Bristle Worm Question

Braves Fan · Apr 8, 2011

I am starting to have a Bristle worm problem in my tank, not a big problem yet, but its starting to get there. I have been moving all of the zoas in my tank to smaller less porous pieces of live rock in my tank, rocks with less hiding places for the Bristle worms to hide. My question, is there something that I can dip the live rock in to drive the worms out of the rock that won't kill the (sp) corleain Algae off of the rock. A fresh water RO dip, a coral dipping product, anything?

Electrobes · Apr 8, 2011

Why are you trying to rid yourself of the bristleworms? They are scavengers, and good ones at that. The true harm they pose is to people who touch them.. mean little spines! Are you worried they may attack coral?

Braves Fan · Apr 8, 2011

I am starting to get a bunch of them in the tank. I am not trying to get rid of all of them, I don't think that would be possible, would love to just put a dent in the population a bit.

Viva'sReef · Apr 8, 2011

Your starting too see a problem because you must be over feeding the tank....cut back a little and the worms will too

Electrobes · Apr 8, 2011

A cute trick I saw was to get some panty hose, put some food in it (Not much) right before lights out, and make the opening too small for fish. By next morning you'll have caught a bunch of them. :)

CJO · Apr 8, 2011

The pantyhose trick should work, but I really think you should let them be. They will ebb and wane naturally with the amount of food available.

CJ

divewsharks · Apr 9, 2011

CJO said:
The pantyhose trick should work, but I really think you should let them be. They will ebb and wane naturally with the amount of food available.

CJ

+1. Population grows and recedes with available food to scavenge. Your corals aren't in any danger.

_Alex_ · Apr 9, 2011

+1 to less feeding, a lfs here had one in a display tank for 10+ years and it got to be 2-3ft long and never bothered a thing. Now the gorilla crabs that got in there was another problem lol.

Electrobes · Apr 9, 2011

_Alex_ said:
+1 to less feeding, a lfs here had one in a display tank for 10+ years and it got to be 2-3ft long and never bothered a thing. Now the gorilla crabs that got in there was another problem lol.

lol man I hate those crabs!

You could just do the panty hose trick once to cut the population, and then feed less from there. I would worry about a die off happening...