Pale Worms

[Ctmidnite]

I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
could shed some light on what they are.

They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build the
tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches long,
and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
tube. Really pretty cool.

I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
know what they are and if they are harmful?

Captain Midnite

[wolfhedd]

think those are tube worms, you prob will get a better answer, but i have a
whole bunch in my tank now fun to watch, two per tube, build their own home,
you have some real fine sugar sand in there right? they like that, and
without it, wont gro well. imagine a rock covered with those, they clean
house pretty good those things..

wolfhedd


"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
...
> I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
> could shed some light on what they are.
>
> They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
> incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build the
> tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches long,
> and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
> tube. Really pretty cool.
>
> I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
> know what they are and if they are harmful?
>
> Captain Midnite
>

[Ctmidnite]

Actually no, it fairly coarse crushed corral. But I can see where
they might like the fine stuff better. They really are pretty cool.
More of them will be nice.

Ctmidnite


On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:27:13 GMT, "wolfhedd"
> wrote:

>think those are tube worms, you prob will get a better answer, but i have a
>whole bunch in my tank now fun to watch, two per tube, build their own home,
>you have some real fine sugar sand in there right? they like that, and
>without it, wont gro well. imagine a rock covered with those, they clean
>house pretty good those things..
>
>wolfhedd
>
>
>"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
...
>> I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
>> could shed some light on what they are.
>>
>> They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
>> incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build the
>> tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches long,
>> and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
>> tube. Really pretty cool.
>>
>> I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
>> know what they are and if they are harmful?
>>
>> Captain Midnite
>>
>

[wolfhedd]

ok ya, i had crushed coral. i changed it out after a huge hair algae
problem started up, its getting better now, but when i had crushed coral i
had those things but they looked different. when i changed out the sand to
sugar fine, i realized that those worms and other creatures like those real
FINE grains to use for their house building, tubes are built up faster.
wolfhedd

"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
...
> Actually no, it fairly coarse crushed corral. But I can see where
> they might like the fine stuff better. They really are pretty cool.
> More of them will be nice.
>
> Ctmidnite
>
>
> On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:27:13 GMT, "wolfhedd"
> > wrote:
>
> >think those are tube worms, you prob will get a better answer, but i have
a
> >whole bunch in my tank now fun to watch, two per tube, build their own
home,
> >you have some real fine sugar sand in there right? they like that, and
> >without it, wont gro well. imagine a rock covered with those, they clean
> >house pretty good those things..
> >
> >wolfhedd
> >
> >
> >"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
> >> could shed some light on what they are.
> >>
> >> They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
> >> incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build the
> >> tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches long,
> >> and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
> >> tube. Really pretty cool.
> >>
> >> I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
> >> know what they are and if they are harmful?
> >>
> >> Captain Midnite
> >>
> >
>

[Ctmidnite]

When I started with salt, (been doing fresh for ever), I didn't know
what to use. I was afraid fine would go right up my vac. But know
that I have it set up I hardly ever use the vac.

I have a refugium set up in the basement and it has fine sand and
there are more worms. More everything small. :) Bugs everywhere.
If I were doing it again I'd use the fine in my main tank.

You live and learn.

Ct Midnite

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 17:09:16 GMT, "wolfhedd"
> wrote:

>ok ya, i had crushed coral. i changed it out after a huge hair algae
>problem started up, its getting better now, but when i had crushed coral i
>had those things but they looked different. when i changed out the sand to
>sugar fine, i realized that those worms and other creatures like those real
>FINE grains to use for their house building, tubes are built up faster.
>wolfhedd
>
>"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
...
>> Actually no, it fairly coarse crushed corral. But I can see where
>> they might like the fine stuff better. They really are pretty cool.
>> More of them will be nice.
>>
>> Ctmidnite
>>
>>
>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:27:13 GMT, "wolfhedd"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >think those are tube worms, you prob will get a better answer, but i have
>a
>> >whole bunch in my tank now fun to watch, two per tube, build their own
>home,
>> >you have some real fine sugar sand in there right? they like that, and
>> >without it, wont gro well. imagine a rock covered with those, they clean
>> >house pretty good those things..
>> >
>> >wolfhedd
>> >
>> >
>> >"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >> I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
>> >> could shed some light on what they are.
>> >>
>> >> They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
>> >> incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build the
>> >> tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches long,
>> >> and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
>> >> tube. Really pretty cool.
>> >>
>> >> I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
>> >> know what they are and if they are harmful?
>> >>
>> >> Captain Midnite
>> >>
>> >
>>
>

