Worms taking over my tank

kirklt · 01/13/2007, 07:12 PM

Over the past few months I have had pink and purple worms multiplying in my tank. They live in the live rocks, but are starting to come out more and more.

They seem like they are no longer bashful when the light is on.

Are these bad for my tank? Is there a way to reduce their population, or is there a fish that will eat them?

See pictures below...

wrott · 01/13/2007, 07:24 PM

They are good for the tank--bristle worms.
You can control them by the amount of food(nutrients) that you introduce into the tank. Some fish will eat smaller ones, but it's not worth buying fish to eat beneficial worms--they stir the sand and eat detritus.

Peter Eichler · 01/13/2007, 07:25 PM

They're bristleworms and they're not bad for your tank, they're beneficial and will scavenge around and help keep your tank clean (somewhat). But if they're growing and multiplying rapidly then you're probably overfeeding.

drummereef · 01/13/2007, 08:14 PM

Bristleworms. They are good, leave them.

AndyB4784 · 01/13/2007, 08:28 PM

if you have that many i'd suggest feeding less. too much food = trouble.

joyski58 · 01/13/2007, 08:36 PM

The big ones may harm burrowing fish. Catch the big ones; leave the little ones.

01/13/2007, 07:12 PM	#1
kirklt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: El Dorado Hills CA Posts: 54	Worms taking over my tank Over the past few months I have had pink and purple worms multiplying in my tank. They live in the live rocks, but are starting to come out more and more. They seem like they are no longer bashful when the light is on. Are these bad for my tank? Is there a way to reduce their population, or is there a fish that will eat them? See pictures below...

01/13/2007, 07:24 PM	#2
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	They are good for the tank--bristle worms. You can control them by the amount of food(nutrients) that you introduce into the tank. Some fish will eat smaller ones, but it's not worth buying fish to eat beneficial worms--they stir the sand and eat detritus. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

01/13/2007, 07:25 PM	#3
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	They're bristleworms and they're not bad for your tank, they're beneficial and will scavenge around and help keep your tank clean (somewhat). But if they're growing and multiplying rapidly then you're probably overfeeding. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

01/13/2007, 08:14 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Bristleworms. They are good, leave them. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/13/2007, 08:36 PM	#6
joyski58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Albans, WV Posts: 278	The big ones may harm burrowing fish. Catch the big ones; leave the little ones. __________________ JKJ Current Tank Info: 72 bowfront w/hang-on refuge and 20 gal plumbed-in frag tank, 2 skimmers, 2 Coralife tank-mount metal halides w/strip actinic

01/13/2007, 08:28 PM	#5
AndyB4784 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: lansing, mi Posts: 309	if you have that many i'd suggest feeding less. too much food = trouble.