Parasites? or Friend?

Question
QUESTION: Hello from Ontario,,

I have a 40 gal tank  with Damsels, Percula clowns, "rock" blenny, sally crab,
peppermint and cleaner shrimp, and a whole whack of hermits..
as well my focus has been a healthy collection of corals...

I have found,mostly at night under a LED blue lite, (but today under my T5's),
tiny white worm like critters. They tend to wiggle and twist and rise to the
surface then fall down and then do this all over again!!!! very weird...the fish
are not interested and that makes me concerned...

Help pls...and thanx

ANSWER: HELLO ONTARIO!!!  (hey Jon),

I'm sure you knew what my first comment will be... I need more info...

I can try to guess, but will be way off till i get some furher description or even a photo.

Are these 'worms' free floating?  or are they attached to the rocks on one end?

If they are free floating, i really dont have a clue, btw.  If they are attached to the rocks, they maybe 'spaghetti worms', long, thin, light colored, maybe striped, or if they are kind of short and stubby, they could be peanut worms..

But please try to be more descriptive and i will see what i can dig up for ya.



Mr. Bill

(oh, btw, how old is your tank?)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That was a quick reply!!!

The tank is 6 months old..
I have a thin layer of crushed coral..1.5 inches..
Since establishing the tank I have slowly introduced more (cured) rock and added a
collection of recordias, bubble coral, pulsing zenas, kenya tree, three different types
of purple and brown mushrooms, "flower pots", star polyps, and a "plating" sps
coral..WOW!!!

The worms appear to be free floating/swimming...There doesn't appear to be any
pattern to their swimming behavior..They are 6mm long and 1mm thick. They tend to
wiggle/swim up to the surface of the tank then...drop down ie sink...then repeat this
behavior over and over again.....Mostly out at night..however I saw several under my
T5's...I wanted a pic but there are none out right now...

can I follow up with a pic or vid?

Jon

ps where are you? Canada?

Thanx again...  

Answer
yes, you can follow up or start a new question with a picture when you get it.

I am beginning to think two things:

1. these arent pests, as nothing negative seems to be happening.
2.  You dont have enough flow.  If you had more flow you would see these 'free floating' strings being blown around and sucked into the overflow/filter.

Please, let me know if you can get more information or a photo.

Sorry, i couldnt be more helpful this time around.



Mr. Bill