White Worm whenever I water change?

[skjl47]

I suggested the big break down because of the sand in the bottom and the potential for eggs to be left behind. I had to do a total break down of my aquarium to get rid of all of them

Hello; Indeed that may eventually be needed. I was suggesting the simpler path first which has worked for me. Been decades by now since I learned I was overfeeding both in volume of food and too often.
A good gravel vac and more frequent water change (WC) are indicated as well. I use a vac with a big tube feeding into a small tube. I hit a different area of substrate each WC. With high (40 to 80 ppm) nitrates less feeding and more WC are indicated.

 

[Jush]

Thanks for the advice, I actually dont feed more than once a day and it is usually a sufficient amount that it is gone within 30 seconds or so, i occasionally do throw some food in a night too for the bichirs/ ripsaw too munch on. Ill do a gravel/ sand vac and see how that works

 

[sikoko]

Simple is always better I should've thought simple first, more difficult solution if that doesn't succeed.

 

[duanes]

What is your normal water change schedule, and volume changed, in what size tank?
How often to you vacuum the substrate? Is your tank surface skimmed?
In the photo, the sand looks really clean.
With those species though, I would imagine you feed high protein, which is often contains invisible contaminants (dissolved organic carbon, and the like) and often times contributes to detritus worm population gluts, and needs a much higher than normal water change schedule, and skimming.
Those 80ppm nitrates may be a clue.
Those invisible proteins collect on the waters surface, so if I feed extra protein meals, besides vacuuming, i will often collect buckets of water from the surface during water changes, the next day to remove what collects on the air water interface.
If left in the tank, these proteins adhere to filter media, and substrate, and that's where th detritus worms get to feast on them, and proliferate.
If you turn off pumps, and air, does a film appear on the water surface, a clue of excess proteins in the water?

 

[Rocksor]

You don't have to really break down your tank. Reduce feeding to every other day or every 3 days, and do a substrate vacuum plus water change everyday. After about 1 month, if not sooner, you will see significantly less detritus worms.

 

[Jush]

I do feed high protein pellets, muscles & prawns giving a good varied diet. I usually take 30-40% out 2-3 times a week but recently been doing even more water changes such as daily to bring this nitrate down.