Wow, more things appearing in my tank. What could they be?

[Aphyosemion]

Okay, my 40 gallon breeder has been up and running for about 1.5 months now. I haven't put anything in it but 30lbs of Fiji live rock and 3 margarita snails. I have had little sand worms for a while now and have been watching them become more prolific. I was just over there taking a look at the tank today though, when I realized there is a LOT more stuff in there than I realized. I have a Seaclone skimmer without a surface skimmer, so it hasn't been filtering out the little things floating around the tank. It turns out there are TONS of tiny little worms swimming around the tank that look kindof like mosquito larvae. In addition, I found worms poking out of holes in the rock that I can NOT figure out what they are. They are brown and about half the size of a normal angleworm. It reaches out and picks at the rock and then sticks something out of its end that looks a little like a feather duster filter, only shorter. It then "swallows" the feather and starts again. It it brown with a little white band near the end. I drew a little picture, but I don't know how to post it, so I will just ask if anyone has seen these before.
In addition to that, I have a little feather duster!! I couldn't figure out what the white spiral tube was, but I knew it had to be a worm of some sort. Then today, I saw its little feather filters out in the water. I am so excited!
Anyway, can anyone tell me what that weird worm might be? I have a whole bunch of them showing up, so I am curious.
-Aphyosemion

[Casey]

Pic's would really help.

[Aphyosemion]

I'd be happy to post a pic of my little sketch if I knew how. I don't have a camera capable of taking in-tank pics of a 2 inch worm though.

-Aphyosemion

[JCox]

Sounds like the worms you are describing are peanut worms, very good to have.

[flashardy]

weird...I had one to...mine was black and white striped! It had a pink feathery think come out...like you describe. every time I would take a pic it was really crappy! Mine was about 1/4" then about 4months later it was about 2". I have not seen it for about 4months! I hope it is not dead? I have seen it about 6times in a 1yr...
I will keep my eye open for mine!
CLH

[Aphyosemion]

AHA!!! I did a search on peanut worm and found a good picture. It is INDEED a peanut worm and I have a bunch of them in there! Thanks for helping me out with that! It looks like those little guys are helpful to have, which is good news. I was a little worried that it would be predatory, based on how fast it seems able to move.
-Aphyosemion

[Geoff]

they are all good things.

my WAG's since there is not a pic.

yes, those are feather dusters. they are good.

maybe a peanut worm, the thing that sticks out than grabs than goes back in. also good.

swimming things are just put in the polychaete camp. worms. if you look really close they are actually little worms spiraling through the water.

G~

[Aphyosemion]

Here is the pic that exactly matches what I have.


http://www.seaslugforum.net/factshee...ase=sipunculid

This also answers a previous question I had. When I first got the live rock, I blew some water through it and something I couldn't identify popped out. It was alive (at first) but then disappeared and I wasn't sure if it was dead or what. It was a peanut worm though!
All of these discoveries are very exciting, since I have done freshwater and freshwater planted for like 13 years now, but have never tried saltwater. There are so many unknown little critters popping up I can't believe it and I don't even have all that much live rock! I am the most excited about my feather duster though. I ran into the other room to tell my girlfriend about it and she just laughed at me. I was all like OMG YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS I HAVE A FEATHER DUSTER!!!! She just rolled her eyes at me and was like eeew, gross.
-Aphyosemion