What are these?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: General Help
Forum Description: The place to ask about pest, problems, hitchhikers, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44021
Printed Date: April 25 2024 at 2:50pm
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Topic: What are these?
Posted By: arthuriv
Subject: What are these?
Date Posted: October 14 2010 at 7:45pm
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They kind of look like bristle worms except for their heads look different at least compared to the ones I have in my tanks.
  Thank you!
Arthur ------------- Quality Marines Aquaculturing & Captive Breeding program! Presented by Ashley & Chelsea from Reef On Thursday 6 Oct 2016 |
Replies:
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 14 2010 at 10:33pm
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Scavenging Polychaete worms.
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: arthuriv
Date Posted: October 14 2010 at 11:31pm
Are they good or bad?
I'm assuming since it is a scavenger it is good!
Thank you!
Arthur ------------- Quality Marines Aquaculturing & Captive Breeding program! Presented by Ashley & Chelsea from Reef On Thursday 6 Oct 2016 |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: TriggerHappy
Date Posted: October 15 2010 at 12:28am
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Check here: http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0697/0697_2.html - http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0697/0697_2.html
------------- 210 gallon Mixed Reef |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: October 15 2010 at 2:10am
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I would toss them asap! Read this: http://oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm - http://oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 15 2010 at 9:59am
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For the benefit of the entire club, I have copied below, the PM that I sent to Arthur in response to his inquiry. Perhaps it will put your mind at ease to know that in my 17 years in this hobby with dozens of my own tanks, adding numerous types of organisms, always leaving strange critters in my tanks, adding uncured LR fresh from the ocean, I've never had a coral eating worm and to my knowledge never had a problem with Isopods. I'm not saying they weren't there. I don't know, but I've never had any organism that I could not take care of in one way or another. We should recognize that some of the living things introduced into our tanks do not survive. Many organisms soon die because the conditions, mostly food, are not right for them. Flatworms, Aiptasia and Red Bugs are the worst and we know how to control or eradicate those. I allow and even encourage diversity and believe my tanks have been so much the better for it. A few years ago, when I was growing coral for part of my income, visiting hobbyists loved to sit and examine my tanks. They would often comment on the wonderful abundance of life in my tanks compared to others. I must have been doing something right.  Keep your arms and hands in the tank and enjoy the ride. Mark ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 15 2010 at 10:19am
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Besides, that crazy long worm from Oregon does not seem the same type of worm as in Arthur's pic. Rob Toonen says, "Polychaetes are an important, but much maligned, part of a healthy reef environment." He even pictures this worm the Scavenging polychaete Eunice antennata, that has antennae not unlike those on Arthur's worms.  Maybe I should add that, because of the way I create my reef systems, no skimmers, in the sunlight, encouraging algae growth and herbivores, I may be a little different than the typical hobbyist. The pristine manicured tank with ultra clean rock and sand may not handle these scavengers as well. There just isn't anything for them to eat, so they crawl out, taste the coral and say, "Hey, that's better than nothing." Just a thought.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: xlr8r
Date Posted: October 15 2010 at 11:10am
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Mark, I fully agree with you. I'm relatively new to this hobby but feel that diversity only helps a tank. I have no sump/skimmer/refugium ect. I have done only 1 water change in the 7 or so months that its been running. I rely on, and encourage, scavengers and macro algea and other "things" to help keep a balance. I want a tank full of life. A "busy" tank is much more interesting. Just my $.02. ------------- When you hear hoofbeats....Think of a zebra |