I have worms in my tank. What are they??????

[Zebvance]

I am continuing to do big water changes and vac the bottom and service the filters more often. But i have been looking at a uv sterilizer for the tank as a insurance policy basically. Because if something did break out in the tank, it would be very costly to treat the tank because of the size and I could possibly lose a lot of money worth of stock. SO my question is would this also get rid of the worms?

[OrandaMan]

They aren't harmful in and of themselves. As the link that armthehomeless pointed out, it generally means the conditions of your tank should be improved. You have so many because there's so much for them to eat.

[Zebvance]

Well I just Got done cleaning both tanks,and all the filters except the 2260,I started cleaning them around 12:00. The worms Look like they are decreasing because even though there are some still floating around the tank when I gavel vac I am seeing alot of dead ones. I have been feeding the fish 2 a week but I might bump this up to 3 or 4 times a week with small portions. I will give it a few more weeks and If they are not decreasing in numbers I will try the parasite killing additive. When cleaning out one of the xp3's I noticed a string of dot looking things that were adhered to the side of the filter in the bottom of it. It looked like what might be eggs? Any way I should have taken a pic but not thinking I just scraped them off.

Any more input on what yall think would still be very helpful. And Like i said I know these things don't seem to be harmful because I have not seen any signs that the fish are affected by the, and don't show signs of have parasites, But I just want them gone cause the creep me out haha.

[Zebvance]

Oh, and treating the tank with just about any copper-based medication will most likely kill them off because invertebrates can't handle them in general. Just don't overdo it. In any case, a little can be a good preventative of disease for your fish.

Thank you for the info!!! I am going to clean the tanks this weekend and vac the sand very good. I beileve they are dieing off though. I hav changed feeding from everyday to 2 times a week. It looks as if there are alot of dead ones in the tank now and I dont see as many swiming around.

[OrandaMan]

Oh, and treating the tank with just about any copper-based medication will most likely kill them off because invertebrates can't handle them in general. Just don't overdo it. In any case, a little can be a good preventative of disease for your fish.

[OrandaMan]

armthehomeless is completely right. I had just a few of them. I was purposely overfeeding in one tank because I was trying to grow pest snails for my puffers. Unfortunately, some fish in there was killing them off and it took me a while to notice. Mainly because I had no fish in that tank that are known for eating snails. Still have no idea who did it. So that and the fact that my plants were not growing at the time as I was hoping (fixed that since) means that it became detritus and, hence, became perfect for those detritus worms.

My fish don't normally eat them when there's just one swimming around because they're so small and hard to see. But when there are a bunch, they can definitely see them more easily.

As for vacuuming sand, sand is definitely heavier than both detritus and detritus worms, so you shouldn't be having a problem. If you are, however, your gravel vac's water flow is way too strong. Get one with a narrower hose or get a valve to put on the end of the one you have.

[Zebvance]

Also what is the easiest way to vac the sand with out sucking it all up?

[Zebvance]

ok so I have cut down feeding 2 once or twice a week, It seems like they are getting worst in the 240 I have spotted a couple swimming a round and before I rarely saw them unless I turned on the filters after cleaning the tank. I know they are not harmful now but I want these guys out of here. I also gound out that I have to leave friday after work to go out of town for the weekend which means the tanks are not going to be cleaned till next weekend. So, Is there anything out there that can kill these thing that is relativity inexpensive and is not going to put the fish in danger. I know Randell Mentioned a product earlier but It puts the fish in jeopardy.

[Mzungu]

these guys are not red at all like that.

I know. I watched your video, and yours are white. All in the diet and "lifestyle." I was just posting that one to show more 'aggressive' swimming.

Lots of people get mixed up when it comes to "worms." I am just wanting to make the record clear that planaria don't swim. They crawl, and very slowly. And they're big enough that you can see their 'head,' and their 'eyes.' Tubifex worms swim like crazy when they're in the water column.

[Zebvance]

these guys are not red at all like that.

[Mzungu]

They'll be swimming more crazily when they're not in the substrate, where they like to set up shop. So when you "disturb" their homes and they have to move into the water column, they swim pretty fast.

Here's another video, just to be sure:

They're not harmlful. Definitely not. But they are a sign that something is awry. They love places with plenty of food - they're a lot like snails - give them enough food, and they'll breed like mad. Limit their food and their numbers will eventually dwindle. And, like snails, it takes a while. You're basically going to starve them, and starving takes some patience on your part. So even though you might still see them for the next few weeks, take care to make sure the fish eat everything you're feeding the tank within at most 2 minutes. Eventually, your tank won't be able to sustain them in the numbers they boast now.

Definitely keep up with your large water changes, and be sure to vacuum the gravel each time you do.

[Zebvance]

yes the look like those but swim more aggressively. SO they are not harmless at all to the fish?

[Mzungu]

Okay, good. ) I was hoping you weren't spending that much time, lol.

Are you able to see the videos now?

[Zebvance]

I'm guessing you mean 80% water changes?

You're only overfeeding if your fish aren't completely eating everything you feed them within 1-2 minutes. If there are still flakes/pellets/whatever after that, try feeding less next time, and so on until everything is eaten within that time frame.

Haha yes I mean 80%. I usually throw 2 spoon fulls in the 240 gallon at night. And after a few mins I usually don't see any left over food.

[Zebvance]

list your fish...what foods are you feeding

In 240 gallon Stock List
(2)Pleco/ Hypostomus plecostomus
Bumble bee/ Pseudotropheus crabro
Red zebra/ Pseudotropheus estherae
Jack Dempsey/Ciclasoma octofasciatus
Electric yellow/Labiochromis bimaculataus
Convict/Archocentrus nigrofasciatus
Plumb head/ Vieja Synspilum
Johanni Mumba/Melanochromis johannii
Golden Mbuna/ Melanochromis auratus
Chipokee Mbuna/ Melanochromis chipokae
Super VC-10/ Placidochromis milomo
Salvini/Cichlasoma salvini
Malawi Eye Biter/Dimidiochromis Compressiceps

In 46 gallon Grow Out
Albino red zebra/ Pseudotropheus estherae
Blotch red zebra/ Pseudotropheus estherae
Rusty/Iodotropheus Sprengerae
Acci/Pseudotrophus sp
Green Terror/ Aequidens rivulatus
OB Peacock/Aulonocora Nyassue Var.

Permanent residents of 46 gallon.
Bulldog/Rubber Pleco / Chaetostoma cf. thomsoni (L187b)

Albino Bristlenose/ Bushy Nose Pleco /L-144 (Ancistrus Sp.)

Emperor / Flash Plecostomus/Panaque sp.L-204
Rio-Negro Pleco /Peckoltia sp. platyrhyncha (L 135)




I feed them Hikari (cichlid gold) and Wardley pellets