sand tube worm? pest?

[dryDiver]

hi all, this tank is 1.5years old n have many many of these worms?? that use the sand to make their tube n they come out n dangle like white thread.

what is it n how to get rid of them?

not very good pics, hope u can see the tube rising up from the sand n under the rocks n the thread-like worms straying around.

Thanks for ur input

[Gouldian]

It should be a terebellid aka spaghetti worms, they are usually found buried in sand bed or fastened on liverocks; extending its tentacles to feed on detritus an float particles.

They are considered beneficial but some hobbyist will removed them due to aesthetic reasons.

However, if there is sufficient food source and lack of predation, their population may increase to plague proportion.

Some natural opportunistic predators are Pygmy Angels, Wrassees, Dottybacks, Gobies, Coral Banded Shrimp, Butterflyfishes etc (Do your research on the individual species before committing in getting one for your tank).

Being opportunistic, they will be able to keep the population in check but will not fully eradicate them.

Another way is to remove them manually or to super glue the opening.

HTH

Ref:

http://www.pirx.com/gallery/worms/sworm01

http://www.reefs.org/forums/topic17979.html

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/general-reef-aquarium-discussion/39483-spaghetti-worms-does-anything-eat-them.html

[dryDiver]

tks Gouldian for taking the trouble to get the links. much appreciated.

for starters i think i will use my sand shifter starfish

[vincegoh]

I had a lot of them and I leave them alone. It jus make the tank more natural, IMO.

[mitlancer]

Plenty of them in my tank too... but will suck some out during my weekly WC to control the population...

They are good scavanger for leftover food.

[dryDiver]

my spagettis are just too numerous.

wondering what fish would clear them?