Green unidentified objects…

[Miemaes]

Can anyone ID this green spec on the glass? I’m still fairly new to saltwater tanks and I thought it was algae at first… but it changes location Anyone knows what this is? It’s not round but a bit “boxy” looking.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Can you zoom in more?

 

[Miemaes]

Can you zoom in more?

I can focus on it if I zoom in more. It has a light dot in the middle of it’s body. I’ll see if I can take a picture with my camera instead of phone.

 

[djf91]

Looks like an Acoel flatworm.

 

[Miemaes]

YEP! Just Googled it and that is what it looks like. Must have hitchhiked on some of my new coral Ugh….

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can anyone ID this green spec on the glass? I’m still fairly new to saltwater tanks and I thought it was algae at first… but it changes location Anyone knows what this is? It’s not round but a bit “boxy” looking.

Appears to be an aecoel or similar flatworm. While they are not harmful as red planaria, they in numbers can smother bases of coral and block the needed light for production of zooxanthellae which is their energy source.
Removal can be accomplished by siphoning them with a 3/8" tubing into a nylon stocking and discard
OR
Add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, 6 line, lunare or malanurus OR even a springieri damsel which will eat them

With the number you have, for the next 2 weeks you will have to look for eggs and scrape off as there is likely some and would be future acoels. Eggs are really tiny

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Looks like an Acoel flatworm.

I was thinking flatworm, but I couldn’t think of the exact species.

 

[Miemaes]

Appears to be an aecoel or similar flatworm. While they are not harmful as red planaria, they in numbers can smother bases of coral and block the needed light for production of zooxanthellae which is their energy source.
Removal can be accomplished by siphoning them with a 3/8" tubing into a nylon stocking and discard
OR
Add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, 6 line, lunare or malanurus OR even a springieri damsel which will eat them

With the number you have, for the next 2 weeks you will have to look for eggs and scrape off as there is likely some and would be future acoels. Eggs are really tiny

Thx so much for the info. My tank is only a 6gallon so I’m not able to add a fish. I’ve been picking them out for now with a pipette bit your method looks a lot more effective. Are their eggs laid in tiny little clusters or would they be just specs on the glass? You think my turbo snail will eat these?

 

[MrGisonni]

Yes I agree with the others, it is a green photosynthetic flatworm. Not a major problem unless they begin to smother corals.