Hate these worms

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Greetings reefers!! So I know diversity is a good thing, but I have tons of these guys and whenever I maintenance the tank they fill it with webs. Its a nightmare, I don't want to eradicate them more like control them.I have no idea what they are (exactly ) .they are a worm that builds a hard sharp calcium like structure. WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO YOU CONTROL THEM.

75gal DT livestock consists of
clownfish
two Domino's
lawnmower blenny
three peppermints
Arrow crab
serpent star
sixish hermits
asst. snails
corals
sponges

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Forgot pics

 

[Coralreefer1]

Vermetid worms and Spaghetti worms that kinda look similar.

 

[cloak]

Vermetid snails. :thumbdown

IME limiting the food source and time was the only sure fire cure. Do you feed the tank a lot? You can try to cover the opening of each tube with some super glue gel if you want, but this can get real old real fast. I've also heard that there's certain types of fish that might eat these snails, but sometimes the size of an aquarium won't allow this. If you've got the time, there should be all kinds of information on the internet on how to deal with these hitchhikers. GL.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[JWClark]

I've seen some folks say bumble bee snails will eat and have seen a report or two of yellow coris wrasses going after some. However, may be that they eat the slime strings they put out--or the food caught--and starve them off.

Anyway, I added both to my tank and the vermetids seem to have disappeared from the display. The tubes are still there but they don't send out the foraging slime. Spaghetti worms still there though--but these are good.

I still have them in my refugium so I am chalking up the disappearance from the display to the bumble bee snails and/or yellow wrasse additions.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Thanks for the quick responses I am a extremely lite feeder,I assume these guys feed from the water Calum. not sure what there eating so I would have a hard time starving them.and glueing them seems like an impossible task as there hundreds of them.I might try a wrasse and if the 75gal is to small for him I've got a 125gal that would welcome him, thank again for the info

 

[Customride0105]

I have them in my tank and they don't puke like yours does.

 

[eddiereefs]

Its been said by cloak but il say it again, u are feeding to much. The webs are a feed rsponse to excess food in the water. Control nutrients and it will control them. Very benificial imo as they eat snail poo and no one else will.

 

[reelredfish]

I have a bunch of these and they bug me to death. Not sure the best way to get rid of them besides breaking them off.

I have added a green bird wrasse and I know he eats pretty much all sorts of worms. However I am not sure since this is kind of a snail and kind of a worm.

Guess I need to pay more attention and see if the bird wrasse is helping with this issue or not.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Its been said by cloak but il say it again, u are feeding to much. The webs are a feed rsponse to excess food in the water. Control nutrients and it will control them. Very benificial imo as they eat snail poo and no one else will.

I feed a vary small pinch of seaweed extreme about half a dime size a day and every three days they get a half block of mysis.if I feed any less they wouldn't get feed at all. Tust me there is no excess food after a feed.I had no idea they feed on snail waste I do have a few snails, not many but if it would help with there numbers I could get rid of a few.I'll give it try along with the yellow wrasse. thanks for your advice

 

[CuzzA]

They seem to thrive in some people's tank despite not over feeding. And it's not uncommon to have a bloom of them in a new tank. Like many things that explode in numbers as a tank is maturing. I found the best approach is to simply crush them with a hemostat.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

They seem to thrive in some people's tank despite not over feeding. And it's not uncommon to have a bloom of them in a new tank. Like many things that explode in numbers as a tank is maturing. I found the best approach is to simply crush them with a hemostat.

That seems like a easy solution. I would definitely try that if it wouldn't release any toxins and nuke the tank.I'll run extra carbon and wet skim.Think ITS SAFE?

 

[CuzzA]

I've never heard any report of them being toxic. But I imagine if you killed 100's of them at once they could compromise your water. Mine are pretty much non-existent now. When my tank was maturing I crushed them once a week.

 

[texdoc77]

They seem to thrive in some people's tank despite not over feeding. And it's not uncommon to have a bloom of them in a new tank. Like many things that explode in numbers as a tank is maturing. I found the best approach is to simply crush them with a hemostat.

This is what I did, however, I removed the coral they were attached to and did this in a shallow bucket of tank water. Took me about 20 - 30 minutes. I did notice that sometimes the snails would not get destroyed and would swim around the bucket. One more reason to do this outside of your tank if it is feasible. I have not heard of any of them "nuking" a tank upon their demise.

Hope this helps.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Thanks guys you all have been a big help,I am going to try the crush method,in a pail or something CAN WATE TO CRUSH THOSE LITTLE DEVILS