Just found TONS of little bristle worms

[reb]

I have a 28 gallon reef tank with mainly soft corals and some lps's. I just noticed tonight when feeding my fish that it looks like I have a ton of very small bristle worms. (probably at least 50) They are very small, maybe 1 to 2 inches long and the size of a piece of string. They are white and black colored with spines sticking out all over. They only come out when feeding usually and seem to live in the live rock with the corals. How can I get rid of these? Are there fish or shrimp that are reef safe that will eat these? In my tank I have 2 clown fish, 2 red fire fish, a yellow watchman, a pisto; shrimp and a peppermint shrimp. I have never had a bristle worm problem before.
Also what do you recommend for live stock that will stir up my sand without causing to much damage for sand storms and my corals? I use to have a diamond goby which did a good job but it always made such a mess.
thanks

 

[rickross23]

Arrow crabs hunt bristleworms so do some wrasses like six-line, lunare (not reef safe). You could get bristleworm traps, but hey don't always work. I say get a arrow crab. Google a body of them on YouTube hunting b-worms its pretty cool.

 

[lubeck]

Are bristle worms really that bad? I didnt think so but I'm prob wrong

 

[superman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reb http:///t/391045/just-found-tons-of-little-bristle-worms#post_3465984
Also what do you recommend for live stock that will stir up my sand without causing to much damage for sand storms and my corals? I use to have a diamond goby which did a good job but it always made such a mess.
If you're looking for small things to stir up sand without much impact, try worms. Bristleworms go through the sand plenty. Also, cerith snails can be pretty effective, or a sand sifting star. A larger star may pose a risk to moving the rocks if they are just sitting on top of the substrate.

 

[novahobbies]

Nix on the sand sifting star.....I wouldn't put one in ANY standard tank, much less a small nano. They're voracious predators, will strip your sandbed clean of any beneficial critters, then slowly die of starvation.

 

[acrylic51]

50 might be a bit much for a 28 gallon, but I wouldn't rid the tank completely of them.....They are beneficial if kept in check and not overly huge......