Beginners reef tank, found these, will they do harm?

[Andy Bliss]

Hi all,

I am new to marine but have owned tropical freshwater tanks for most of my life, i have my aquarium set up, added live rock and water and am in the process of cycling, i found a couple of hitchhikers that must have come in on the live rock and need to find out if i have to remove them, (pictures below i hope!) (worm on the rock and crab under one).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R
looks like you have a couple of hitch hikers
Gorilla crab needs to go
Bristle worm needs to go
Apitaisa need to go

 

[Andy Bliss]

Hey there,

Thanks for the speedy reply, the worm and Apitaisa will (should) be easy enough but not sure how to lure the crab out, maybe some fish bait?

 

[russell13]

Hey there,

Thanks for the speedy reply, the worm and Apitaisa will (should) be easy enough but not sure how to lure the crab out, maybe some fish bait?

There are a few ways to catch the crab. You can make a trap from a plastic water bottle. I have even seen people use a drinking glass to trap them. But I have found success with the bottle trap

 

[Andy Bliss]

There are a few ways to catch the crab. You can make a trap from a plastic water bottle. I have even seen people use a drinking glass to trap them. But I have found success with the bottle trap

Thanks,
Something like a small lucazade bottle with some fish in it?

 

[Salty Lemon]

Welcome aboard! Good thing you found these guys before they took over your entire tank.

 

[Andy Bliss]

Welcome aboard! Good thing you found these guys before they took over your entire tank.

Cheers,
Out of interest, how could they damage the tank?

 

[Salty Lemon]

Cheers,
Out of interest, how could they damage the tank?

Aiptasia can take over your entire tank.
Bristleworms can injure fish or worse.
Gorilla Crabs will eventually get big enough and go "hunting" your livestock.
I hope these help:
https://www.thesprucepets.com/ways-to-eliminate-aiptasia-anemones-2925434
https://www.aquascapeaddiction.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-bristle-worms
https://aquacorals.com/index.php/self-help/pests-problems/70-killer-hitchhikers-bad-crabs
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...t-reef-tank-pests-52-Weeks-of-Reefing-BRS160/

 

[Andy Bliss]

Aiptasia can take over your entire tank.
Bristleworms can injure fish or worse.
Gorilla Crabs will eventually get big enough and go "hunting" your livestock.
I hope these help:
https://www.thesprucepets.com/ways-to-eliminate-aiptasia-anemones-2925434
https://www.aquascapeaddiction.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-bristle-worms
https://aquacorals.com/index.php/self-help/pests-problems/70-killer-hitchhikers-bad-crabs
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...t-reef-tank-pests-52-Weeks-of-Reefing-BRS160/

Cheers, on reading the links it may not be as easy as i first thought!
On a more encouraging note, the waters cleared now and its starting to look like its supposed to.

 

[cracker]

welcome Andy, the crab needs to go. the bristle a big one by the way,I "think" could stay, the apastia needs to go soon . Ask round before starting . All 3 can be taken care of .

 

[Katrina71]

The crab will make a great addition to your sump.

 

[Andy Bliss]

The crab will make a great addition to your sump.

For cleaning up excess food etc?

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Bristleworms are excellent tank inhabitants.

 

[Katrina71]

For cleaning up excess food etc?

Yes

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome to R2R
looks like you have a couple of hitch hikers
Gorilla crab needs to go
Bristle worm needs to go
Apitaisa need to go

+1 on all accounts mentioned.

Especially the welcome to R2R. :)

 

[rkpetersen]

Welcome to the forum. :)

Sometimes you can 'sneak up' on a crab with a forceps or clamp and grab it.
Especially if it's busy eating something tasty.
I've removed several offenders this way.
This kind of clamp works for me.

 

[rkpetersen]

Bristleworms are excellent tank inhabitants.

I got into a 'discussion' with an LFS employee the other day, who basically insisted that all bristleworms were demons from hell and needed to be killed with fire.
I personally don't care much for their aesthetics, but saying that they're all dangerous is a bit much.
And then he started in saying that you can't tell bristle worms from bobbit worms. I ended the conversation at that point.

 

[Sailingeric]

I will throw in a whole mussel for my hermit crabs to eat and they come a running when I do, I bet that will lure out your crab.

 

[Andy Bliss]

Thanks all for your help and advice.

the 1st trap is now set, lets see what it catches ?
I removed the rock with the worm in and immersed it in r/o water (fresh) and 2 smaller worms emerged, no sign of the bigger one tho, with any luck the trap will attract them too?

Tank is now all clear and awaiting livestock, gona leave it turning over for the rest of the week and see if i can carch the hitchikers in the meantime.

Also interested to hear any opinions (i think?) on the whole set up so i’ll include some details and latest photos then hold my breath .........

So main tank is a 180ltr bow front 40” long, it has a sump i built into corner with a 40mm downpipe and 20mm return pipe, sump is a 39” plain glass tank with divisions cut and sciliconed into place, downpipe has a sock, first chamber has the heater and skimmer, Bubble Magnus curve 5, 2nd chamber is all live rock (internal foam filter in there temporary to help the debris), third chamber is a 1000ltr ph pump (to be upgraded to a low voltage variable as it is too noisy) and the last chamber is a top up resevoir with a low voltage pump wired to a float switch in the pump section.

Light in sump is a 6500 led and lights in tank are 2 x flouresent, one aquarium daylight and one blue tinic, night light is a blue led.
Daytime lights on from 13.00 to 23.00 and sump and blue tank light on from 22.00 to 04.00.

 

[Andy Bliss]

Thanks all for your help and advice.

the 1st trap is now set, lets see what it catches ?
I removed the rock with the worm in and immersed it in r/o water (fresh) and 2 smaller worms emerged, no sign of the bigger one tho, with any luck the trap will attract them too?

Tank is now all clear and awaiting livestock, gona leave it turning over for the rest of the week and see if i can carch the hitchikers in the meantime.

Also interested to hear any opinions (i think?) on the whole set up so i’ll include some details and latest photos then hold my breath .........

So main tank is a 180ltr bow front 40” long, it has a sump i built into corner with a 40mm downpipe and 20mm return pipe, sump is a 39” plain glass tank with divisions cut and sciliconed into place, downpipe has a sock, first chamber has the heater and skimmer, Bubble Magnus curve 5, 2nd chamber is all live rock (internal foam filter in there temporary to help the debris), third chamber is a 1000ltr ph pump (to be upgraded to a low voltage variable as it is too noisy) and the last chamber is a top up resevoir with a low voltage pump wired to a float switch in the pump section.

Light in sump is a 6500 led and lights in tank are 2 x flouresent, one aquarium daylight and one blue tinic, night light is a blue led.
Daytime lights on from 13.00 to 23.00 and sump and blue tank light on from 22.00 to 04.00.