sand tube worms

Question
Hi.  I have these sand tubes with thin hairlike worms (they stretch out and are always visible %26 about 1 to 3 inches long) taking over my tank!  They are everywhere in the sand.  I asked our local saltwater pet shop what they were and he said they were a sign of a healthy tank.  I disagree......  My tank is clear, the fish are healthy.  Also I found 2 small pea like jelly balls laying on one of my rocks, do you think these are sometype of eggs?  They are olive green in color.   We have had the tank about 2 years and it is amazing the new things we have forming and growing on a daily basis.  The only thing I worry about is if it is a parasite or these growths are healthy or unhealthy for the tank.  

Answer
Hello Martha,

Not sure what your 'tube worms' are with teh little description or lack of picture, but, they might be SPAGHETTI WORMS.  these are common and are beneficial and a sign of a good tank...Maybe the local fish store and i assume that is what they are...

They usually come into the tank as 'hitchikers'. which means that the rock and sand you got probably had some in them, now that your tank is more mature and stable, they are showing thier gratitude and starting to multiply..??

Also, the green bubbles you have is actually called GREEN BUBBLE ALGAE....

this too is common but they will grow fast... if you can, please pull out the rock(s), that they are on, and scrape them off into the garbage, or better yet, collect them and FREEZE them then throw them away...

or you can try different natural methods like finding critters that eat them... I have heard that EMERALD crabs love them, but I have also heard from a few that they didnt work...

good luck, and please look up the spaghetti worms and see if that is what you have and PLEASE let me know...

thanks

and good luck


Bill