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Last nite as I was admiring my tank, I noticed crawling through the rocks small clearish worms. There were quite a few, even though I have never noticed them before.
I quickly called two LFS (always like to get multiple opinions from them!) and got two completely different answers. The first call was to what I think of as a more experienced, reputable store, however they were about to close so I was unable to bring these "worms" in. After describing what they looked like, he told me to get some clown loaches and they would eat them. I asked specifically if these would hurt my tank, and his response was that if I don't curb their growth (aka have something eat them) then they could overcrowd the tank.
The second call I made was to pet store that also sells fish and was the only one still open. After a brief call I went over and brought a few of these worms from the bottom of the tank. When he looked at them he said they were definetly a parasite (but this was not any sort of fish expert), and recommended CopperSafe treatment. After asking more questions, because I've heard alot of times things are misdiagnosed, he convinced me to get the CopperSafe and start treatment immediatly so my fish would not get sick.
So here's the question. After reading the directions I added the recommended dosage of CopperSafe, but I'm still not convinced these things are parasites. The big thing that is stumping me is that there is nothing wrong with any of the fish! They are not behaving strangely, and I took a real good look on the outside and inside of the fish (on the ones I can see into) and didn't notice anything worm-like or out of the ordinary. The worms in the gravel also do not have the anchor shaped heads of the pictures I'd seen of parasitic worms. The are less than an inch long, round ends, almost clear but a little dark, and the only place I see them is in the substrate. My water conditions are normal, the only other thing I can think of is that in the past I have fed my fish live worms. Is it possible they have just reproduced under the graval and are now surfacing?

Please help, I don't want to continue with treatment that is uneeded, and I have faith that someone here can help me out more than any of my LFS!

Thank you in advance for your advice!

Ps-Freshwater tank, 30 gallon, mostly malawi chiclids, a pleco, and two rainbow sharks.

They may be planaria, which is harmless, and even a food source to your fish. Ids on worms can be tough without detailed descriptions or photos, both of which are hard to provide with little worms. I've had worms (in the tank, that is!); it can be an indication of excessive food or debris in the substrate. I'd recommend to step up gravel vacs to take out leftover food sources, as well as some of the worms. Test your water to make sure it's in good shape. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much.

Hmm..ok that might even make sense (did a little research on Planaria)
I actually just changed over to a new filter after originally running an undergravel filter that just was not cutting it. I just finished going through a mini-cycle while the new filter was adapting, and was about to take out the grate that is still in the tank from the undergravel filter (I was told this would help to aid in a smaller spike of nitrites since they is most likely some beneficial bacteria trapped down there).
So would it be advisable for me just to take this out and go through a good gravel vacuuming/water change?
Secondly, what about the uneeded treatment I put in? Do you know whether this will affect my fish, or how to get rid of it. (From the instructions it sounded like water changes would do it)

Thanks!

The treatment probably won't hurt your fish, but it doesn't sound like it will help them either. Water changes are the best way of getting rid of any chemicals in the water, and vacuuming the gravel will help get rid of the worms, whatever they are.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

just do a good gravel vacumm and make sure there is none left

Its hard to gravel vac the whole thing at once, takes out too much water, I prefer to do it in sections. Would it help to get something like a Clown Loach to eat these worms? Are they harmful to the fish? Or could I use Corydoras to eat them? (I've been thinking about getting some anyway)

ok, now I am confused again, because the worms are not white, they sound more like oligochaetes? Does anyone know if this is possible, or any information on these freshwater earthworms?

megan, you get new water all together and let it sit for 24 hours with conditioning in it and do it all

i had these things in my oscar tank they are COMPLETELY HARMLESS in fact my fish love to eat them i had them in my guppies tank to they smaller fish usaully eatnthem more as a big oscar will not bother w/them. they sometimes come in on food that has been aged,and live on left over food the fish dont eat ore sinks to the bottom.
If you make sure and dont let any food get left as leftovers.they will soon die.
but they are completely harmless and i would not use the coppersafe as it may make your fish sick since their is no immediate parasite.
they also make a delacass`e for your fish.(think i spelled that right?)

I have already put the coppersafe in..and I think its supposed to last for a full 30 ays (anyone had experience with this product?)
So should I just do a couple 30% changes the next few days to take it out?