Possible Bristle Worm Infestion.

[B1N4RY]

So I started out with an aquarium that was loaded with fish but I noticed a few started to die off for no apparent reason. All of my Green Chromis have disappeared. I snail gone and I am only left with 2 Purple Firefish, 1 Clownfish a two Zebra hermit Crabs, 1 Sand Sifting Cucumber and thankfully all 4 of my shrimp. Will I took a look at the tank in the evening and noticed these little guys... Bristle Worms. One that was exceeding 3 inches long. Top that with an algae bloom that made my beautiful rock look horrible I'm just left banging my head against a wall. I'm seriously thinking about boiling the rock in water for about 1 hour in order to kill everything and just start over.

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o731/B1N4RY010/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-52_zps59439c48.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/B1N4RY010/media/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-52_zps59439c48.jpg.html)

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o731/B1N4RY010/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-53_zpsaf48bd7a.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/B1N4RY010/media/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-53_zpsaf48bd7a.jpg.html)

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o731/B1N4RY010/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-54_zps8fde1ef3.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/B1N4RY010/media/8%20Gallon%20Reef%20Aquarium/Aquarium-54_zps8fde1ef3.jpg.html)

[Sn8kbyt]

So you started out with a tank loaded with fishYou saying you bought it like that?

You have some small bristle worms which do not kill fishHow long has your tank been set-up?

What are the water readings on your tank? What brand are you using to test it?

Are you using RO/DI water to fill and replenish the tank? If so from your own source or somewhere else? If not...why not?

[Biocubehqi]

Do not boil the rocks!!!

Bristle worms are good for a tank, to many of them can show signs that you are over feeding the tank.

You can kill yourself boiling the rocks

[joshPensacola]

Someone needs to make a sticky that just states DONT KILL BRISTLE WORMS.

Everyone seems to think that the bristle worm is why all the fish are dead. You are the reason your fish are dead... the worms are just cleaning up the mess for you.

*Removed*That sandsifting starfish is doing more harm than your every worm in your tank combined.

[joshPensacola]

Or cucumber...not starfish. Many, if not all can excrete a toxin. Maybe that is what is killing everything. Give him to someone with a very big tank or take it back to a fish store and give it to them.

[Quik Z06]

What are your water Params? Sounds to me like they died cause of a cycle. Or another infestation. A little more info on the tank would be helpful.

How long has it been running?
How did you cycle it?
When was your first fish added?
What is your water Params?

[dc]

Ok kids, let's discuss this calmly.

[ca1ore]

Bristle worms are good. They don't kill fish or inverts, but will be drawn to already dead animals. The brown algae in your photos looks like it may be diatoms, which are generally present during the cycling process of your tank, but go away with maturity. If you had a heavy bio-load during the cycling process then that is a recipe for disaster.

[B1N4RY]

Thank you all! I have never had an aquarium where everything was started with live rock, live sand and natural purified live seawater. So I guess I freaked out a bit. Good thing I was more worked about not ruining my wife's Stainless Steel All Clad Pot.