Bristle worms!!!

[neddog]

Bristol Worms are in my aquarium. I gave up on my aquarium about 5 years ago for this same problem. (I didn't know about reef central back then) Please any help would be great. I have a 28 gallon nano cube, live rock about 30 to 40 lbs. A Lot of Zoas and a few different brain corals. I noticed them yesterday on a new piece of rock and I chucked the rock in the backyard right away. I see them again today a few large ones too. That makes me think It wasn't the new piece of rock and they have been in there a while. I want to get rid of them as swiftly as possible any Ideas will help thank you

[Sugar Magnolia]

Why are you so alarmed? Bristleworms are a beneficial part of the clean up crew in the tank. Their population is regulated by the availability of food in the tank. If you are a heavy handed feeder you'll have more bristleworms. Cut back on feeding and their population will decline.

[MondoBongo]

why do you want to get rid of them? they're helpful detrivores and an important part of any clean up crew.

[neddog]

That's what I've been reading since I posted. I had a lot of problems with my aquarium last time I had it set up and blamed it on the Bristol worms. It guess it could have been my lack of experience. They creep me out though. I suppose If they are good and don't over run the tank like last time I'll give them a chance thanks

[toothybugs]

If they "overrun" your tank, scale back your feeding. It's amazing how little the volume of chow our fish need actually is.

[ViktorVaughn]

The only thing I ever see my bristle worms do is pop out of their hiding spots when I feed to consume food that has fallen to the sandbed. They are quite effecient and I have yet to see them bother anything. They creep me out a bit as I dread touching one and getting "bristled."

[Pdetevis]

do you turn off your pumps and power heads during feeding? if there is a lot of water movement during feeding, chances of food going in places bristle worms hang out are higher, also if you liquid feed corals, try target feeding them. this will lower the chances of the worms getting a good meal every time. JMTC

[thegrun]

I turn off my return pump and slow down the powerheads to 50% (one touch via my Neptune Controller).

[MondoBongo]

Originally Posted by ViktorVaughn

The only thing I ever see my bristle worms do is pop out of their hiding spots when I feed to consume food that has fallen to the sandbed. They are quite effecient and I have yet to see them bother anything. They creep me out a bit as I dread touching one and getting "bristled."

i always wear gloves (nitrile) when i have my hands in the tank.

getting bristled is the least of the concerns when handling things in a marine environment.

also, if you do get bristled, the barbs are able to be dissolved by weak acid like vinegar.

[Vilas]

Got too many? Sell them. No, really. People pay for those.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Originally Posted by Vilas

Got too many? Sell them. No, really. People pay for those.

Yep, I've ordered them from time to time.

[ThreeMoneyJ]

I wish I still had some in my tank! If you really want to get rid of them get something that hunts them. My neon dottyback and orchid dottyback have made them disappear.

[neddog]

Incredible I didn't do a search like I should have I just freaked out. Last time I searched bristle worms on the internet, about 5 years ago It was all doom and gloom. Nobody had anything good to say that's for sure. I didn't have the kind of money sunk into my aquarium that I do now and just brought it down to the basement where it sat for 5 years. The wife wanted me to clean up the basement and get rid of the tank. Instead I set it back up, and several thousand dollars later the Bristle worms show up again. You can imagine my horror when those little worms showed up again. Thanks everybody

[AntiSatan]

I have loads of them in my 29 gal. I feed a little heavy with no skimmer or refugium so they help keep the tank clean. Tank would probably be a mess with out them. Need to transfer some over to my 80 that has very few.