What are these? (Strange Starbursts) - iNewb

LogTech · 06/22/2014, 12:15 PM

Hi, new to the salt hobby. Done fresh for years, but wanted a little more involvement after my fresh became self sustaining.

I built a 72 gallon bowfront with a custom 55 gallon sump/fuge. Been running for 7 weeks now and these strange starburst things just started appearing all over the DT. They seem to be reproducing quite quickly.

I don't have all the gear to monitor all levels yet, but I am checking the basics...

First attempt at a Reef Tank.
0ppm TDS RODI w/ Instant Ocean Salt @ 1.025 s/g
8.3 PH, 0ppm NH3/NH4, 0ppm NO2, 0ppm NO3, 0.055ppm PO4

My Setup:

72 Gallon Display Tank

90lbs Reef Saver Live Rock
120lbs Live Sand
1x Hydor 1050/1150 GPH Aquarium Circulation Pump
LED Temp Display
1x AquaIllumination Hydra LED Light w/AI Director
Dragons Eye Coral Colony - SM
Yellow Polyp Coral Colony - SM
Pipe Organ Coral Colony - SM
6x Extreme Red Mushroom Corals - SM (CGC)
9x Purple/Blue General Mushroom Corals - SM
1x Skunk Shrimp
2x Clown Fish
4x Blue/Green Chromis
2x Mexican Turbo Snails
1x Emerald Crab
2x Blue Foot Hermit Crabs

55 Gallon Sump/Refugium

14 Gallon RODI ATO Tank
1x Hydor Smart Wave Circulation Pump Controller
9.5 Mag Drive Return Pump
125 GPH Coralife Super Skimmer
T5 Lighting (1x Actinic, 1x 10k)
55 Gallon Fluvial Canister Filter (Carbon bag and Ammonia Bag)
1x 300 Watt Aquatop Submersible Heater
Cheato, Deep Sand Bed, Live Rock, and dead stonies
1x Mexican Turbo Snail
Copepods

Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry if I didn't post correctly. It's been years since I've done any of this.

billdogg · 06/22/2014, 12:44 PM

hydroids. they can irritate some corals. Their population will grow and shrink to match their food supply.

LogTech · 06/22/2014, 12:50 PM

Thanks billdogg!

Are they good/bad/indifferent?

Should I do something to control them or reduce their growth?
Do they have a natural predator I should add especially if they are going to affect some of the corals?

billdogg · 06/22/2014, 02:22 PM

they can irritate stuff in your tank. I'm not sure if there is a predator or not. What I have found is that one day you will see them, then one day you don't. I wouldn't worry too much about them. Don't worry - there are plenty more things to worry about!

Stolireef · 06/22/2014, 02:31 PM

There are many different types of hydroids. Some will drive corals nuts and others don't bother anything. If you see any near your corals, watch them very closely. If they don't seem to be doing any damage, don't worry about them.

LogTech · 06/22/2014, 02:33 PM

Ok. Much appreciated. I'll keep doing some research.

Different places state new tanks diatom growth seems to contribute, and after a period of time the food sources are eventually removed.

Since I'm newly established I figure I should know after another month or two.

Any recommendations for what I should already have in the tank at this point? Stuff that might make life a little more easy if I knew ahead of time.

Ludwigia73 · 07/20/2014, 01:11 PM

Actually, those are not hydroids, hydroids have stalks. Those are VERY common at the beginning of a tank, during and a little while after the cycle. They're a larval form of jellyfish, but not harmful to your tank. If you feed phyto or zooplankton, they may stick around a while longer. Skimming also tends to make them disappear.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/20/2014, 01:25 PM

They are referred to as hydroid jellies.

LogTech · 07/22/2014, 06:48 AM

Great news Ludwigia73. I'm now on week 14 of the tank and they seem to be sticking around pretty strong. I feed my tank about 2-3ml of food 1-2 times per day using mysis and brine shrimp.

I already have a skimmer in the sump as you suggest it should help get rid of them. Doesn't seem to do that. In fact, I see them hanging on the inside wall of the skimmer bubble chamber. Stubborn little guys. Just glad to hear they aren't doing anything negative to the tank.

LogTech · 08/27/2014, 01:21 PM

Anyone know what this stuff is? Starting to see it around the tank a sump quite a bit.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1409167288.662179.jpg

jeperry3 · 08/27/2014, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LogTech

Anyone know what this stuff is? Starting to see it around the tank a sump quite a bit.Attachment 289110

Foraminifera maybe? Single cell organism. No harm to the tank that I ever heard.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/27/2014, 02:15 PM

Could also be bryozoans. Harmless.

LogTech · 08/27/2014, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the info. Gave me a place to start. Checking the pictures online shows a close resemblance to Bryozoa. I will keep an eye on it and see how it turns out.

