How long will barnacles survive in aquaria?

[Sierra_Bravo]

My rock came from Tampa Bay Saltwater and was covered in barnacles. I've read that barnacles will not live long in our aquariums, however mine are still going strong a year later as evidenced by the crappy 1 a.m. cell phone video below.

How long have yours survivied?

 

[Tahoe61]

That is pretty cool. Great biodiversity.

I have had them come in on Acropora. The barnacles did well, and existed just fine.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

That is pretty cool. Great biodiversity.

The barnacles, sponges, tunicates, feather dusters, worms, and all the rest of the micro-fauna made it well worth chasing the few rogue crabs that came with it. I can't imagine starting with sterile dry rock.

 

[ca1ore]

I had barnacles last for a few years before something ate them. Key, as with all non-photosythesizers, is to have adequate small particulate food.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wonder if I had been carbon dosing at the time (I wasn't, not sure if anyone was then) if my filter feeders that came on my rock would have lasted longer.