Possible Bristle Worm Infestation.

So I started out with an aquarium that was loaded with fish but I noticed a few started to die off for no apparent reason. All of my Green Chromis have disappeared. I snail gone and I am only left with 2 Purple Firefish, 1 Clownfish a two Zebra hermit Crabs, 1 Sand Sifting Cucumber and thankfully all 4 of my shrimp. Will I took a look at the tank in the evening and noticed these little guys... Bristle Worms. One that was exceeding 3 inches long. Top that with an algae bloom that made my beautiful rock look horrible I'm just left banging my head against a wall. I'm seriously thinking about boiling the rock in water for about 1 hour in order to kill everything and just start over.

 

A better intervention would be to find out the reason for the algae growth: Water quality, water source, introduction of nutrients... Lighting, what you are currently doing to prevent algae growth.

Also leave the poor Bristle Worms alone. Their population and growth is dictated by available food source. Sounds like you either have a new tank that is going through the normal growing pains or you're over feeding.

Moved to------General Reef Topics.

 

agreed - bristle worms can be an effect members of your clean-up crew. I'd say leave them be and start looking for other possible causes. Water quality would be a good place to start, considering the algae bloom.

How large is the tank, and how long has it been established? Have you run any water testes, for Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonia etc...? if so, what where the number?

 

I agree with what has already been said, but just wanted to add that you should never boil live rock. This can be very dangerous to your health from the toxins that get atomized.

 

Bristleworms are highly effective, IMO.

 

I agree with the previous statements, sounds like your tank may be too new for adding fish, etc, and still going through cycling. I have had bristle worms for years and they've never hurt anything in my tanks. They just eat up all the nasty stuff left over, which is great for helping clean it! Patience is the most important thing when working with saltwater, trust me, we've all been there!

 

I agree with those above. I have a bristle worm that's about 5 inches long amongst others. Hasn't bothered a thing. They leftover food and detritus. Not coral and fish. Check your parameters.

 

when i first set up my old system i read bristle worms were something you wanted to eradicate, i killed off a very big one following this advice and there is nothing i regret more today.

as mentioned by corailline many critters you will see pop up in your tank (bristle worms, astrea stars, small fan worms) are directly correlated to the food they can naturally obtain.

fear not you will not have a tank full of killer worms that will catch and eat your fish like eels.

p.s and this is solemnly my own opinion, i feel there is an exaggerated hype around marine ICH as well. granted if left unchecked ich is far more dangerous than a few bristle worms and im not saying to not be worried if you have ich.
but if you understand the mechanics and most importantly the reason why your fishes immune system is weak enough to be attacked by this parasite and you can correct this variable then youre fish will be healthier as a whole.
again this is just my opinion and believe me iv freaked out about ich in the past.

 

Thank you all! I have never had an aquarium where everything was started with live rock, live sand and natural purified live seawater. So I guess I freaked out a bit. Good thing I was more worked about not ruining my wife's Stainless Steel All Clad Pot.

 

Well, the ocean has an incredible density of worm, if you get close to natural levels in a tank, you may have problems (but you won't )