Fireworm Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gabriel Broussard]

I am worried about the future health of my fish.....

The tank is only 55gals with a 10gal refugium. My corals have been decimated by fireworms 'Hermodice carunculata' a specific type of bristle worms that eat everything. They are crafty little devils and know when the tweezers are coming. I have tried the bottle with a cone of netting that has food in it to trap them (like a small crab trap) with no luck. So what i am asking for is advice on traps and what kind of creatures eat them. Bear in mind that there is a large serpent star (a green brittle star 'Ophiarachna incrassata') that has eaten many fish. I have 5 damsel fish 'stegastes variabilis' that know to be weary of the bringer of death and a tomato clown 'Amphiprion frenatus' that hangs out with the star. Very funny friendship but it keeps the tomato clown from being picked on. So saying that there is a constant treat to the whatever fish eats the fireworms is an understatement. Shrimp are out of the question because they are just an expensive dinner. Crabs make it sometimes but unless they have a shell (like hermits) they don't last. Understanding that some wrasse have a hard palate they might be able to eat them. What species of wrasse or other fish are the best for fireworms? What crabs are best to eat them? What other creatures vertebrate or invertebrate eat them? Tonight I will be trying the nylon stocking with food in it to see if that works. If it doesn't I will go get a PVC pipe next. Other trap ideas would be appreciated, but I'm really looking to add to the food chain. Thank you for your time and PLEASE HELP.

Also understand that it is a chem free system. We have removed all mechanical filtration and really on natural siphoning threw live rock, other natural medias and life forms for cleaning. The water tests are in a healthy range and is not the issue. I just want to know how to knock back or completely remove the Fireworms in a natural way. Thank you again

[leebca]

I understand. Sorry to hear of this pest. You might get better help by posting in the Reef Forum, where they deal with invertebrates. You posted this in the Marine Fish care Forum and that's okay, but not your best posting place for this kind of question.

I'm impressed in the sense that there are several dozens of different bristle worms and that you identified (scientific name) the actual one you have is a major feat. Traps are the most common form of reducing them. There may be some over the counter solutions at your LFS. Personally, my experience is that they are very difficult to get rid of.

If they are the 'fireworm' then the marine life forms that eat them would even have a problem in a captive environment. One or two may be handled -- the creature's resistance to the stings being tested. But having many of them could over power even a natural fish predator. I am not familiar with their natural, non-fish predators.

Their favorite food is decay, detritus, and garbage. That your system is free of mechanical devices probably increases their food supply above the usual marine aquarium system. That is to say, starving them would not likely work too well, as even a baited trap may not appeal that much to them.

The only solution I have to obtain a new aquarium, and start with a new substrate (not a live substrate). Get the substrate seeded with bacteria (age the tank some) and then transfer into it each piece of rock, piece by piece, AFTER you have physically removed the worms hiding in it. Personally, since I dislike these guys so much, it is one of the reasons why I quarantine and inspect live rock before I use it in my system.

My post in this thread may explain the last paragraph to some extent: Adding Live Rock to old aquarium

I would go ahead and post this in the Reef Forum to see if other reefers have any suggestions. Good luck!

[Reefing Madness]

Dumping the system was my basic opinion also. That makes 2. Anyone else care to chime in? Just need one more.