Ive already posted a couple threads on restoring my nano reef tank. One issue I'm concerned with this week is the sight of bristleworms which caused my tank crash last time. I know a lot of people maintain that they are a beneficial part of the clean up crews, so how do I control them so they don't out populate their food source which they did last time causing a sudden ammonia spike as they died off on mass. Right now, I'm only feeding my anemone twice a week and my clownfish three times a week, hoping to give my clean up crew a chance to catch up and clean the tank out. Also, on that note, if my anemone is hosting the clownfish do I need to feed both? Im a little fuzzy on the pros and cons of the symbiotic relationship.
Bristleworms beneficial or nuisance?
- Thread starter Walla2GSP
- Start date
Brandon0034
New member
I'm not sure how they caused a tank crash previously?
Are you sure the tank didn't crash then the bristle worms started consuming dead inhabitants like a regular clean up crew?
As for the anemone you don't have to feed it but some prefer to. I have two in my smaller tank and never directly feed them, just broadcast with reef chili.
Sometimes you might notice your clowns will bring it food as well, but my rbt have grown plenty without direct feeding.
Are you sure the tank didn't crash then the bristle worms started consuming dead inhabitants like a regular clean up crew?
As for the anemone you don't have to feed it but some prefer to. I have two in my smaller tank and never directly feed them, just broadcast with reef chili.
Sometimes you might notice your clowns will bring it food as well, but my rbt have grown plenty without direct feeding.
Well, my inexperience probably ultimately is what killed the tank, but I was overfeeding so my half dozen bristleworms became 300-400 bristleworms in about a months time (35 gallon system). I knew they were feeding on waste so I tried starving the tank in hopes of reducing them, but when they ran out of food they died off 50-60 at a time over 5-6 days. Ammonia levels were WAY too high for the biological system to handle and the corals and invertebrates were all gone within a couple weeks. Apparently not everything died because here it is almost 2 yrs later and every day I find more and more of the original inhabitants popping up. All my LPS are gone, but some of my mushrooms are coming back and the bristleworms and pods are all coming out of the substrate.
So as long as I don't overfeed the tank this time they shouldn't multiply?
Smokeeye123
New member
I started a 10g nano build about 3 weeks ago and I've seen a spike in bristleworms. To me though, they are probably the most effective member of the cleanup crew. Anything that ends on the bottom gets eventually gobbled by them or other tank inhabitants. I think it's pointless to try and get rid of them all. If you want to cut the numbers down, feed less or invest in something that eats them like Arrow crabs, Coral Banded Shrimp, and some types of wrasses. (Just make sure what you have would be compatible with those things that I mentioned).
Dkuhlmann
New member
You're starving your clowns only feeding them 3x a week. They can get sick from that. I feed my tank 2x per day and have 9 fish in my 40b and I do not have a bristle worm problem. Sure I've got them, but not in any crazy amounts. I think part of your problem is such a small tank. I would feed the clowns no less than 1x per day, and 2x a day is preferable. You can feed a frozen mix, frozen Mysis and pellets I use NLS IMO best pellets on the market. FYI Bristle worms can and will also eat the extra pellets that hit the bottom. So when you feed feed small amounts and no more than they can consume in 2 or 3 minutes.
Don't worry about feeding your anemone the lights are food enough for them and the clowns will in a sense feed them.
Don't worry about feeding your anemone the lights are food enough for them and the clowns will in a sense feed them.
I would say your old tank had a lot of problems only starting with overfeeding. A fish needs to fill its mouth once a day, no more than that. Some eat little and often, some stuff themselves and then are happy. But no food should linger longer than 3 minutes. Either gone or excessive.
Be sure your salinity stays at 1.024 at 24/7; your alkalinity at a steady 8.3, your magnesium at 1350, your ammonia at 0 and your nitrate under 20, and this tank will work a lot better. Test all these every weekend, or whatever day makes it easy for you, but write down the results and don't let those numbers drift.
Be sure your salinity stays at 1.024 at 24/7; your alkalinity at a steady 8.3, your magnesium at 1350, your ammonia at 0 and your nitrate under 20, and this tank will work a lot better. Test all these every weekend, or whatever day makes it easy for you, but write down the results and don't let those numbers drift.
