Unidentified possible eggs?

[Shorebreak]

Anyone have any idea what these are? The tank has been up and running for over 5 years, 150 gallon. It semi-crashed do to a faulty heater. Got things stable again as I am about to start up new tank and transfer some stuff. Then thousands of these showed up on bottom of tank. Nothing seems to hatch from them though. They look like eggs that have been attached to only bottom of tank on sand and bottom of rock. Planning on vacuuming them out.

 

[Reefer40b]

Looks like a type of algae not eggs

 

[SHNICI]

Sorry @Shorebreak but will ask to post another photos please different angle and if can under blue loght and separate white Please

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is it soft? Im wondering if its sponge?

 

[Coralsdaily]

are they mobile? If yes, then they might be flatworms. If not, then they might be baby scallop or oysters of some sort. but agree with Shnici hard to tell from just this one photo

 

[Shorebreak]

Looks like a type of algae not eggs

Interesting, I hadn't thought of that, it could explain why I haven't seen any new critters, especially by the thousands. I had never heard / seen of algae in the form of little flake shapes. I carbon dose, and I was upping the dosage to get nitrate back under control.

 

[Shorebreak]

are they mobile? If yes, then they might be flatworms. If not, then they might be baby scallop or oysters of some sort. but agree with Shnici hard to tell from just this one photo

They don't appear to move, but look like they have been placed, or attached to sand and rock. They are only on the bottom of the tank area, which is about 28" from top of waterline.

 

[Shorebreak]

Sorry @Shorebreak but will ask to post another photos please different angle and if can under blue loght and separate white Please

Sure thing, it will be a day or two, as I'm going to be away from the tank for a couple days. I did snap this other photo before I left, but it may not help much more.

 

[SHNICI]

And probably we are looking the brownish peaces I think? Where the photo is on focus,and close there is starfish under the sand or rock?
Can you let us know, what invertebrates you ever had in the tank? Like snails, worms, hermits etc .. ?
And will wait for few other photos, is it on particular area, or is everywhere in the tank? Is it soft or hard if you pickup and squeeze ?
Is it possible to be particles from the sand, which actually brownish over the time (getting chemicals deposits on them?

 

[Shorebreak]

Yes, the dark brown/ grey flake type things. I dont think that is a starfish, but could be. Its a coral banded shrimp in the way background. I have not added anything in over a year, so its a strange new inhabitants with the flakes. The white is the sand underneath. As far a inverts, I have had many. Many types of snails and crabs. (mostly the good wanted type, never had a pest problem). I have some live rock from Tampa Bay saltwater, and I found all sorts of interesting stuff when that was added, bit that was about 3 years ago. I even found a pygmy octopus out of the blue at night one time. Also had a pistol shrimp I never once saw, only hear late at night clicking.

I will squeeze one when I get back to the tank, going of memory, I think it was the consistency of a finger nail, hard bit gave a little. Memory is fuzzy now that I'm a few states away from the tank.

I thought it might be some type of chemical precipitation too, as the chemistry did get plenty out of whack. Most parameters are back in check for most part. I'm just biding my time as I just got my new tank and need to pipe it before I transfer. (Got a prostar 230 v2 rimless). Thought it would be a good idea to see if I can figure out what these might be b efore I move anything.

 

[Shorebreak]

Is it soft? Im wondering if its sponge?

I believe they are the constancy of a fingernail, but now that I am awu from tank, I am uncertain. I will check and post. Doesn't appear to be sponge like, and I have a good amount of various sponges, most came from the Tampa Bay Saltwater farmed Live rock, got a lot of biodiversity from that, but that was a few years back.

 

[SHNICI]

I believe they are the constancy of a fingernail, but now that I am awu from tank, I am uncertain. I will check and post. Doesn't appear to be sponge like, and I have a good amount of various sponges, most came from the Tampa Bay Saltwater farmed Live rock, got a lot of biodiversity from that, but that was a few years back.

If it's sponge it will be soft enough to squeeze it easy, and usually none of the sponges are popping out like the mushrooms do. Please keep us on touch after you come back and you can get a bit more details.
At least you will be able to wash in FW the sand and most of the detritus plus some unneeded animals will die and wash away. but if is something bad it can be already in the LR and to become pest later on, so really need to be observed properly like you start to do.

Good luck with all @Shorebreak

 

[Shorebreak]

If it's sponge it will be soft enough to squeeze it easy, and usually none of the sponges are popping out like the mushrooms do. Please keep us on touch after you come back and you can get a bit more details.
At least you will be able to wash in FW the sand and most of the detritus plus some unneeded animals will die and wash away. but if is something bad it can be already in the LR and to become pest later on, so really need to be observed properly like you start to do.

Good luck with all @Shorebreak

So here it is out of the tank and in sunlight, they are actually brittle to the touch. Feel kind of like a sand dollar skeleton. They don't appear to move or be an animal.

I'll be siphoning the sand all out and transferring in a few days, as I have the new tank, ready to start piping it. I may clean this tank and wait to see nay reappear. They don't seem to be duplicating anymore.

 

[Shorebreak]

Is it soft? Im wondering if its sponge?

So I took a new photo in daylight below. They are actually brittle to the touch.

 

[SHNICI]

Really don't have a clue what or from what can be tis

 

[vetteguy53081]

What these look like to me is the little trapdoors for snails.

 

[KJ]

Anyone have any idea what these are? The tank has been up and running for over 5 years, 150 gallon. It semi-crashed do to a faulty heater. Got things stable again as I am about to start up new tank and transfer some stuff. Then thousands of these showed up on bottom of tank. Nothing seems to hatch from them though. They look like eggs that have been attached to only bottom of tank on sand and bottom of rock. Planning on vacuuming them out.

Google Padina pavonica algea.

 

[Shorebreak]

Google Padina pavonica algea.

They do look like this, I've never heard if this type of algea. It feels like a calcium based skeleton of some sort, but I'm not sure, its crunchy is smoothed. I'll clean them all out. Looks like they won't come back from what I have seen the last few weeks, at least not like a carpet.

Thanks for all the help everyone.