Tube Worm Havoc

[Akwarius]

I have a CRAZY amount of tube worms in my display and sump. In some areas of my tank they cover every surface not occupied by coral. In the sump they often times slow down or entirely clog pump intakes. Could the proliferation of tube worms be detrimental to my water quality, ie will they pollute the water when dead? Aside from getting a butterfly fish, is there any way to keep the population down?

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I have a CRAZY amount of tube worms in my display and sump. In some areas of my tank they cover every surface not occupied by coral. In the sump they often times slow down or entirely clog pump intakes. Could the proliferation of tube worms be detrimental to my water quality, ie will they pollute the water when dead? Aside from getting a butterfly fish, is there any way to keep the population down?

"Detrimental to water quality" - Defintiely not, they are actually very good filter feeders. You could try manually removing some but the more you feed the tank the more you will see.

 

[Akwarius]

I meant detrimental because of all of the empty tubes laying around. If I move a piece of live rock or a frag plug, they swirl all around the tank.

 

[CJO]

Stop feeding so much and you will see less worms.

CJ

 

[Wy Renegade]

Sounds like you have a large population of the colonial type tube worms. To my knowledge they are not detrimental to water quality, but are an indicator of an overabundance of nutrients available in the water column. Generally its recommended that in order to reduce the population, you need to cut back on the amount you are feeding the tank.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I meant detrimental because of all of the empty tubes laying around. If I move a piece of live rock or a frag plug, they swirl all around the tank.

If they are free floating or easy to grab on the sand, i would put up a scooper type attachment and just get alot of them out. i have something like this Amazon.com: TOM Aquarium Maintenance Algae Scraper Multi Tool 34 Length: Kitchen & Dining The scooper really helps keep the sand clean of large stuff.

 

[Tabasco1]

+1 to nutrients. If you cut that down the population should adjust on its own. To my knowledge the empty tubes will not contribute to fouling water, I would try to siphon them out at water changes though so they don't create unsightly messes.

 

[Akwarius]

If its excess nutrients wouldnt i have nuisance algae problems? My nitrates are 3-5 ppm and phosphates are undetectable. I feed very conservatively and never phyto.

 

[Wy Renegade]

If its excess nutrients wouldnt i have nuisance algae problems? My nitrates are 3-5 ppm and phosphates are undetectable. I feed very conservatively and never phyto.

Was using the term nutrients loosly, as in "food". I would say that they are directly benefiting from your conservative feeding and you want to reduce population, you'll have to be even more conservative. Like every living organism, they do require a food source; not a large source obviously since they are micro filter feeders.

 

[Akwarius]

Perhaps the food source is plankton/bacterioplankton? I have been running ecobak for 9 months.

 

[xmetalfan99]

They are gowing so quickly because of extra food in the water. the could be feeding off of the wastes from runnin ecobak. I actually like the tube worms. Makes me think I am doing something right.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Perhaps the food source is plankton/bacterioplankton? I have been running ecobak for 9 months.

Interesting, could be a good possibility. I'd love to know if anyone else running ecobak has these in their tank and has noticed an increase in populations as well.

 

[Akwarius]

Interesting, could be a good possibility. I'd love to know if anyone else running ecobak has these in their tank and has noticed an increase in populations as well.

Thats the only food source that I can think of. My sump is disgusting with these things and sponges too for that matter.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

They are gowing so quickly because of extra food in the water. the could be feeding off of the wastes from runnin ecobak. I actually like the tube worms. Makes me think I am doing something right.

Yeah i agree - The presence of tube worms, sponges, bristle worms etc all mean the tank is doing well...keep things the same and just manually remove. no need to go crazy!

 

[hollback]

I have an extreme amount of tube worms and have been dosing vodka for about 4 years. I think they are feeding on the bacteria in my system.

 

[Akwarius]

Yeah i agree - The presence of tube worms, sponges, bristle worms etc all mean the tank is doing well...keep things the same and just manually remove. no need to go crazy!

Easier said than done! The main aggravation is that they are starting to clog pumps and restrict flow around some corals.

 

[xmetalfan99]

Easier said than done! The main aggravation is that they are starting to clog pumps and restrict flow around some corals.

Who ever said you couldn't have to much success was wrong I guess. You could siphon out the ones not attached to the rocks and glass to eliminate the clogging.

 

[Akwarius]

Right...that's what I've been doing. Im just not happy about adding something else to my maintenance routine. I guess there are no free lunches in reefkeeping!

 

[xmetalfan99]

Right...that's what I've been doing. Im just not happy about adding something else to my maintenance routine. I guess there are no free lunches in reefkeeping!

Nope, you could try getting a predator of the tube worms to rid them that way. I don't know of any that would be reef safe though.

 

[Akwarius]

Nope, you could try getting a predator of the tube worms to rid them that way. I don't know of any that would be reef safe though.

yeah like a butterfly. But when the tube worms run out then what will he eat?