[wolfhedd]

you could always change it out in the main tank, like i had to , if it
becomes necessary. just put news paper on my table, layed out all the rocks
on the paper, then scooped up the substrate, left the fines, stirred up the
fines to get the junk filtered, so that only fine sand would land back ont
he bottom, then laid in the new sand, not too many probs after, except for
the darn hair algae thats going away now i hope...

wolfhedd


"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
...
> When I started with salt, (been doing fresh for ever), I didn't know
> what to use. I was afraid fine would go right up my vac. But know
> that I have it set up I hardly ever use the vac.
>
> I have a refugium set up in the basement and it has fine sand and
> there are more worms. More everything small. :) Bugs everywhere.
> If I were doing it again I'd use the fine in my main tank.
>
> You live and learn.
>
> Ct Midnite
>
> On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 17:09:16 GMT, "wolfhedd"
> > wrote:
>
> >ok ya, i had crushed coral. i changed it out after a huge hair algae
> >problem started up, its getting better now, but when i had crushed coral
i
> >had those things but they looked different. when i changed out the sand
to
> >sugar fine, i realized that those worms and other creatures like those
real
> >FINE grains to use for their house building, tubes are built up faster.
> >wolfhedd
> >
> >"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Actually no, it fairly coarse crushed corral. But I can see where
> >> they might like the fine stuff better. They really are pretty cool.
> >> More of them will be nice.
> >>
> >> Ctmidnite
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:27:13 GMT, "wolfhedd"
> >> > wrote:
> >>
> >> >think those are tube worms, you prob will get a better answer, but i
have
> >a
> >> >whole bunch in my tank now fun to watch, two per tube, build their own
> >home,
> >> >you have some real fine sugar sand in there right? they like that,
and
> >> >without it, wont gro well. imagine a rock covered with those, they
clean
> >> >house pretty good those things..
> >> >
> >> >wolfhedd
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Ctmidnite" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> >> I've just recently noticed a new guest in my tanks and hoped someone
> >> >> could shed some light on what they are.
> >> >>
> >> >> They are long pale flesh colored worm like tentacles, two per hole,
> >> >> incased in a long tube made up of the sand. I've seen them build
the
> >> >> tube. The tentacle comes out, I've seen one at least two inches
long,
> >> >> and grabs a piece of sand and takes it back and attaches it to the
> >> >> tube. Really pretty cool.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've been unable to come up with what they are on the web. Anyone
> >> >> know what they are and if they are harmful?
> >> >>
> >> >> Captain Midnite
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >
>

[rtk]

Ctmidnite wrote:


> I have a refugium set up in the basement and it has fine sand and
> there are more worms. More everything small. :) Bugs everywhere.
> If I were doing it again I'd use the fine in my main tank.

Is your display tank also in the basement? Or is the refugium connected
through holes in the floor above it to the display tank on the first
floor? I'm considering doing something of the sort, so I'm wondering
what it's like and how you did it. Do you have photos, if that's what
you've done?

Ruth Kazez

[Ctmidnite]

No, my display tank is upstairs, about 14 ft about the refugium. I
built the refugium specifically to use as a filter for the display
tank but have pretty much given up on the task.

Why?

Well first it takes quite a pump to make it up 14+ feet first of all.
Second it was going to take more gear to get the water out of the tank
upstairs to down and I'd rather spend the money on critters.
And third I've found out that most, if not all, of the little critters
that I was setting the refugium up for would not survive the trip
through the pump and into the tank upstairs.

So now I have a 45 gal breeders tank set up with bio balls, baffles,
live rock, and plants set up in the basement cranking away with a
little low volume pump to get water from one end to the other with
nothing in it but snails and bugs. Lots of bugs. Big bugs.

But for some reason I find it quite fascinating. I like it almost as
much as my display tank. I set there with these 5X goggles on and
watch the bugs and worms and critters that I have no idea what they
are.

The set up would work fine as a filter, I think, but would not
populate your tank with critters and that was what I wanted as much as
anything.

If you find out different I would like to know.

