Clear Sand-Tube Worms

[Siege]

Greetings!

So I am fairly new to salt water aquaria -- I kept a planted freshwater for a few years -- and things are going pretty well so far. A short time ago though I discovered a few new "guests" in my tank. They look to be small tendrils/worms encased in sand tubes, which based on a bit of quick googling might be spionid worms based on appearance alone. However, I'm not entirely sure, and if I need to introduce a predator/cut back on feeding or the like I'd as soon know now before this becomes a plague or somesuch, or if they're harmless. Or both, you know.

So, any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Hyde2406]

I have them too never been a problem

 

[ahiggins]

the tubes look to be old skeletons of worms or fans. the little tentacles you see coming out of the sand are most likely spaghetti worms (good guys). (or a bleached aiptasia-I cant make out a mouth lol)

 

[Siege]

Thanks for the help! I suppose my engineer's excavations might have something to do with part of that too...

Yeah, I stared at them for a while. Didn't see any mouths, just clear worms/tentacles. Glad to hear they are probably good guys!

 

[Rob Lion]

they are good guys and alive!, wait a few days, they will send strings out to taste substrate and drag it back to them, they will cover themselves in substrate again soon :)

 

[Cary Meredith]

yes, good guys in my opinion :)

 

[cloak]

This link might help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/ (Figure 10.)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Those are Chaetopterid or Spionid worms. They are usually not an issue, but if you have an overgrowth of them, they can cement your substrate.

 

[orm20]

Those are Chaetopterid or Spionid worms. They are usually not an issue, but if you have an overgrowth of them, they can cement your substrate.

how do i get rid of them they have taken over the sand in my tank

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

how do i get rid of them they have taken over the sand in my tank

You can't.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

how do i get rid of them they have taken over the sand in my tank

The community is in the process of trying to figure that out, but it's a work in progress at the moment:

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