Colonial Hydroids in IO Reef Crystals?

[tbrown]

So I am mixing some saltwater in a bucket. I keep some live rock in the bucket just because I have heard rumors of ammonia spikes. I flipped the rock today and there are what appear to be colonial hydroids on the underside of the rocks.

Question: Has anyone had similar experiences to this?

The rock was from an old tank of mine that never had hydroids. It sat in the sun for 4 years before I rinsed it and then it had been stored in an open bucket in my garage for another year before I pulled it out, rinsed it again and put it in the bucket.

 

[lapin]

To quote an old friend
Salty Film Folks:
It’s likey that most types have eggs or cysts that can be dried out for years and once wet bloom.

 

[tbrown]

To quote an old friend
Salty Film Folks:
It’s likey that most types have eggs or cysts that can be dried out for years and once wet bloom.

So you're saying it's possible that they could be in the reef crystals?

 

[lapin]

If Salty's info is correct cysts could be on the rocks or the salt. I do not think its the salt. Salt is usually refined to strip out all minerals, algae ect. I have not found any info on reef crystals that says what its source is. Could be million year old salt deposits or made from salt evaporation ponds. I know Red Sea salt is from evaporation ponds.

 

[Cell]

I would assume dormant life on the rock in this situation as opposed to dormant life in a bag of salt.