How to remove bristle worms?

Hey people,

I saw some small bristleworms about 3 - 5 cms. I found about 25 of them in my 20 gallon tank. First i thought they were friendly, but then i got to know that they are dangerous and bad for your tank. Especially the fireworms, which sometimes are there in the live rock and i spotted some fireworms in my tank too. I dont like those huge gigantic bristleworms and i want them out of the tank. Which animals will eat these guys? I expect to maybe get a coral banded shrimp, but alot of people are negative about them in a reef tank. Arrow crabs are good, but they get kinda big. What can i do? Please help? I WANT THEM OUT OF THERE ASAP!

 

orchid dotty backs eat them. also read to put a piece of nylon stocking in your tank. read they get stuck in it. not sure how true this is but worth a try, sound like it would work

 

check this out Trap Em bristle worm trap. Pics inside! - The Reef Tank

 

You may wish to do a bit more research on bristle worms before you decide that they are all bad. I would be a bit concerned about fire worms but it is my understanding that most bristle worms are either harmless or even benificial to the tank.

 

just drop your feeding and they'll go away, they are actually great CUC members, I love mine, if you have that
many you're prob feeding too much. don't worry, they'll go away

 

Bristleworms are very good for the tank and will help eat food that gets stuck in the rock work that no one else can reach. Unless I see something actually on my corals doing damage I think of it as a good guy.

As stated a above you can keep their numbers in check by limiting waste in the reef aka reducing feedings. Also many wrasses will help keep worm populations in check as they snack on the small ones that venture into the open.

 

Coral banded shrimp and arrow crabs.

 

Try a six line wrasse!

 

+++++1

 

+1 on this one, I loved my six-line wrasse, kept everything nice and clean of certain "pests"

Of course.. a buddy of mine did end up with 6-7 feet long bristle worm.. not much a wrasse can do for you there!

in either case, cut down on feeding as well and close your bedroom door at night! ;D