Too many Bristle worms?

[D100]

I have hundreds of bristle worms in my tank and I dont really like the looks of them. I know they are a good CUC but I'm worried if they start to die off from over population they could crash my tank. Not sure if they release any toxins when they die like flat worms do?
I was thinking of getting something to keep the population down like a arrow crab. Any input or ideas will help
They only come out like this when I feed the tank.

 

[Swoody]

I don’t know the definitive answer but to me that looks like a scene from a horror movie. I wouldn’t let it get that bad in my tank....if I were you I would just start plucking them out with hemostats as the opportunity arises because they’re definitely going to just keep on breeding.

 

[catfishblues]

They should reach an equilibrium at some point depending on the amount of food available. I don't think they'll hit a massive die off but maybe a few once they hit the capacity and I figure those would get eaten. If there's that many that means there's enough to consistently feed that many. An arrow crab eradicated my populations but I didn't know they'd eat the worma.

 

[ScooterV]

If you have that many they are eating something. At least in my experience the population seems to balance out based on available food. Too bad you weren't close though, I could use more LOL. I've never seen so many as in your pic though. Maybe over-feeding?

Otherwise, if you have nothing else that would be at risk a coral banded shrimp would be in heaven with all that food!

 

[D100]

If you have that many they are eating something. At least in my experience the population seems to balance out based on available food. Too bad you weren't close though, I could use more LOL. I've never seen so many as in your pic though. Maybe over-feeding?

Otherwise, if you have nothing else that would be at risk a coral banded shrimp would be in heaven with all that food!

I dont really feed my tank that often, once a day I feed my fish and twice a week I feed my coral. But I no longer do water changes it's been over 6 month since my last one.
I would gladly give you as many as you
want.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Any reason for the lack of water changes? How has your success been with it?

 

[D100]

Any reason for the lack of water changes? How has your success been with it?

I stoped doing water changes because I always had really low nitrates and phosphates. I felt that a 20 percent water change only removes 20 percent of any pollutants. So I figured my live rock and refugium was removing the rest. Now I just add trace elements and I still siphon my gravel bed but through a sock filter and then pour the water back in the tank.
I did some research about it also and thought it was worth a try.
I'll never go back to water changes

 

[D100]

They should reach an equilibrium at some point depending on the amount of food available. I don't think they'll hit a massive die off but maybe a few once they hit the capacity and I figure those would get eaten. If there's that many that means there's enough to consistently feed that many. An arrow crab eradicated my populations but I didn't know they'd eat the worma.

That's good to know a arrow crab will work. I'm really thinking of getting one. Are they ok in a 20 gallon tank?

 

[ScooterV]

I have NO idea if it would work in a 20 gallon, but if anyone can confirm it would be ok I think the CBS I mentioned would be fun if you don't have any cleaner or peppermint shrimp it would eventually kill. It's entertaining to watch them eat. They will have a worm half eaten, then use their pinchers to hold it and slowly pull the worm from the rock or substrate as they continue to eat. I have 4 cleaner shrimp and 2-3 peppermint in my tank so I don't want to risk it, but I love the antics of a CBS Never tried one in a 20g though, it may be too small.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Water changes remove pollutants but they also replenish nutrients. You may very well be having a chemistry problem causing this. Address the problem not the symptom.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I'm going to guess its a problem with the sandbed. Here is why:
- its a deep sandbed (its absorbed a lot of nutrients and is releasing them now)
- from the algae I'm guessing you have few sandsifters
- you have low phosphates/nitrates, ergo it's likely something dissolving slowly
Bristle worms are not simply feeding on the water parameters though, so there is something in the tank that is large enough to provide them a constant food source for a huge population. I'd imagine bristle worms are what is keeping you from seeing the real problem (ex: they are eating the developing algae or microfauna), if you remove them you're going to have huge problems. First identify the problem, then begin to address the symptoms. When you are done, then add the coral shrimp to clean up the worms.

 

[D100]

I have NO idea if it would work in a 20 gallon, but if anyone can confirm it would be ok I think the CBS I mentioned would be fun if you don't have any cleaner or peppermint shrimp it would eventually kill. It's entertaining to watch them eat. They will have a worm half eaten, then use their pinchers to hold it and slowly pull the worm from the rock or substrate as they continue to eat. I have 4 cleaner shrimp and 2-3 peppermint in my tank so I don't want to risk it, but I love the antics of a CBS Never tried one in a 20g though, it may be too small.

I have NO idea if it would work in a 20 gallon, but if anyone can confirm it would be ok I think the CBS I mentioned would be fun if you don't have any cleaner or peppermint shrimp it would eventually kill. It's entertaining to watch them eat. They will have a worm half eaten, then use their pinchers to hold it and slowly pull the worm from the rock or substrate as they continue to eat. I have 4 cleaner shrimp and 2-3 peppermint in my tank so I don't want to risk it, but I love the antics of a CBS Never tried one in a 20g though, it may be too small.

I had a coral banded shrimp and loved him but he started going a after my fire fish so he had to go. I have a skunk cleaner shrimp now but he doesn't eat them.

 

[D100]

I'm going to guess its a problem with the sandbed. Here is why:
- its a deep sandbed (its absorbed a lot of nutrients and is releasing them now)
- from the algae I'm guessing you have few sandsifters
- you have low phosphates/nitrates, ergo it's likely something dissolving slowly
Bristle worms are not simply feeding on the water parameters though, so there is something in the tank that is large enough to provide them a constant food source for a huge population. I'd imagine bristle worms are what is keeping you from seeing the real problem (ex: they are eating the developing algae or microfauna), if you remove them you're going to have huge problems. First identify the problem, then begin to address the symptoms. When you are done, then add the coral shrimp to clean up the worms.

I agree that the bristle worms are keeping my tank in some sort of balance and I dont want to remove them completely just reduce them. I probably should clean my sand bed more often to reduce any food buildup.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Drop some nassarius snails in, they'll do it for you. But be very careful with parameters right now, if you stir up sandbed you may crash your tank with the sudden spike of nitrates and phosphates.

 

[D100]

Drop some nassarius snails in, they'll do it for you. But be very careful with parameters right now, if you stir up sandbed you may crash your tank with the sudden spike of nitrates and phosphates.

I stir my sand bed about once every other week when I clean it. I think if I reduce the amount of food I add to my tank should reduce the reproduction of these worms.

 

[D100]

I many have found the ultimate clean up crew ;Woot hundreds of bristle worms.

 

[dave decarli]

I have hundreds of bristle worms in my tank and I dont really like the looks of them. I know they are a good CUC but I'm worried if they start to die off from over population they could crash my tank. Not sure if they release any toxins when they die like flat worms do?
I was thinking of getting something to keep the population down like a arrow crab. Any input or ideas will help
They only come out like this when I feed the tank.

I took an old iodide bottle put several holes in it with a slightly larger diameter hose and put rocks in it to keep it on the bottom push hoses downward so hoses are upward in the bottle when they enter they drop to bottom and if a few get out who cares, you have less than you started with,. put any kind of food in it and watch em disappear

 

[kireek]

Homemade traps work well to keep numbers in check;

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/diy-bristle-worm-trap-how-to.68/

 

[D100]

Homemade traps work well to keep numbers in check;

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/diy-bristle-worm-trap-how-to.68/

Thanks for the link I will give this a try.

 

[Error404]

I don’t think lack of water changes is the problem , I haven’t done a water change in 6 months. I have a mix of sps and softies . What do you usually feed you’re fish and corals ?