pesky pests

[2ndThief]

Hey there,

its been forever since I've posted on here but I need some help. In my 30g nano which I've had for 3 years, I've noticed some pests start becoming out of control. I believe theyre called bristelworms or flatworms but I need some clarification cause I'm not sure.

My tank used to be very established with zoas and LPS and then I went out of state for a really long time, now all the original coral (save a bubble coral) is gone and I'm starting fresh. I have added an anemone and am about to start getting back into the zoa swing of things but I've noticed these guys:

(if the pic doesn't work go here: https://www.me.com/gallery/#100023/IMG_0332 )
now I've asked the LFS, they told me to remove rock and get them out by tweezer, I've also had some luck with sucking them up into a turkey baster. I'm just a little overwhelmed by the task at hand because there are just sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many of them its ridiculous.

I need any advice, tips, hints, help, or any other way of saying the same thing to get rid of these guys. I cant introduce any fish I dont think cause I've had my blk and white clown by itself in there for the last 2 years so I dont think it would be to nice to newcomers, but dear lord I need to get these worms out!

 

[SD Actuary]

The picture didnt load for me and you need sign on info for that link. I am assuming it is a flatworm tho.

This is a Bristleworm

These are Flatworms

Bristleworms are just part of your clean up crew and wont be a problem but the flatworms can raise hell and can eat coral and multiply insanely quickly.


Flatworm Exit can do a pretty good job initially, just bomb the crap out of them with this

http://www.marinedepot.com/Salifert...Pest_Control-Salifert-SF5111-FIADAFFE-vi.html

Various species of wrasse will eat them, although that will take a lot longer than the Flatworm Exit.

Increase your water flow and start dosing that stuff.

Good luck with it

 

[2ndThief]

lets try this link

http://gallery.me.com/perryxcore#100023/IMG_0332&bgcolor=black

 

[2ndThief]

so if you're saying bristleworms aren't a problem I'm glad to hear it, I just want to make 100% sure they dont cause any problem cause I dont remember ever having them in the tank and now there's like, a cuhhhhrrrraaaazzzzyyyy amount of them

 

[SD Actuary]

Based on that picture, you have bristleworms. They don't do anything to coral, but the big monsters have been known to eat slow moving sleeping fish (pretty rare).

They are really good at eating dead fish food and other clean up crew duties.

The things that do eat them are: (assuming you dont overfeed your fish)

Neon Dottyback
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_species_details.aspx?ProductId=1523974

Arrow Crab
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_species_details.aspx?ProductId=1173554

I tried an arrow crab once, but he spent too much time standing on my Acan colonies and eating food when i fed my fish, he didnt really touch the bristleworms.


If you really dont like them my suggestions is just get some pliers and sneak up and grab them after lights out, dont touch them with your hands tho.