Much appreciated y'all.

06/22/2014, 12:15 PM	#1
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	What are these? (Strange Starbursts) - iNewb Hi, new to the salt hobby. Done fresh for years, but wanted a little more involvement after my fresh became self sustaining. I built a 72 gallon bowfront with a custom 55 gallon sump/fuge. Been running for 7 weeks now and these strange starburst things just started appearing all over the DT. They seem to be reproducing quite quickly. I don't have all the gear to monitor all levels yet, but I am checking the basics... First attempt at a Reef Tank. 0ppm TDS RODI w/ Instant Ocean Salt @ 1.025 s/g 8.3 PH, 0ppm NH3/NH4, 0ppm NO2, 0ppm NO3, 0.055ppm PO4 My Setup: 72 Gallon Display Tank 90lbs Reef Saver Live Rock 120lbs Live Sand 1x Hydor 1050/1150 GPH Aquarium Circulation Pump LED Temp Display 1x AquaIllumination Hydra LED Light w/AI Director Dragons Eye Coral Colony - SM Yellow Polyp Coral Colony - SM Pipe Organ Coral Colony - SM 6x Extreme Red Mushroom Corals - SM (CGC) 9x Purple/Blue General Mushroom Corals - SM 1x Skunk Shrimp 2x Clown Fish 4x Blue/Green Chromis 2x Mexican Turbo Snails 1x Emerald Crab 2x Blue Foot Hermit Crabs 55 Gallon Sump/Refugium 14 Gallon RODI ATO Tank 1x Hydor Smart Wave Circulation Pump Controller 9.5 Mag Drive Return Pump 125 GPH Coralife Super Skimmer T5 Lighting (1x Actinic, 1x 10k) 55 Gallon Fluvial Canister Filter (Carbon bag and Ammonia Bag) 1x 300 Watt Aquatop Submersible Heater Cheato, Deep Sand Bed, Live Rock, and dead stonies 1x Mexican Turbo Snail Copepods Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry if I didn't post correctly. It's been years since I've done any of this.

06/22/2014, 12:44 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	hydroids. they can irritate some corals. Their population will grow and shrink to match their food supply. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/22/2014, 02:22 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	they can irritate stuff in your tank. I'm not sure if there is a predator or not. What I have found is that one day you will see them, then one day you don't. I wouldn't worry too much about them. Don't worry - there are plenty more things to worry about! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/22/2014, 02:31 PM	#5
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	There are many different types of hydroids. Some will drive corals nuts and others don't bother anything. If you see any near your corals, watch them very closely. If they don't seem to be doing any damage, don't worry about them. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

07/20/2014, 01:11 PM	#7
Ludwigia73 Reef Reef Reef Reef Reef Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 4,841	Actually, those are not hydroids, hydroids have stalks. Those are VERY common at the beginning of a tank, during and a little while after the cycle. They're a larval form of jellyfish, but not harmful to your tank. If you feed phyto or zooplankton, they may stick around a while longer. Skimming also tends to make them disappear. __________________ 14" cube (12 gal), LED's Current Tank Info: 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump, LED's

06/22/2014, 12:50 PM	#3
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	Thanks billdogg! Are they good/bad/indifferent? Should I do something to control them or reduce their growth? Do they have a natural predator I should add especially if they are going to affect some of the corals?

06/22/2014, 02:33 PM	#6
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	Ok. Much appreciated. I'll keep doing some research. Different places state new tanks diatom growth seems to contribute, and after a period of time the food sources are eventually removed. Since I'm newly established I figure I should know after another month or two. Any recommendations for what I should already have in the tank at this point? Stuff that might make life a little more easy if I knew ahead of time.

07/20/2014, 01:25 PM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	They are referred to as hydroid jellies. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/22/2014, 06:48 AM	#9
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	Great news Ludwigia73. I'm now on week 14 of the tank and they seem to be sticking around pretty strong. I feed my tank about 2-3ml of food 1-2 times per day using mysis and brine shrimp. I already have a skimmer in the sump as you suggest it should help get rid of them. Doesn't seem to do that. In fact, I see them hanging on the inside wall of the skimmer bubble chamber. Stubborn little guys. Just glad to hear they aren't doing anything negative to the tank.

08/27/2014, 01:21 PM	#10
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	Anyone know what this stuff is? Starting to see it around the tank a sump quite a bit.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1409167288.662179.jpg

08/27/2014, 02:15 PM	#12
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Could also be bryozoans. Harmless. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/27/2014, 02:23 PM	#13
LogTech Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 6	Thanks for the info. Gave me a place to start. Checking the pictures online shows a close resemblance to Bryozoa. I will keep an eye on it and see how it turns out. Much appreciated y'all.