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Bristle/Fireworms System FAQs 

Related FAQs: Worm Systems, & Bristle/Fireworms 1, Bristle/Fireworms 2Bristle/Fireworms 3, Bristle/Fireworms 4, Worm IdentificationPolychaete Identification, Polychaete Behavior, Polychaete Compatibility, Polychaete Selection, Polychaete Feeding, Polychaete Disease, Polychaete Reproduction

Related Articles: Worms, Polychaetes, Flatworms/Planaria

Amphitrite / Spaghetti Worm Question, sys.  12/10/07 Hello Wet Web Crew, I added a new Amphitrite to my nano tank 2 days ago. Its body is a healthy red/pink and its tentacles are active, but I am concerned because it has not burrowed into the sand. I have buried its posterior half just under the sand thinking I might give it a start, but it just slowly works its way back to the surface. As you can see in the attached pictures I have placed a bit of live rock in front of it. I was hoping to protect its delicate/exposed body until it burrowed in. Does it normally take a few days for them to become comfortable enough burrow into the sand? <Mmm, doesn't live in sand like this...> Could the type of sand be a problem (Ocean Direct Aragonite live sand)? Or is this simply a behavior that it is only capable of in early life? Thank you for your time and help. <The habitat of these animals is finer mix of much smaller sand particles and silt... "mud". Bob Fenner>

 

I Think I Have (Bristle) Worms, Eco-Aqualizer Question I think that I have bristle worms in my tank.  <<Not unheard of.>> My Live rock is loaded with them.  <<Ah, EXCELLENT indicator of husbandry (lack thereof), detritus levels. The worms are there in large numbers because they have plenty of food.>> I have taken a picture of one that I caught.  <<Not by hand, I hope. Bristle worms look similar to fire worms, NOT fun! Both can leave these very fine hairs in your skin, not entirely unlike some species of cacti. (Yes, I have been stuck, left little bumps in my finger for YEARS!)>> My question is this, are they harmful to the tank or should I just leave them in the tank?  <<No, they are not harmful at all. There are those who will assert that they can eat your Tridacnids, some corals, etc., but they are misinformed. Bristle worms are specifically detritivores (detritivores?), they eat dead and rotting stuff. Of course, there are species that may attack desirable specimens, but these are not an indicator of tank health/husbandry, and don't usually appear in the large proportions we see with bristle worms.>> Are they beneficial and if so how do they benefit the tank?  <<They're quite beneficial, especially if you haven't got a handle on the detritus, as they will actually help prevent a huge buildup of nitrate within the system by their consumption. However, they're not very pretty, I personally don't find them desirable (not after having been stuck), and would address the husbandry here to get their numbers down. All such issues are posted here on WWM ad infinitum.>> I have attached two pictures.  <<Good shots.>> I am also wondering if anyone knows anything about a product called Molecular Ionization which is an inline Aquarium ionization device. Their web site is www.ecoaqualizer.com  and the product is Inline aquarium ionization.  <<Just reading the drivel on their site gets my hackles up!>> It is supposed to clean the water and help prevent disease and algae growth. <<This product is useless, a waste of time, money, effort. If what they claim were possible, why are municipal water districts not using it? Go to reefs.org, search this product, learn what a hoax it is!>> Thank you, Kathy <<You're welcome, Kathy. Spend your hard-earned on a good protein skimmer, instead. Stay away from these products that promise the world based on pseudo-science. Marina>> P.S. A big hello to Bob Fenner!!! I have not been in this forum for quite a while.

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