Bristleworm Sting Prevention?

[Phantom7]

Unsure if this is the correct place for this, my apologies.
While breaking down my tanks to sell, I usually keep the sand (especially because the sand i've went with is fairly expensive) and this time i've had these white things get stuck all over my hands twice. At first, we thought it was fiberglass from a pump impeller or something that i was messing with. This morning, all i've touched is my hose and the sand, and i got it all over my hands this time. Upon a little research, i've decided it's likely from a bristle worm. I was curious if there's a way to mitigate throwing away all of my sand, and being able to reuse it in the future? I still have a 220 gallon to breakdown, and am now suddenly not looking forward to that even more. I guess i could wear gloves? I'm not sure if they're powerful enough to break through a glove, and if it will affect using the sand again in the future.
Thanks!

 

[John Doe]

I was curious if there's a way to mitigate throwing away all of my sand, and being able to reuse it in the future?

There are three types of removal that are effective: physical removal, traps, and live predators. Physical removal - Suctioning Bristle Worms with a syringe or bottle can be an effective method of removal. You could also remove them with tweezers.

 

[exnisstech]

Personally I've never thought reusing sand was worth the effort required to rinse and clean it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

ugh, I hate those bristles. Good gloves will typically prevent it and other sorts of issues. You can get ones with very long arm sleeves to reach deep into your tank.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

As Randy said, gloves.

Beyond that, while bristle worms aren't a bad thing in controlled numbers, managing their population through predators like banded coral shrimp and some wrasses will help minimize how many spines you get in your fingers.

 

[merkmerk73]

As Randy said, gloves.

Beyond that, while bristle worms aren't a bad thing in controlled numbers, managing their population through predators like banded coral shrimp and some wrasses will help minimize how many spines you get in your fingers.

Aren't coral banded shrimp pretty aggro on things?

I loathe bristleworms and was really sad when I found out I got them - I used dry rock and never any corals larger than a frag. I have no idea how they got on except there must have been an egg or planktonic stage or something.

Every now and then I pick up some rocks and just kill any that I find by dipping the rock in some peroxide or squirting some peroxide into the crevices.

They're always small and never found out in the open but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.