I've got worms!!

Michelle L · 05/28/2006, 02:37 PM

Hello all

I managed to score a GREAT deal on a batch of live rock that will come in very handy in the 240 gallon that my husband and I are in the process of setting up. I found an ad placed by a co-worker in my company's newsletter advertising 125 pounds of live rock for $200. When I actually got it home and weighed each tub, I found that I really got closer to 200+ pounds. The rock doesn't have much color (besides some green algae), but some of the pieces are very large and will make a great base.

I filled a 32 gallon trash can to the brim with rock and started circulation and heat on it. This morning I got up to find the top of the water teeming with pods and to my slight repulsion, dozens of fat bristleworms everywhere in the crevices of the rock. I don't know if they've come to the surface because of more oxygen or what, but I hope that the rock isn't permeated with them all of the way through to the bottom of the pile of rock.

They are all small, around two inches or less. Will they be harmful in such large quantity, and if so, how do I elimate most of them without harming the other creatures??

wrott · 05/28/2006, 02:53 PM

Worms are good, but they will die if you are going to cook the rock.

Michelle L · 05/28/2006, 03:01 PM

I've read about "cooking", and can't recall exactly what the process is or why it's done, but I have the rock in water that is normal tank temps (around 80 degrees).

I am using a trash can as a way to store the rock and keep everything alive until I can get it in the new tank.

Gary Majchrzak · 05/28/2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michelle L
Will they be harmful in such large quantity

Not harmful.
Some people pay money for worms.

wrott · 05/28/2006, 03:43 PM

Cooking is just doing what you are doing--place rock in tub (no light), circulate water @ 80F do WCs for 2-3 months--it will allow bacteria to consume all organic matter trapped w/in rock and will alllow PO4 to leach out----leaving you w/ a new, clean biological filtration system.

Michelle L · 05/29/2006, 07:17 AM

I recall reading that now, and I did some searching after you posted. Thank you.

Okay, so I guess the worm question is pointless because they will all die anyway. It's not much of an issue for me since when the tank is delivered and set up I have an additional shipment of live rock coming, so whatever is on that rock will spread to this rock. I just don't have enough storage space to spread out and light all of this rock...as you can tell, the only method I have ever used was to purchase cured rock a little at a time from my LFS.

Gary, people even seek out bristleworms?? I knew people had said that some varieties aren't bad, but I wasn't sure when I saw that many!

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Amphiprion · 05/29/2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
Not harmful.
Some people pay money for worms.

Most people pay for worms (and bacteria) when they buy live rock and live sand.

Craig Lambert · 05/29/2006, 09:49 AM

Condider yourself lucky. Most detrivoire kits you purchase to seed your tank/sandbed contain bristle worms, so yes people do pay for them. The worms on your rock might not all be bristle worms. Peanut worms are common as well. If they are brown in color and hang from a hole in the rockwork at night they are likely peanut worms.

Tat2demon · 05/29/2006, 12:35 PM

Cooking your rock will not kill the worms. They dont need light.

Eventually the population will stabilize in your tank. Some will die off if theres not enough food. If there is enough food for all of them you will be happy you have so many to clean up that mess.

05/28/2006, 02:37 PM	#1
Michelle L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Normal, IL Posts: 921	I've got worms!! Hello all I managed to score a GREAT deal on a batch of live rock that will come in very handy in the 240 gallon that my husband and I are in the process of setting up. I found an ad placed by a co-worker in my company's newsletter advertising 125 pounds of live rock for $200. When I actually got it home and weighed each tub, I found that I really got closer to 200+ pounds. The rock doesn't have much color (besides some green algae), but some of the pieces are very large and will make a great base. I filled a 32 gallon trash can to the brim with rock and started circulation and heat on it. This morning I got up to find the top of the water teeming with pods and to my slight repulsion, dozens of fat bristleworms everywhere in the crevices of the rock. I don't know if they've come to the surface because of more oxygen or what, but I hope that the rock isn't permeated with them all of the way through to the bottom of the pile of rock. They are all small, around two inches or less. Will they be harmful in such large quantity, and if so, how do I elimate most of them without harming the other creatures??

05/28/2006, 02:53 PM	#2
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Worms are good, but they will die if you are going to cook the rock. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

05/28/2006, 03:43 PM	#5
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Cooking is just doing what you are doing--place rock in tub (no light), circulate water @ 80F do WCs for 2-3 months--it will allow bacteria to consume all organic matter trapped w/in rock and will alllow PO4 to leach out----leaving you w/ a new, clean biological filtration system. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

05/29/2006, 09:49 AM	#8
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Condider yourself lucky. Most detrivoire kits you purchase to seed your tank/sandbed contain bristle worms, so yes people do pay for them. The worms on your rock might not all be bristle worms. Peanut worms are common as well. If they are brown in color and hang from a hole in the rockwork at night they are likely peanut worms. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

05/29/2006, 12:35 PM	#9
Tat2demon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 833	Cooking your rock will not kill the worms. They dont need light. Eventually the population will stabilize in your tank. Some will die off if theres not enough food. If there is enough food for all of them you will be happy you have so many to clean up that mess. __________________ Nate cham - "Taste it, if it tastes like poop.....it is." Current Tank Info: 400 gallon in progress. 8x3x2.5

05/28/2006, 03:01 PM	#3
Michelle L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Normal, IL Posts: 921	I've read about "cooking", and can't recall exactly what the process is or why it's done, but I have the rock in water that is normal tank temps (around 80 degrees). I am using a trash can as a way to store the rock and keep everything alive until I can get it in the new tank.

05/29/2006, 07:17 AM	#6
Michelle L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Normal, IL Posts: 921	I recall reading that now, and I did some searching after you posted. Thank you. Okay, so I guess the worm question is pointless because they will all die anyway. It's not much of an issue for me since when the tank is delivered and set up I have an additional shipment of live rock coming, so whatever is on that rock will spread to this rock. I just don't have enough storage space to spread out and light all of this rock...as you can tell, the only method I have ever used was to purchase cured rock a little at a time from my LFS. Gary, people even seek out bristleworms?? I knew people had said that some varieties aren't bad, but I wasn't sure when I saw that many! Thanks for the help, everyone.