what to do about brissel worms?

[fishon]

I got about 20 pounds of live rock off of a friend and I just noticed last night that each piece has tons of brissel worms in it. Good bad ? What should I do? (I think that is what worm it is.)
Also, there is this weird red pinkish algae. does anyone know what is it that is growing. It is spreading in my tank! (Bad or good?)
Pictures are not the best sorry.

 

[sepulatian]

The worms are awesome sand sifters. They will keep your sand aerated and clean. The algae is coraline. This is a good thing, on both counts! Coraline algae is the very beautiful algae that you will want to cover your rocks. Bristle worms are wonderfull creatures that work all night long, to keep your sand bed clean.

 

[bang guy]

Yes, Bristle Worms are almost always beneficial scavengers (there are exceptions).
The pink stuff looks like foraminiferans.

 

[mkroher]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3177401
The worms are awesome sand sifters. They will keep your sand aerated and clean. The algae is coraline. This is a good thing, on both counts! Coraline algae is the very beautiful algae that you will want to cover your rocks. Bristle worms are wonderfull creatures that work all night long, to keep your sand bed clean.
yeah.. until they look like this!!!

 

[fishon]

Thank for the worm info. Its seems like the algae is foraminiferans form the pictures ive been looking at. Is there info that I should know about it? (Good or bad?)

 

[fishon]

Here is a comparison I found that looks like it what do you think it is and what should I do (Good or bad?)
<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/foraminiferans/dendro982/mix/foraminiferans.jpg?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/foraminiferans.jpg" border="0"></a>

 

[bang guy]

There's no problem with them. It's advisable to wear gloves when handling rock though because the Forams are pointy and you can get an infection if they pierce you skin.

 

[fretfreak13]

Huh, I had forams and didn't even know it I guess. I just thought it was coraline. Learn something new everyday. lol

 

[cita_55]

some bristle worms are bad and can start eating at your corals and I found out the hard way. I have a bristle worm in my 45g and i had 20 mushrooms, I now have 4. I've heard they can reach lengths of 12in or more. I suggest getting them out.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Cita_55
http:///forum/post/3177726
some bristle worms are bad and can start eating at your corals and I found out the hard way. I have a bristle worm in my 45g and i had 20 mushrooms, I now have 4. I've heard they can reach lengths of 12in or more. I suggest getting them out.

The worm pictured by the OP is a detrivore and can't eat coral. Yes, some do but you have to be very unlucky to get one. Sorry for your loss though.
Some Bristle Worms can reach 10 feet in length or more.

 

[fishon]

I was told that if i get an arrow crab he will eat the worms is that true? If not what can help me get rid of them?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by FishOn
http:///forum/post/3178093
I was told that if i get an arrow crab he will eat the worms is that true? If not what can help me get rid of them?
Yes, Arrow Crabs eat them. The population of Bristleworms is governed by the amount of available food. Less food = fewer worms. I doubt you could eliminate all of them without sterilizing your live rock, nor would you want to eliminate all of them.

 

[jstdv8]

the site index for fish also says that sixline wrasse eat bristleworms