Tiny black worms

[stefanie]

We have had phosphate problems in our tank and have done a 100% water change. The tank is sitting with no light on, no fish in it, except two starfish. We just noticed we have hundreds... thousands probably, of tiny black worms (and a few reddish ones) crawling out of the sand. We can't figure out what they are, but are wondering if they are a problem and if they are what is causing our phosphate problems. Anyone know what they are?

I will post a picture if anyone can tell me how to shrink file size from 502 kB to less than 97 to fit on this website.

[amcarrig]

Hi there. Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and load the pic up there. That site will automatically resize the picture for you and you can cut and paste the image link onto this thread

[stefanie]

(bad link)

[amcarrig]

[amcarrig]

There we go Looks like spaghetti worms and bristleworms to me. Perfectly fine and great detritivores

[stefanie]

Are the black ones okay too? Those are the ones that are overrunning the tank. Seriously, hundreds of thousands appeared overnight. They've probably been in the tank for awhile, but they must have come out last night after we did the water change.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by amcarrig

There we go Looks like spaghetti worms and bristleworms to me. Perfectly fine and great detritivores

+2 nothing to worry about

[amcarrig]

Ah, I see the black ones now..is that what's covering your sandbed? Any chance you could take a closeup pic?

[fletch]

Just for future reference a 100% water change is not such a good idea

[fletch]

Originally Posted by amcarrig

Ah, I see the black ones now..is that what's covering your sandbed? Any chance you could take a closeup pic?

I thought it was Cyanobacteria on the sand