what are these guys

Are these bristle worms?

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3468.jpg

Also on the same picture you can see like a green grass/moss type algae. It is in patches on the LR/LS but I wouldn't say it is overun. My silicates and phosphates are both 0 as are my ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The tank is about 6 weeks old and been through the diatom phase. Would this be a lighting issue? I am waiting for my step down transformer to be released from customs (hopefully tomorrow) so I can set up my new AquaLife T5's

 

They look like bristles to me. Some people consider them bad others consider them a good addition to the cleanup crew. Alot depends on the species. Some can grow very large.
I have found the best way to cycle a tank is with no light or a very short light cycle. The green algae you have looks a little like bryopsis. A very nasty algae that is extremely hard to kill. Keep an eye on it. It could also be GHA.Alot of times your test kits will read 0 Phosphates and 0 Nitrates but you can still have an algae problem.The algae will lock up the available nutrients.Good luck!

 

Thanks Vinny, these guys are very tiny, I took the picture with a macro lens, they are probably 5mm in length at the top.

With regards the alge, I have been reading the way to treat bryopsis is to raise mag levels? Mine are already at 1640 for some reason, and my calcium levels I can't raise above 300. If this is bryopsis, should I keep the lights off for a few days?

Thanks again

 

No problem. I am of the opinion that most bristles are good for the tank. Not only do they eat uneaten food they also bore holes in the rock making it more porous thus allowing better flow through the rocks and more surface area for bacteria to colonize. Bryopsis is very hard to kill and is very tolerant of long blackouts. As long as you don't have any corals I would leave the lights off until you see it dieing. Can you post the size tank you have? A cleanup crew would be a good idea but I need to know how big the tank is. If it is GHA there are snails which will consume it. If it is Bryopsis nothing will touch it. People including myself have had great success increasing the Mag to get rid of it but you will want to use Kent Tech M to do it. Something in this particular product seems to eliminate the problem.I would do the blackout and cleanup crew first then go from there. You will want to raise the Mag over 1600 (I actually went to 1700) for a few weeks and this can be costly as it takes alot of Mag to achieve. What kind of salt are you using? Check your Alk. Good luck!!8)

 

My tank size is 55g, I have 70lb LR and 100lb LR. I have a 20g sump with a DSB I have two hermit crabs, one seems to eat all the time, the other seems to do bugger all. I have about a dozen narcissus snails, a coral shrimp and two clownfish. As I mentioned, my mag is already at 1650 and I have no corals as yet.

Problem is having moved to Brunei, my options are very limited for products and have to import most from eBay. The only LPS that sells marine fish stocks seachem products, everybody else sera.

So if I order now I might get some Kent in a few weeks. I will try and get a better picture, maybe that will help with the id

 

+1 to everything Vinny has already said.

 

Sounds good. If you can find one you might want to try 1 Mexican turbo snail. They are amazing at cleaning the tank and if it is GHA just 1 will decimate it. I have tried other products to raise the Mag none seemed to work like the Kent. Pictures would be great. We love pictures!!lol

 

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3477.jpg

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3479.jpg

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3480.jpg

Not sure if this helps any, like I say it's not like it covering everywhere and even the clowns seems to pick at it on occasion.

Thanks again for your help

Just noticed the other questions. I am using IO salt, I don't have an alk test, but results of other test are as follows:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrates = 0
Nitrates = 0
PH = 8.5
Silicates = 0
dhk = 7
phosphates = 0
cal = 320
mag = 1680

 

The wormlike appendages look like they could be a brittle star. The image is so small it's difficult to tell. They may also be bristle worms, though the only time I see mine are right after a feeding or when the lights go out. Either way, I wouldn't remove either of these.

I had a small problem with the same kind of algae and found that the addition of a couple turbo snails cleared it up pretty quickly. Mine appeared around the same time as yours and I haven't had a problem with it for the last four years.

 

Thanks Mindy, hopefully I will have the same luck. I have added a few full on pictures of the tank, as you can see it's hardly an infestation and the patches are very small and scattered. I have also added an enlarged image of the worms.

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3481.jpg

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3482.jpg

http://www.3reef.com/photos/uploads/27602/IMG_3469.jpg