gmate
MASC Member
Here's the story: I started this tank with 30lbs of live rock from a FOWLR setup from a buddy. Rock had bristle worms, brittle stars, featherdusters, snails, and that's about it. Pretty basic and clean rock. I added about 15 lbs of live rock from a local store, nothing but pods on this rock, clean. Then I got two large centerpieces from a local reefer that were covered in various coral (encrusting SPS, gsp's, monticaps, some zoa's). These rocks were healthy, but LOADED with bristleworms.
So my tank is a 55g corner bowfront, and I'd say there's about 65 lbs of live rock in it. I put the last of this rock in two nights ago, and the bristleworms began crawling out and onto the sandbed. I didn't think anything of it. Well after getting it in, I wasn't happy with the aquascape, and moved stuff around. This is when I saw how many worms there really were.
Needless to say the tank is nearly done cycling (no ammonia, nitrites at .25 or less, trates about 20 and going down. Last night I had a heater issue and one of my two units baked my tank to about 86 degrees. The corals took a hit but the 2 clowns I have in there seem fine.
The bristleworms did not fair too well. I don't know if it was the heat, or the giant nutrient reduction from their previous system (which wouldn't make sense, that wouldn't kill off 90% of the populaion within 48 hours?). But there are now giant dead piles of bristleworms. These are confirmed dead, I have poked and prodded and they don't move. Those that do, barely squirm.
Three different piles of dead/dying worms in my sandbed, all have been sitting there for at least 12 hours now. Should I try to remove them to prevent a massive ammonia spike? My CUC (mostly hermits, occasional snail) will take care of this much dead matter, or should I let it be. I'm not going to get a wrasse or arrow crab to remedy this issue, though a Coral Banded Shrimp could be an option. May not be necessary if everything is dead though. I'd prefer to not add livestock to this tank at this time.
Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Glenn
So my tank is a 55g corner bowfront, and I'd say there's about 65 lbs of live rock in it. I put the last of this rock in two nights ago, and the bristleworms began crawling out and onto the sandbed. I didn't think anything of it. Well after getting it in, I wasn't happy with the aquascape, and moved stuff around. This is when I saw how many worms there really were.
Needless to say the tank is nearly done cycling (no ammonia, nitrites at .25 or less, trates about 20 and going down. Last night I had a heater issue and one of my two units baked my tank to about 86 degrees. The corals took a hit but the 2 clowns I have in there seem fine.
The bristleworms did not fair too well. I don't know if it was the heat, or the giant nutrient reduction from their previous system (which wouldn't make sense, that wouldn't kill off 90% of the populaion within 48 hours?). But there are now giant dead piles of bristleworms. These are confirmed dead, I have poked and prodded and they don't move. Those that do, barely squirm.
Three different piles of dead/dying worms in my sandbed, all have been sitting there for at least 12 hours now. Should I try to remove them to prevent a massive ammonia spike? My CUC (mostly hermits, occasional snail) will take care of this much dead matter, or should I let it be. I'm not going to get a wrasse or arrow crab to remedy this issue, though a Coral Banded Shrimp could be an option. May not be necessary if everything is dead though. I'd prefer to not add livestock to this tank at this time.
Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Glenn
