What is all of this????

[jrevoman]

So I’ve been treating my tank for flukes for 3 weeks now, so I haven’t had the carbon filter in my HOB, but i just was changing the little foam block at the bottom and noticed all of this. These barnacles (?) have started growing in numbers in the last month or so on my filter and powerhead, but never blocking any flow or filtration, except for a few in the bottom of the filter, which i would scrape out right away with a toothbrush. Should i just take the whole filter out and clean off everything before putting it back in with the carbon? Also apologies if this is in the wrong forum

 

[blaxsun]

These are sponges. Beneficial, harmless (other than being a tad unsightly).

 

[SandNRocks]

Looks like pineapple sponges to me. Very common and essentially harmless. In crazy numbers they can overgrow corals but theyre pretty easily removed. Theyre filtering particles and stuff out of the water. I would clean it all out just cuz i like things clean but theyre not really gonna hurt anything. They may clog it up eventually.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree pineapple sponges and often silicates are cause. Can be from new rock, new sand, from tap water if used and expired or leaking Di Resin cartridges.
These are short lived and will dissipate as silicates reduce. You can peel them off with the edge of a credit card into a net if they are too many
They are not harmful and cherish algae if they get any

 

[jrevoman]

Ah ok thank you everyone! Person at the LFS said maybe barnacles but didn’t really know, I’m slowly learning that the fish store workers are not the omniscient encyclopedias of knowledge I believed they were when i first got into the hobby

 

[Cell]

Ah ok thank you everyone! Person at the LFS said maybe barnacles but didn’t really know, I’m slowly learning that the fish store workers are not the omniscient encyclopedias of knowledge I believed they were when i first got into the hobby

The advice you will get here on R2R is superior to your average LFS by magnitudes.