Aiptasia

[mjohnson86]

So I removed a few rocks that seemed to be covered in aiptasia and left them to basically "dry" out for a couple days...

Much to my surprise after looking at them today I found probably 20 bristle worms in the bottom of the tub...

I can only imagine how many are in my tank...

What is the best way to get rid of them?

Will they hurt anything?

I have been reading on here where they are more like a nuisance than anything else...

HELP...

 

[coralsnaked]

Most bristle worms are the aquarist friend. They eat a lot of the stuff that accumulates in the substrate that will raise our trates and phates

Why rid yourself of a reef's frien, they help kiepp our Skerry, Merry.

 

[discocarp]

They're only a nuisance if you touch them. Otherwise they're harmless, even beneficial as a detrivore. I'd just leave them be. You're fine imo.

 

[jdnidle]

I am not trying to promote another website, but here is a good read on bristleworms.
http://www.thereeftank.com/blog/what-to-do-with-bristle-worms/

As long as they are not eating your corals and are not large enough to harm your fish, they can be very beneficial for your aquarium.

 

[gregm11]

I agree, as long as you dont see damage, I have been battling aptasia for a few years now. I kill them with aptasia X and they come right back

 

[Grant W]

The bristle worms are a good guy and the aptasia I would get some Burgia Nudis. They will wipe out the aptasia and are really cool to have. They do a great Job.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

populations of bristle worms will go up and down with food...if you have that many coming out of a couple rocks i suspect you are over feeding.

 

[jdnidle]

I agree, as long as you dont see damage, I have been battling aptasia for a few years now. I kill them with aptasia X and they come right back

I just wanted to report that I recently had some aiptasia in my refugium so I bought 2 peppermint shrimp and put them in my sump and didn't feed them for 3 days and the aiptasia was gone.

Now in the main tank, luckily I have not had aiptasia yet, because I have no idea how to force the shrimp to eat it since they will eat leftover fish food.

 

[docbattysreef]

Bristle worms are definitely beneficial. I have never seen them do anything but scavenge after lights out. If you don't want them though some fish will eat them. I had an Eight Lined Wrasse that feasted on them. For aiptasia control I personally mix Kalkwasser into a paste and cover the Aiptasia using a syringe.