can i/should i get rid of these little guys?

[lsvagabond]

Hey all, i recently took over an established 20 gal long reefthat has a good chunk of rock/sand/mushrooms in it. Upon examination I have noticed that there are a bunch of these little worm guys in the rock that look almost like fuzzy brittle star arms. They are pretty skittish when other tank mates come around. I have not done the reef thing for several years but remember something about worms like this possible being a nusiance pest that gradually destroys the rock... sound correct? If that is the case, whats the best way to get rid of them (I have seen them on many rocks so i assume they are well established) I am planning on adding a sump/refugium as soon as i can and would like to wait until that has been up and running for awhile before adding fish (the tank has only a pJ cardinal right now along with a cleaner shrimp and crabs) any ideas?

I will post a pic of them soon
mike

[lsvagabond]

Here is a close up of one. They are really skinny but kind of long. The fist 1/4 of them has a red body but it changes to black after that. I have never seen them come all the way out the rock.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/125768wierd-worm.jpg

[Jordan55]

They are called bristleworms. Keep them.

Great for food and waste clean up. Just another one of your clean up crews but you usually get the for free--with the live rock.

PS- Do not touch them, they can cause serious skin iritaion.

[Sk8r]

Bristleworms. Good for the tank, good for the corals. They reduce food to a size sps can eat.