Possible Bristle Worm Infestion.

B1N4RY · 08/19/2013, 12:18 AM

So I started out with an aquarium that was loaded with fish but I noticed a few started to die off for no apparent reason. All of my Green Chromis have disappeared. I snail gone and I am only left with 2 Purple Firefish, 1 Clownfish a two Zebra hermit Crabs, 1 Sand Sifting Cucumber and thankfully all 4 of my shrimp. Will I took a look at the tank in the evening and noticed these little guys... Bristle Worms. One that was exceeding 3 inches long. Top that with an algae bloom that made my beautiful rock look horrible I'm just left banging my head against a wall. I'm seriously thinking about boiling the rock in water for about 1 hour in order to kill everything and just start over.

Sn8kbyt · 08/19/2013, 12:41 AM

So you started out with a tank loaded with fishYou saying you bought it like that?

You have some small bristle worms which do not kill fishHow long has your tank been set-up?

What are the water readings on your tank? What brand are you using to test it?

Are you using RO/DI water to fill and replenish the tank? If so from your own source or somewhere else? If not...why not?

Biocubehqi · 08/19/2013, 01:16 AM

Do not boil the rocks!!!

Bristle worms are good for a tank, to many of them can show signs that you are over feeding the tank.

You can kill yourself boiling the rocks

joshPensacola · 08/19/2013, 01:58 AM

Someone needs to make a sticky that just states DONT KILL BRISTLE WORMS.

Everyone seems to think that the bristle worm is why all the fish are dead. You are the reason your fish are dead... the worms are just cleaning up the mess for you.

*Removed*That sandsifting starfish is doing more harm than your every worm in your tank combined.

joshPensacola · 08/19/2013, 02:00 AM

Or cucumber...not starfish. Many, if not all can excrete a toxin. Maybe that is what is killing everything. Give him to someone with a very big tank or take it back to a fish store and give it to them.

Quik Z06 · 08/19/2013, 03:34 AM

What are your water Params? Sounds to me like they died cause of a cycle. Or another infestation. A little more info on the tank would be helpful.

How long has it been running?
How did you cycle it?
When was your first fish added?
What is your water Params?

dc · 08/19/2013, 05:48 AM

Ok kids, let's discuss this calmly.

ca1ore · 08/19/2013, 06:02 AM

Bristle worms are good. They don't kill fish or inverts, but will be drawn to already dead animals. The brown algae in your photos looks like it may be diatoms, which are generally present during the cycling process of your tank, but go away with maturity. If you had a heavy bio-load during the cycling process then that is a recipe for disaster.

B1N4RY · 08/20/2013, 03:23 AM

Thank you all! I have never had an aquarium where everything was started with live rock, live sand and natural purified live seawater. So I guess I freaked out a bit. Good thing I was more worked about not ruining my wife's Stainless Steel All Clad Pot.

08/19/2013, 12:18 AM	#1
B1N4RY Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bronx, New York Posts: 251	Possible Bristle Worm Infestion. So I started out with an aquarium that was loaded with fish but I noticed a few started to die off for no apparent reason. All of my Green Chromis have disappeared. I snail gone and I am only left with 2 Purple Firefish, 1 Clownfish a two Zebra hermit Crabs, 1 Sand Sifting Cucumber and thankfully all 4 of my shrimp. Will I took a look at the tank in the evening and noticed these little guys... Bristle Worms. One that was exceeding 3 inches long. Top that with an algae bloom that made my beautiful rock look horrible I'm just left banging my head against a wall. I'm seriously thinking about boiling the rock in water for about 1 hour in order to kill everything and just start over.

08/19/2013, 12:41 AM	#2
Sn8kbyt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Manitowoc, WI Posts: 607	So you started out with a tank loaded with fishYou saying you bought it like that? You have some small bristle worms which do not kill fishHow long has your tank been set-up? What are the water readings on your tank? What brand are you using to test it? Are you using RO/DI water to fill and replenish the tank? If so from your own source or somewhere else? If not...why not? __________________ 220 gallon DT and 90 gallon sump, all DC powered, APEX gold with DOS, feeder, and a few extra modules, Avast Marine swabbie on Skimz Monster 258, 6 Rapid LED Onyx fixtures, BRS dosers, 4 Jaebo RW-15. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 2-20L QT, and a 20 gallon tall octogon tank waiting to be setup for a seahorse tank.

08/19/2013, 01:58 AM	#4
joshPensacola Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 164	Someone needs to make a sticky that just states DONT KILL BRISTLE WORMS. Everyone seems to think that the bristle worm is why all the fish are dead. You are the reason your fish are dead... the worms are just cleaning up the mess for you. RemovedThat sandsifting starfish is doing more harm than your every worm in your tank combined. Last edited by dc; 08/19/2013 at 05:46 AM.

08/19/2013, 05:48 AM	#7
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	Ok kids, let's discuss this calmly. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

08/19/2013, 01:16 AM	#3
Biocubehqi Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 777	Do not boil the rocks!!! Bristle worms are good for a tank, to many of them can show signs that you are over feeding the tank. You can kill yourself boiling the rocks

08/19/2013, 02:00 AM	#5
joshPensacola Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 164	Or cucumber...not starfish. Many, if not all can excrete a toxin. Maybe that is what is killing everything. Give him to someone with a very big tank or take it back to a fish store and give it to them.

08/19/2013, 03:34 AM	#6
Quik Z06 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 62	What are your water Params? Sounds to me like they died cause of a cycle. Or another infestation. A little more info on the tank would be helpful. How long has it been running? How did you cycle it? When was your first fish added? What is your water Params?

08/19/2013, 06:02 AM	#8
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Bristle worms are good. They don't kill fish or inverts, but will be drawn to already dead animals. The brown algae in your photos looks like it may be diatoms, which are generally present during the cycling process of your tank, but go away with maturity. If you had a heavy bio-load during the cycling process then that is a recipe for disaster.

08/20/2013, 03:23 AM	#9
B1N4RY Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bronx, New York Posts: 251	Thank you all! I have never had an aquarium where everything was started with live rock, live sand and natural purified live seawater. So I guess I freaked out a bit. Good thing I was more worked about not ruining my wife's Stainless Steel All Clad Pot.