White worms

[Kissyboots]

I cleaned the cory tank today due to the recent death of one of the older ones (most likely pop-eye and/or dropsy, thanks Helena )

In the tank I discovered a U.F.O. (unidentified floating object)

It looked like a thin string, when stretched out, approx. 1 cm in length. It wiggled! When I cleaned, I found another in the filter which was a little longer than the first. It was also moving, even though no current was present. I did an 80% water change and cleaned all the decor (two fake plants and the ugly castle thingy), but discovered no others.

What's in there:
6.6 gallon cory breeding tank
24 baby cories
two fake plants
one ugly castle thingy
conditioned tap water

NitrAte: 0
NitrIte: 0
Ammonia: .25
pH: 7.6

What was that? Could it return?
All help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Helena21]

Probably planaria worms. Do a google search and look on google images too so you can see what they look like.

 

[Kissyboots]

Hmmm. That's probably what they were. From what I found here, the only thing that could get rid of them is water changes...?

But how did they even get in there? Will they come back?

 

[Helena21]

Im not sure how they get in there, but they are completely harmless. I thought they usually appeared in tanks with gravel...but you havent got gravel in your 6.6 have ya?
Hmmm. You will probably see them every now and again, but dont worry about them lol. They might just dissapear....

 

[Kissyboots]

Ok, I just found another one in the tank this morning. They're back!!

I took it out and put it under the microscope. Here is a rough drawing of what it looked like...

That doesn't look like planaria to me. What is it?

 

[Kissyboots]

Oh come on! Someone's gotta know what this is! I don't want it killing my cories!!

 

[Lotus]

Have a look here: ShrimpNow !!! - Content - Resource Library - Basic of Invertebrates Keeping - Part I: Bugs and Worms ID Article

I'm not sure if it's planaria or not. The hairs on the sides make it look like it's not.

I highly doubt it's harmful to your fry, though. If you're not already, remove uneaten food/waste from the tank every few days. A turkey baster is great for doing that. Removing the excess food/poop will help get rid of the wormy things.

 

[Kissyboots]

I found two more today! I did an almost 90% wc two days ago and now they're back. I also added bacteria starter.

Now I'm wondering if that's where they're coming from. I checked the expiration date but it says Sept. 2009. Not overdue.

Where are they coming from??

(I also looked at them through the microscope again and I think the pointy end is their head)

 

[emmanuelchavez]

what bacteria starter are you using? None of them work like BioSpira.

I once got what I thought was a bacteria starter...... it was just glorified ammonia!

 

[Kissyboots]

I'm writing off the bottle:

PROQUATICS
Bacteria Starter for aquariums
Improves the development of your biological filter and helps keep a balanced aquarium
Helps eliminate toxic ammonia and nitrite
Use to set up and maintain a fresh or salt water aquarium

Edit: I got this stuff with the previously owned 20g. I also bought "stress zyme" from API for the 20g when I had pH problems because I didn't realize I already had this stuff. But that's empty now.

Both liquids are/were purple and have/had the same smell. So I'm assuming they are the same, right?

 

[Kissyboots]

I cleaned the cory tank today and found 2 more. After I added the new water there was still one in there. Not a problem right?

Then I cleaned my 5g. THERE WERE WORMS EVERYWHERE!!!

I'm hoping they aren't a problem. It makes sense though since there's gravel in there. It's just...disgusting. I don't want to stick my whole arm in there!

Anyway, I've only noticed these worms after I started using the "reverse osmosis" water that we just got. Does that even have anything to do with these sudden appearance of worms??

 

[Sticky Fish]

ever try aquarium salt? i have a friend who swears by it.