her 10 gallon under much less ideal conditions for six months and I never had this problem. I mean her conditions weren't bad, but she had gotten too big for the tank. I still didn't have creey crawler issues. BLAH!

Again I am beside myself. I work full-time (actually more than full-time if you count the work I bring home) and have an almost seven year old and a 2 1/2 year old. I just can't have to be taking the whole thing apart every couple of months. Time does not allow for it.

[steve]

I was actually suggesting using a tub for the filter to operate while you try different treatments for it. Finding out the source of these worms would be better... any plants or organic material near the tank?

[Mom2RES]

No, no plants or anything else even on the same level of the house. The tank is in the family room in the downstairs part of our house. Only thing down there is the family room, a half bath, an area for our washer and dryer, three closets and our garage.

I guess I'm being dense, but I don't understand about the tub and the filter... can you expand a bit? What are my treatment options?

[steve]

I was just thinking of removing the media and setting up a small container for the filter to cycle through. So it might be diluted bleach or very warm water to try and flush out the remaining worms.