What is this?

[tono-011]

Hi, I just got this tank and it is my first saltwater tank. I was wondering what the little white tubes are? I was thinking they are vermited snails. What do you guys think? This tank came with no coral just a few fish, so can I just get rid of all the rock and sand and put in some new rock and sand to fix the problem? Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

They are a type of snail. The bottom end of those tubes should be small curls, like a hose wound up in a circle. They are called vermited snails. Some people hate them, others don't find them to be such a big issue. I have them in my tanks and I live with them.

Welcome to the hobby.

 

[G Santana]

I think that this is the least of the Tank Pests, they will in most cases sneak into most tanks, the only real problem I have experienced is that they can multiply fast.
The other day, I took a stainless steel tube and scraped about 20 off the top of the rocks, the ones i can't reach i don't worry about.
It just becomes a quarterly chore.