What causes calcium spikes on rocks?

[mexi757]

notice little needle spikes on the rocks. Asked a good lfs owner/friend and was told calcium spikes. Left question as is as he was pretty busy and don’t like to bother to much while working. Haven’t asked since and figured I’d ask the community. I don’t have pics as lights are very dim and can’t see. Will post pics tomorrow if asked.

 

[Sshannon]

Sounds like tube worms of some kind

 

[a.t.t.r]

Spikes. Vermatide snails. Calcium bumps tube worms

 

[mexi757]

None of the. They are literally spikes. No infestation no outbreak nothing. Just spikes on rocks.

 

[mexi757]

Last pic you can really see them.

 

[a.t.t.r]

Last pic you can really see them.

Hard to tell with the colors Have you tried poking one ? Are you sure they are solid ?

 

[mexi757]

Yes they are solid enough to almost puncture your skin.

 

[Sshannon]

Take a pic under white light

 

[Timfish]

My vote is Vermitid worms also. There are many species and some make tubes with very small diameters, <1mm. They can be quite sharp and painful.

 

[a.t.t.r]

Sounds like Vermitid if you don’t see any feathers coming out.

 

[Rmckoy]

Can you get a picture under white lights ?

 

[a.t.t.r]

Better yet. Slow your flow a little and do a feeding of something like coral food and then take a picture in 10-20 minutes. (With white light)

 

[Thor2j]

100% Vermitid snails.

 

[mexi757]

Don’t have any reef food.

 

[a.t.t.r]

Don’t have any reef food.

90% Vermitid snails. Just odd not to see any of them active.

 

[jaganshi066]

100% Vermitid snails.

Yes, they are Vermitids

 

[jaganshi066]

None of the. They are literally spikes. No infestation no outbreak nothing. Just spikes on rocks.

They are vermitids

 

[Cory]

They are vermentid "snails". A big pest but mostly harmless. My sea urchins eat the ones they can get.

 

[homer1475]

100% vermetid snails.