Live rock hitchhikers

[tierbett]

I recently set up a 36 gallon tank and today I have a few tiny snails in the tank and on the live rock. I also noticed a maybe half inch long bristle worm and numerous digitate hydroids in and on the live rock. I also have two blue damsels in the tank. What should I do? I am assuming the snails are ok, but what about the bristle worm and the digitate hydroids? Can they cause problems?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Everything is fine with the exception of the Hydriods, and those I wouldn't worry about until you get the tank cycled and water params under control, in which at that point they will probably die out.

 

[Reef Junky150]

Bristle worms are free clean up crew. Don't worry about them

 

[tierbett]

Everything is fine with the exception of the Hydriods, and those I wouldn't worry about until you get the tank cycled and water params under control, in which at that point they will probably die out.

Good to know. What do they do and what would happen if they don't die out once the tank is cycled?

 

[blkflm6888]

Livestock before the tank cycles??

 

[Reefing Madness]

They sometimes can get to be an issue, I personally have had them a couple of times and they never got out of hand. There are other stories of them getting bad. If your worried about them then I'd remove and throw the rok in an acid bath or bleach, that will take care of the issues on that rock. Don't know if there is anything you can really do to them while they are in the tank, you may baste them with boiling water from a turkey baster.