Bristle Worm Controversy

[sandy]

Okay, so most of the literature I have read, links from this board and topic search... say they are good. LFS says uh uh, especially in a small aquarium (50 gal long) that will someday have corals.
So I got some so-called baby bristle worms and have them in the 20 gallon with 20lbs LR and 40lbs Sand. The tank is cycling but only slightly. No other inhabitants except pods, etc.
Yesterday there were many of them all over the rock (maybe ummm 10?) Some stretching for a couple of inches. I put in brine sinking pellets and watched them stretch, grab the food and pull it back into the LR.
So, opinions, ideas, etc. please. Once this tank is cycled and I want to use the sand for my show tank... and probably the LR... whaddya think? Bristle worms and all? Or *NOT*.
Thanks

 

[saltyrich]

Yes. I think they are valuable additions to the reef diversity of your tank.

 

[sandy]

Even da big ones?

 

[just phish]

Yep, even the big ones. I have people come to me asking for me to pick through my refuge to give them bristleworms all the time.
With all the different kinds out there and of those there's only a few that are harmful, odds are yours won't do any harm.
HTH

 

[sandy]

Bought 'em from IPSF.com. Thanks

 

[falcon63]

i would not be with out them

 

[hunterdaddy]

I know first hand that bristle worms can and will eat shrimp.

 

[frankl15207]

This guy makes his living studying them. Read the article and make your own decision:
<a href="http://biogeek.ucdavis.edu/bristleworm.html" target="_blank">http://biogeek.ucdavis.edu/bristleworm.html</a>

 

[nm reef]

Frank...thanks for the excellant link. That has got to be the most intense reading ever on bristleworms!!!
I encourage diversity in my reef and bristleworms are a vital part of that diversity.We may never be able to duplicate a natural reef ...but diversity within our closed attempts is vital...at least in my opinion!

 

[saltyrich]

I just seeded my dsb yesterday with several pods, worms, and a few bristle worms. However, about 3-4 nights ago a finally saw a small bristle worm (about 1 inch). I must say that I was extremely excited because I haven't really seen visible, moving live stuff from my LR. But I know that it's in there!

 

[jakob4001]

they are some of the best scavengers to have in your tank; as mentioned before, there are ONLY 1 or 2 species that consume corals/clams...they are not readily found where most LR comes from...occassionlly there are those who might have a problem w/ them in some way...

 

[bradburycf]

Where can one get some 'good' bristleworms? My lfs doesn't carry them (uinless unknowingly in the lr).

 

[saltyrich]

Try these.
<a href="http://www.coraldynamics.com" target="_blank">http://www.coraldynamics.com</a>
<a href="http://www.inland" target="_blank">http://www.inland</a> aquatics.com
<a href="http://www.ipsf.com" target="_blank">http://www.ipsf.com</a>

 

[bradburycf]

Thanks Salty

 

[saltyrich]

Sorry. The link is <a href="http://www.inlandaquatics.com" target="_blank">http://www.inlandaquatics.com</a>

 

[beth]

Frank, great article and links.