New tank invaded with pests!

I just started a 20g reef and in about 9 days in with no inverts, corals, or fish yet. But im planning on some inverts on day 14 or 15.

I have a nova T5 HO LED Combo 96w, a korialia 1, a Bio-Wheel 150, Theo 100w heater, and a SeaClone 100 skimmer (mistake)

I was forced to buy my Live Rock (20lbs.) and a very high price of $9/p because there is no pet stores around. But i didnt get my moneys worth. I recently discovered I have Aptisa, a large bristle worm, and maybe even signs of hair algea. If you could post good inverts and fish to add to my tank to get these pests away or any chemicals. Ill post pictures once im better at how to work 3reef. Thanks!

 

hey littlechief
welcome to 3 reef by the way

if its a new tank with nothing in but the rock at present, you could help your algae issue by not using the lights for a week until the tank is cycled - the light combined with the nutrients in the new tank can sometimes cause algae blooms of this nature - thats why many people who set up tanks with live rock, run for a few weeks or more with no lighting.

bristle worms - not a problem IMO usefull scavenger

aiptasia - again as there is nothing in the tank at present you could use chemical means to get rid of them , products such as Aiptasia X and Joes Juice have been proven effective by many

but if you want to leave them and use natural means once the tank is cycled, then Peppermint shrimps are known to eat Aiptasia

you want to make sure you have had the initial ammonia and Nitrite spikes before adding the shrimps though as they are sensitive to these , more so than many fish species

at 14 days, if you have peaked ammonia and Nitrite, then snails and hermits would also help with algae issue but dont add to many at once, add a couple, watch them shuffle about and if all is well the week later, add some more

Steve

 

Well said. I don't worry about bristle worms. They are beneficial, not a pest I think. I have several that I know of. Just be careful when handling the rock so you don't get a sting.

+1 on cutting the lights for a while for the algae

If you go to the grocery store you can pick up some Mrs. Wages pickling lime. It's the same as kalkwasser (and cheap). You can make a paste and smear on the aiptasia - they will die quickly, and it's perfectly safe for the tank.

 

Thanks guys, i shut off the lights and havent seen an improvement yet, but its only been 2 days so go figure. I wanted to take the bristle worms out anyways so i dont get an unexspected shock. Also i think im going to cure the aptisa by natural means because ive heard that right before you kill them by chemical means they release spores and aptisa comes back stronger. Thanks.

 

Also i saw this long worm on my glass the other day, it looked like one long piece of spaggetti. I looked up hair worms and spaggetti worms and the pictures i saw looked like a bunddle of what i had on my glass. should i be worried?