Bristleworms....

[blukat40]

I am two weeks into my first ever saltwater tank. I pick up some LR that came with Bristleworms. I have read article after article about good they are and how bad they are. I am not sure what to believe. At this point, my wife is creeped out and won't even look at the tank because that's all she sees...
I hate to start all over but I am not certain I have a choice.
I do think I will be starting a small quarantine tank as well.
Thoughts?

 

[crewdawg1981]

They're good for your tank. But if you decide you really hate them, there are fish options out there that will take care of the problem for you (wrasses).

 

[blukat40]

Crewdawg1981;631618 wrote: They're good for your tank. But if you decide you really hate them, there are fish options out there that will take care of the problem for you (wrasses).

I have read about 6 line wrasses, coral band shrimp and some others. I have some concerns about the order these are added. I have read the 6 line should be your last fish. If thats the case, its going to be awhile. In the meantime, I am concerned about a population explosion.

 

[lifestudent]

Aston Martin;631617 wrote: Keep it/them. You want them. I just started a new tank with all base rock and am going to order some from ipsf to put in there.

Don't order any bristleworms... I have lots that I you can have.

 

[cr500_af]

blukat40;631623 wrote: I have read about 6 line wrasses, coral band shrimp and some others. I have some concerns about the order these are added. I have read the 6 line should be your last fish. If thats the case, its going to be awhile. In the meantime, I am concerned about a population explosion.

They won't explode in numbers if you don't overfeed. They are sort of self-regulating in proportion to how much crap they have to feed on. If you have a ton of bristleworms, you need to rethink your husbandry.

 

[raz0945]

I will be glad to bring bristleworms to the next meeting if anyone wants them. Just PM me!Holley

 

[danielll]

I havent seen any bristles in my tank, and I have this thing about wanting lots of life, and if they can be considered clean up crew, I would be interested in some as well Raz0945

 

[raz0945]

I will bring you some at the next meeting or your welcome to come by the house. Just pm me and we will setup a time. Holley.

 

[danielll]

your a hike from the house, Lets plan on next meet. I appreciate it. will my arrow crab munch on them?

 

[frank]

I tried to make a trap once out of a 12 oz coke bottle... most were too smart / long to get caught. Now I know what those guys on "Dangerous Catch" feel like...

 

[ghotit]

Id keep em, though i have had the crap scared out of me when you have one crawl on you as your moveing around the rock =P.

 

[ichthyoid]

I'd keep them. Bristleworms are an important element in sump/fuge populations. They are part of the little garbage man teams, along with pods, that help keep things clean, and nutrients out of solution. -JMHO

FWIW, I recently did a little housekeeping in my sump and found several. I have a nice ball of chato growing in there. I usually feed the pods a little flake food by mixing with a little tank water then use a dropper to sprinkle on the chaeto. I then turn off the lights so they come out to feed. I occasionally will turn the sump light back on about 20-30 minutes later to assess how the pod population looks, and I will see hundreds of them crawling over the chaeto eating the flake food. The other day when I did it, I saw 3 or 4 bristle worms ~2 inches long having their fill too. That chaeto really provides a nice habitat for all of those detritivores to hang out in. I took a little scoop of pods and threw them up in the DT. They made a bee-line for the rocks!-LOL

Gary (gnashty)- thanks for the chaeto and pods. As you can tell, your contributions to my reef are thriving. I've paid it forward several times with clumps of the chaeto to others.

 

[blukat40]

They are staying. I think the initial shock was unexpected. As my wife put it, I thought we got aquarium for fish not insects. Since then we have educated ourselves and the process of acceptance is in full swing. I have noticed that I see fewer in the daytime than when we first spotted them. I guess they are adjusting to my light cycle. At night....OMG..they is a lot of them.