What are these Worms ? are they good ? are they in everyones tank ?

j007dreamer · 06/01/2006, 07:39 AM

Just set up a 45 gallon, added my live rock 2 days ago and now there are a ton of these little red and black looking worms ?

They seem to be hanging out on the rock and digging themselves in to the sand bed. only to come out when there is no light. What are they and are they good and if so what is so good about them?

I want to scoop them out because they look gross when they claim all over the glass.

all so at night there looks to be these little little bugs running around on the rock what the heck are they ?

One more question since i added the rock the water is really not smelling that great,that will go away right ? cause that is a big worry to me.

i am new to all these underwater critters so any insight would be helpful
thank u

Sk8r · 06/01/2006, 07:56 AM

You need all those things. They're bristleworms and pods. They keep your tank alive.
Define 'not smelling that great.' Tanks always smell like the ocean shore if you get your nose up next to them. You'll get used to it. If on the other hand it is 'knock your head off, eyes-watering' bad, that could be a problem.

dj synystr · 06/01/2006, 08:03 AM

your rock isnt cured yet. not to sound harsh but go to the pet store and buy a book on marine aquariums. i forget the name of the one i used when i started but it was like a bibble to me in the begining. from filtration to good and bag things, fish, inverts all that goodness. welcome to the hobby learn as much as you can about it before you waste a ton of money finding out the hard way.

j007dreamer · 06/01/2006, 08:24 AM

So what do these worms do ?

dous · 06/01/2006, 08:24 AM

Like DJ said, your rocks aren't cured yet. It would smell like that for a while and then go away, but make sure you scrub the dirt off the surface (dead polyps, hair algae, etc) with an old toothbrush and use a powerhead or a turkey baster to blast those things off before water changes. You may do this after a few weeks, if I'm not mistaken.

As for the worms, the red/b;ack ones are bristleworms and they are good for cultivating your sand and the floating shrimp like bugs are pods, you need those too (tank inhabitants will eat them too). the other worms (white ones that stick to the glass) are also good.

this link is good at identifying things in your tank.
http://melevsreef.com/id/

hope that helps.

j007dreamer · 06/01/2006, 08:26 AM

I found this on a web site

Bristle worms can be, and usually, are a real problem for reef hobbyists. Indeed, they create havoc in the aquarium, especially when they grow to larger sizes. Bristle worms grow quickly! Real quickly! They feed on anything they can find in the tank and grow to sizes that amaze most hobbyists. This process does not take long either.

Doesn't sound good to me ?

Sk8r · 06/01/2006, 08:34 AM

No, bristleworms are essential. If you don't have them, fish poo doesn't get broken down to feed the corals. It's a question of particulate diameter and feeding pores. Remove your bristleworms and your corals will not thrive as they ought.

I have about a hundred in my 52 gallon, several topping six inches. [If they get to 3 feet, (max size) then consider giving them to a larger aquarium.]

I used uncured rock in my tank, and if you also have that much life on yours, you should be glad and don't do anything to harm it.

dous · 06/01/2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by j007dreamer
I found this on a web site

Bristle worms can be, and usually, are a real problem for reef hobbyists. Indeed, they create havoc in the aquarium, especially when they grow to larger sizes. Bristle worms grow quickly! Real quickly! They feed on anything they can find in the tank and grow to sizes that amaze most hobbyists. This process does not take long either.

Doesn't sound good to me ?

they are definitely good for your tank as they will break down waste and cultivate your sand to release oxygen from the bottom. Unfortunately some grow really large like this one on this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=854014

BUt rarely and you can always get rid of them when they do. I guess if you keep your tank fairly clean the worms won't have that much to eat meaning they will not grow to be that size, IMO.

j007dreamer · 06/01/2006, 08:39 AM

I dont know if i want a ton of 6inch plus size worms in my tank ? Seems kind of gross to me.

there is alot of them and they are already big. i can seem them all in the sand

Sk8r · 06/01/2006, 08:44 AM

Name them. My biggest are Barney, Fred, and Sam. Seriously---you'll have very few of the 6 inch size. They're out right now because they're desperately hungry. If this tank is in cycle, are you feeding it?
You should be putting a tiny pinch of Formula One flake food in a day. The worms will eat it, their poo will go to the sand and rock bacteria, and your cycle will begin. The pods will be looking for microscopic algae growth, and they'll get that once the worms and the fishfood start doing their thing with the rock bacteria. Only scrub your rock if you can see detritus on it. Otherwise just let it cycle.

j007dreamer · 06/01/2006, 08:51 AM

it not cycled yet the rock has only been in there for about 2 days. but that link that was post didn't help much. it scared me even more

God this really grosses me out. Im going to end up taken some of them out of there. a few ok but i can see at least 10 right now with out even trying. so that means there are many many many more.

thekidace · 06/01/2006, 08:57 AM

do yourself a HUGE favor and go buy The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner, it will explain how to do everything the right way

alvarez · 06/01/2006, 09:16 AM

I had bristleworms crawling all over my LR for the 1st couple of days and now I don't see even one.