Ct Midnite




On Sun, 09 Nov 2003 15:02:10 GMT, rtk > wrote:

>
>
>Ctmidnite wrote:
>
>
>> I have a refugium set up in the basement and it has fine sand and
>> there are more worms. More everything small. :) Bugs everywhere.
>> If I were doing it again I'd use the fine in my main tank.
>
>Is your display tank also in the basement? Or is the refugium connected
>through holes in the floor above it to the display tank on the first
>floor? I'm considering doing something of the sort, so I'm wondering
>what it's like and how you did it. Do you have photos, if that's what
>you've done?
>
>Ruth Kazez

[rtk]

Ctmidnite wrote:

> Well first it takes quite a pump to make it up 14+ feet first of all.
> Second it was going to take more gear to get the water out of the tank
> upstairs to down and I'd rather spend the money on critters.
> And third I've found out that most, if not all, of the little critters
> that I was setting the refugium up for would not survive the trip
> through the pump and into the tank upstairs.

Yes, I thought that 14 feet would be a long haul and a noisy one at
that. The inside of the cabinet under my 29 gallon tank is too small to
put a refugium/sump that I could hang my Remora filter on and put pump,
sand and rocks into and still have room for the bugs that fascinate me,
too. Some of the posters here and on r.a.m.f., most notably Marc, have
mechanical, plumbing, and carpentry skills that I can only dream of, so
I was hoping either to buy something ready-made (doesn't exist that
small) or take it to the basement where I have enough elbow room to make
it as big and clumsy as necessary. Truth be told, I don't seem really
to need a sump or refugium because everything is nicely balanced as is,
but in the spirit of *if it ain't broke, fix it anyway* and *never leave
well enough alone* I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Thank you
for your info. I will put the basement solution out of mind.

Ruth Kazez

[Ctmidnite]

The best idea that I can come up with for a refugium is a 10 or 15 gal
aquarium close by or right beside in the same room. It would have to
be on a stand so the top water level would be the same in both tanks.
You would siphon from the small tank to the big tank with just a tube,
no strainer, and pump water with a small pump from the big tank to the
little one. Very cheap. All the little critters would be siphoned
instead of pumped and would easily transfer alive into the big tank.
This is what they do with the ones that hang on the back which I don't
have room for. But they would be to hard to watch anyway.

I would do this in a heart beat but already have a salt 46 bow front
(my pride and joy), a salt 45 high, and two fresh 55's stacked up in
one corner in our living room. People already think were nuts and
with the couches and chair we literally have no more room.

Like you that was the other thing that stopped me. All the tanks are
working fine as is so why mess. But like you I sure like to mess and
thought it would be a fun project too. I wish I could have made it
work the way I had it pictured. When we move into our dream house it
will be furnished around the tanks. ;) Or better yet, my own fish
room.

Ct Midnite

On Sun, 09 Nov 2003 17:06:30 GMT, rtk > wrote:

>
>
>Ctmidnite wrote:
>
>> Well first it takes quite a pump to make it up 14+ feet first of all.
>> Second it was going to take more gear to get the water out of the tank
>> upstairs to down and I'd rather spend the money on critters.
>> And third I've found out that most, if not all, of the little critters
>> that I was setting the refugium up for would not survive the trip
>> through the pump and into the tank upstairs.
>
>Yes, I thought that 14 feet would be a long haul and a noisy one at
>that. The inside of the cabinet under my 29 gallon tank is too small to
>put a refugium/sump that I could hang my Remora filter on and put pump,
>sand and rocks into and still have room for the bugs that fascinate me,
>too. Some of the posters here and on r.a.m.f., most notably Marc, have
>mechanical, plumbing, and carpentry skills that I can only dream of, so
>I was hoping either to buy something ready-made (doesn't exist that
>small) or take it to the basement where I have enough elbow room to make
>it as big and clumsy as necessary. Truth be told, I don't seem really
>to need a sump or refugium because everything is nicely balanced as is,
>but in the spirit of *if it ain't broke, fix it anyway* and *never leave
>well enough alone* I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Thank you
>for your info. I will put the basement solution out of mind.
>
>Ruth Kazez

[rtk]

Ctmidnite wrote:


> Like you that was the other thing that stopped me. All the tanks are
> working fine as is so why mess. But like you I sure like to mess and
> thought it would be a fun project too. I wish I could have made it
> work the way I had it pictured. When we move into our dream house it
> will be furnished around the tanks. ;) Or better yet, my own fish
> room.

Fixing something that's broken is no fun. I'd rather mess with the tank
just because it's a prized toy. I, too, have been deemed nutty, and
it's easy to see why. In addition to my two ponds and my little 29g
sal****er tank, I have a 55 Cichlid, 38 community, 30 tree frogs, 75
toads and fish, 120 turtles and fish. It's an expansive hobby (as well
as expensive). I would have used the hob refugium although I haven't
quite enough space for it, but I have read quite a few objections to it
in the posts here and on ramf. I think I'll reconsider.

Ruth K