I finally some good shots of these hitchhiker parasite?.. predators?,

[KingLucy1997]

TLDR: How should I proceed in dealing with this tank now that I know it has parasites but have no idea what they are?

Objective: obtain a species ID(s) of the shape/color changing flatworm-like creatures.

Pertinent details: similar (but not identical) infestation's crashed 2.5 of my previous saltwater tanks all 3 of my old freshwater tanks(all in same vicinity, infection spread from saltwater to freshwater.

Predicament:
I was planning on adding the live rock, sand, and livestock of my current 3g tank into my newly set up 29g +10g sump. But if I can’t be 100% the parasites are
Background
I have been trying to catch these critters on camera for the past few years now. My guess was some sort of flatworm that can change shape to camoflauge, they were visible only when trying to get into their host organisms or when rapid die off was occurring.
could an egg/spore of whatever those critters were survived the tank being bleached/disinvited on all surfaces and inside/outside of all equipment? Even if they could have survived
this, they would still have to survive being stored in the damp bag/box they came in up in my non-climate controlled attics for about 6 months during the MN cold half of the year.
General behavior: Appears to work as a colony, kind of like a coral, but much faster at growing and moving. I believe the individuals parasite seems be some sort of Vermintide -like worm. I think this because they live primarily in live rock. If a piece of live rock rubble was infects, it would look as if the piece had arms, legs and a face from how the worms inside the rock work control the rocks movement.
Please let me know if you disagree with any of my observations or conjectures!

 

[KingLucy1997]

Last video I’m adding with this relay show all the live rock in the 10g. After about 10-15 seconds some large looking of the creatures zones into view and you can watch how it changes shape. Or maybe I’m just seeing things! Either way I’d like to know! Currently thinking about trading in my live rock, maybe some pumps/ filter/ pippets. How should I wash the equipment so that it doesn’t cross contaminate my next tank I build using that equipment? If the only way to be sure I won’t contaminate my next tank with these parasites is to throw the live rock, aquariums, tanks, filters, heaters etc away and give back all live stock and basically start from scratch? If I have to start back up at square 1 again due to these invincible parasites I’ll find a new hobby lol.

 

[KingLucy1997]

Here is 10g video.

 

[MaxTremors]

I can’t see the videos, but what am I supposed to be seeing in the photos?

 

[KingLucy1997]

The one that freaked me out the most was seeing some sort rubble shaped animal/colony of animal attach to the back of a blue legged hermit crab shell, and seconds later seeing some other crab like head come by the hermits head in the shell, also saw the thing pop partially out of other parts of the shell.

 

[KingLucy1997]

Even after the parasite bursts from the blue leg’s shell, the parasite retracts back within, the blue legged hermit crabs usually remains alive and continues to forage. It seems like the creature somehow remodels the shells occupy. Sometimes the creature takes residence in a shell, usually for ambush, but sometimes is also converted to an armored transport and sort of looking like a snail.

 

[shakacuz]

tried to get as close as i could to what you were focusing on and i have come to this conclusion:

aside from the obvious macro algae (chaeto, and maybe some pom pom to the far left) you have ghost/clear flatworms. not many, but you have some. if that mandarin is alive (which i doubt), it can consume them - however, the spotted mandarin is better for this task... you have bumblebee snails which i assume you know you also have.

most videos are annoyingly difficult to watch. i highly suggest you find what you want us to look at and literally hold the camera as STILL as possible. do NOT move. give us enough time to look/watch the video to be able to see anything move to be able to help you.

 

[KingLucy1997]

You are right, I should invest in some type of camera stand or professional style camera. Its hard to keep something in the visual field when it’s moving and you only are stabling the camera with your arms. Thanks for taking the time to ID that, it’s been haunting me for years. I’ll use flatworm exit to get Rid of them before transferring livestock into the new tank.

 

[shakacuz]

You are right, I should invest in some type of camera stand or professional style camera. Its hard to keep something in the visual field when it’s moving and you only are stabling the camera with your arms. Thanks for taking the time to ID that, it’s been haunting me for years. I’ll use flatworm exit to get Rid of them before transferring livestock into the new tank.

try to put the camera right on the glass so this eliminates any movement caused by moving. all you would have to do is focus on what you want to show us.

i appreciate the effort you are putting in trying to show us what is concerning you!

 

[KingLucy1997]

try to put the camera right on the glass so this eliminates any movement caused by moving. all you would have to do is focus on what you want to show us.

i appreciate the effort you are putting in trying to show us what is concerning you!

Emptied about 50% to tanks bottom so pipe coral GSP, and hynopgora were all above the water line. I gently scraped any slime algae, pests, and their residues. While doing this I saw small white oval aphid looking creatures crawling on the few remains of the pipe coral’s flesh and delicate red skeleton.
the faviitees had lots of algae growth and residue build from the various parasites that Burrow into the coral thick rock base