Sk8r · 06/01/2006, 09:50 AM

I tell you, feed them, and they'll burrow contented into the rockwork and behave themselves. They don't like to be in the light, but they're starving.

06/01/2006, 07:39 AM	#1
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	What are these Worms ? are they good ? are they in everyones tank ? Just set up a 45 gallon, added my live rock 2 days ago and now there are a ton of these little red and black looking worms ? They seem to be hanging out on the rock and digging themselves in to the sand bed. only to come out when there is no light. What are they and are they good and if so what is so good about them? I want to scoop them out because they look gross when they claim all over the glass. all so at night there looks to be these little little bugs running around on the rock what the heck are they ? One more question since i added the rock the water is really not smelling that great,that will go away right ? cause that is a big worry to me. i am new to all these underwater critters so any insight would be helpful thank u

06/01/2006, 07:56 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You need all those things. They're bristleworms and pods. They keep your tank alive. Define 'not smelling that great.' Tanks always smell like the ocean shore if you get your nose up next to them. You'll get used to it. If on the other hand it is 'knock your head off, eyes-watering' bad, that could be a problem. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/01/2006, 08:03 AM	#3
dj synystr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PA Posts: 843	your rock isnt cured yet. not to sound harsh but go to the pet store and buy a book on marine aquariums. i forget the name of the one i used when i started but it was like a bibble to me in the begining. from filtration to good and bag things, fish, inverts all that goodness. welcome to the hobby learn as much as you can about it before you waste a ton of money finding out the hard way. __________________ Dj Synystr Battlefield/WLVR/AOL Mixtape Radio Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Room Divider Mixed Reef

06/01/2006, 08:24 AM	#5
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Like DJ said, your rocks aren't cured yet. It would smell like that for a while and then go away, but make sure you scrub the dirt off the surface (dead polyps, hair algae, etc) with an old toothbrush and use a powerhead or a turkey baster to blast those things off before water changes. You may do this after a few weeks, if I'm not mistaken. As for the worms, the red/b;ack ones are bristleworms and they are good for cultivating your sand and the floating shrimp like bugs are pods, you need those too (tank inhabitants will eat them too). the other worms (white ones that stick to the glass) are also good. this link is good at identifying things in your tank. http://melevsreef.com/id/ hope that helps. __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/01/2006, 08:34 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	No, bristleworms are essential. If you don't have them, fish poo doesn't get broken down to feed the corals. It's a question of particulate diameter and feeding pores. Remove your bristleworms and your corals will not thrive as they ought. I have about a hundred in my 52 gallon, several topping six inches. [If they get to 3 feet, (max size) then consider giving them to a larger aquarium.] I used uncured rock in my tank, and if you also have that much life on yours, you should be glad and don't do anything to harm it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/01/2006, 08:26 AM	#6
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	I found this on a web site Bristle worms can be, and usually, are a real problem for reef hobbyists. Indeed, they create havoc in the aquarium, especially when they grow to larger sizes. Bristle worms grow quickly! Real quickly! They feed on anything they can find in the tank and grow to sizes that amaze most hobbyists. This process does not take long either. Doesn't sound good to me ?

06/01/2006, 08:39 AM	#9
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	I dont know if i want a ton of 6inch plus size worms in my tank ? Seems kind of gross to me. there is alot of them and they are already big. i can seem them all in the sand

06/01/2006, 08:44 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Name them. My biggest are Barney, Fred, and Sam. Seriously---you'll have very few of the 6 inch size. They're out right now because they're desperately hungry. If this tank is in cycle, are you feeding it? You should be putting a tiny pinch of Formula One flake food in a day. The worms will eat it, their poo will go to the sand and rock bacteria, and your cycle will begin. The pods will be looking for microscopic algae growth, and they'll get that once the worms and the fishfood start doing their thing with the rock bacteria. Only scrub your rock if you can see detritus on it. Otherwise just let it cycle. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/01/2006, 08:51 AM	#11
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	it not cycled yet the rock has only been in there for about 2 days. but that link that was post didn't help much. it scared me even more God this really grosses me out. Im going to end up taken some of them out of there. a few ok but i can see at least 10 right now with out even trying. so that means there are many many many more.

06/01/2006, 08:57 AM	#12
thekidace Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 60	do yourself a HUGE favor and go buy The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner, it will explain how to do everything the right way __________________ check yourself before you wreck yourself.. Current Tank Info: 55 gallon fish only

06/01/2006, 09:16 AM	#13
alvarez Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 56	I had bristleworms crawling all over my LR for the 1st couple of days and now I don't see even one.

06/01/2006, 09:50 AM	#14
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I tell you, feed them, and they'll burrow contented into the rockwork and behave themselves. They don't like to be in the light, but they're starving. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.