Strange critters growing on LR

[advanwoerden]

Hi, anyone have any idea what this is growing on my LR? At first I thought it was algae but it appears to be some type of tube worm? Their tubes are soft, kind of plastic feeling. They completely took over my live rock and the only way I’ve been able to get them off is ripping them off by hand… Anyone have any idea what they are and anything that might eat them? Sorry for the crappy photos.

 

[Subsea]

Can’t tell definitive. It may be miniature feather duster which I often get on diver collected rock. Where did rock come from?

In the first picture, to the lower left of your circle is what looks like wine glass macro. can you validate?

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[advanwoerden]

I’m not sure where the rock is from but I’ve had it for over 10 years. These hitchhikers showed up maybe a few years ago. Yes the algae is wine glass, I just ID’ed it in another thread yesterday, they also popped up out of nowhere (more recently). Any idea what might eat these feather dusters if that’s what they are?

 

[SlugSnorter]

I’m not sure where the rock is from but I’ve had it for over 10 years. These hitchhikers showed up maybe a few years ago. Yes the algae is wine glass, I just ID’ed it in another thread yesterday, they also popped up out of nowhere (more recently). Any idea what might eat these feather dusters if that’s what they are?

did you get any new snails? could have jumped in on them

 

[advanwoerden]

Not in a while, but I suppose it’s likely. Any idea what might eat them?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Not in a while, but I suppose it’s likely. Any idea what might eat them?

peppermint shrimp, arrow crabs (they are jerks though) among similar inverts, some fish do which I can list if you give tank size.

also, google feather duster, then colonial hydroids, if they are dusters, maybe keep them as they polish water and will die off when the water cannot support their population. But if they look like colonial hydroids then eliminate them, as colonial hydroids are useless pests which harm fish and corals.

 

[advanwoerden]

Yes definitely looks like colonial hydroids. I’m downgrading from a 50 to a 30g AIO. Right now just a clown, pseudochromis, a few corals. I think now most hydroids are dead just leaving their shell, but want to get rid of them all. Thanks!

 

[SlugSnorter]

Yes definitely looks like colonial hydroids. I’m downgrading from a 50 to a 30g AIO. Right now just a clown, pseudochromis, a few corals. I think now most hydroids are dead just leaving their shell, but want to get rid of them all. Thanks!

yes, make sure they are gone

 

[advanwoerden]

Any good idea on how to remove them other than with my fingers/scrubbing the rock? Not sure if your list above applies to hydroids or just feather dusters. Also any fish recos would be appreciated.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Any good idea on how to remove them other than with my fingers/scrubbing the rock? Not sure if your list above applies to hydroids or just feather dusters. Also any fish recos would be appreciated.

applies to hydroids, tank size? they will sting so no fingers.

 

[advanwoerden]

I’m downgrading to a 30g AIO

 

[Subsea]

I’m not sure where the rock is from but I’ve had it for over 10 years. These hitchhikers showed up maybe a few years ago. Yes the algae is wine glass, I just ID’ed it in another thread yesterday, they also popped up out of nowhere (more recently). Any idea what might eat these feather dusters if that’s what they are?

why the need to eliminate what amounts to a good bioindicator of a mature reef?