Bristleworms eating bubble algae?

[Coralreefdiver]

For the past week, I have witnessed on my "night dives" (flashlight in the tank at night) a huge bristle worm come out of a particular spot and munch away at some red bubble algae until it was completely gone.

Any one else witness these guys taking care of things? I have heard they are bad and I have heard they are good. Is there a general consensus here regarding them??

K

 

[islandcreation]

Bristle are great for your tank cause they eat left over food and circulate live sand. The only thing I hate about them is when they get big. Thats when you have problems! Just be careful when they do get big, their bristles hurt so use gloves when moving live rocks.

I never heard of them eating red bubble algae? I have alot of red bubble algae but never saw a bristle eating them under my moon light? Then again everyone thought I was crazy when I said my amphipods were eating my zoas? So I had to search online for an article to prove I wasn't crazy... ha,ha,ha

 

[ShawShank]

Also note that when people use the term "when they get big" you need to only worry about them when they EXCEEDE 61cm or so. Then again, there has only been 1 confirmed case of a bristle eating corals and such. That was on RC and it exceeded 183cm!!! Was amazing.

 

[little urchin]

in my experience the orange, elastic band sized ones are fine and just go for detritus and old food....but.....there are some that are brownish (with an oil-like sheen), and look more like millipedes...they have 5 antennae and pincer type mouthparts, and they are evil!!!!!....one munched my seastar...bit me!! and went for anyone near his cave.....i bated him through some blades eventually :chainsaw: