What is that?

eperez25 · 08/30/2010, 11:36 AM

Need some help with IDing some strange things I am seeing in my tank. The tank is a 55-gallon and has been runing for about 6 months now. I am starting to notice that there are some threads (looks like spider web)growing around some of my live rock and on my heater. I even noticed that my fish pick it up as they swin in and out of the LR. It is very thin, but noticeable.

What is it? Is there something I should be doing to avoid them?

stingythingy45 · 08/30/2010, 11:39 AM

Do you see any small tubes on the LR?
Possibly vermitid snails?

kcochran0010 · 08/30/2010, 11:41 AM

I just did a good search for you, I read that "The bigger variety of vermetid snails sends out a rather intricate and large/wide series of webs... not the single strands like the smaller versions They can completely cover a coral." So I think it is a snail in there and its trying to catch food! Google more on vermetid snails and you might find your answer!

eperez25 · 08/30/2010, 11:42 AM

Thanks guys. How do I get rid of them or more importantly...should I get rid of them?

stingythingy45 · 08/30/2010, 11:46 AM

I have lots of small ones.The rocks looked like porcupines in some areas.
I just smashed the smaller ones.But they're pretty tough to get rid of completely.
The large ones you could probably locate and then use kalk paste in a test syringe to kill them.Lot's of them can be a pain.But they're really just part of the cuc.

kcochran0010 · 08/30/2010, 11:51 AM

I would not worry about getting rid of them unless you absolutely hate the sight of the "web" or more importantly if they start killing things!

gweston · 08/30/2010, 12:05 PM

I have heard some say the webbing can potentially irritate corals, but not sure if they can actually kill anything. Well. Maybe if there was a large concentration of them (?). I have some in my tank. I just leave them alone. They are, in a sense, a part of the clean up crew. A few live right near my corals. No problems noted.

eperez25 · 08/30/2010, 12:08 PM

I will let them be. I feel a lot more comfortable now that I know what is causing them.

thebkramer · 08/30/2010, 12:11 PM

I have them also

I leave them be.. they don't hurt anything in my tank. yAy! lol

Here are some great ID sites for all those.. "what the heck is that?!!!?"

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

kcochran0010 · 08/30/2010, 12:13 PM

+1 on melevsreef due to the fact it is great for alot of stuff especially diy projects!

08/30/2010, 11:36 AM	#1
eperez25 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 187	What is that? Need some help with IDing some strange things I am seeing in my tank. The tank is a 55-gallon and has been runing for about 6 months now. I am starting to notice that there are some threads (looks like spider web)growing around some of my live rock and on my heater. I even noticed that my fish pick it up as they swin in and out of the LR. It is very thin, but noticeable. What is it? Is there something I should be doing to avoid them?

08/30/2010, 11:39 AM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Do you see any small tubes on the LR? Possibly vermitid snails? __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

08/30/2010, 11:46 AM	#5
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	I have lots of small ones.The rocks looked like porcupines in some areas. I just smashed the smaller ones.But they're pretty tough to get rid of completely. The large ones you could probably locate and then use kalk paste in a test syringe to kill them.Lot's of them can be a pain.But they're really just part of the cuc. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

08/30/2010, 12:11 PM	#9
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	I have them also I leave them be.. they don't hurt anything in my tank. yAy! lol Here are some great ID sites for all those.. "what the heck is that?!!!?" http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html http://www.melevsreef.com/id/ __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

08/30/2010, 11:41 AM	#3
kcochran0010 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 676	I just did a good search for you, I read that "The bigger variety of vermetid snails sends out a rather intricate and large/wide series of webs... not the single strands like the smaller versions They can completely cover a coral." So I think it is a snail in there and its trying to catch food! Google more on vermetid snails and you might find your answer!

08/30/2010, 11:42 AM	#4
eperez25 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 187	Thanks guys. How do I get rid of them or more importantly...should I get rid of them?

08/30/2010, 11:51 AM	#6
kcochran0010 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 676	I would not worry about getting rid of them unless you absolutely hate the sight of the "web" or more importantly if they start killing things!

08/30/2010, 12:05 PM	#7
gweston Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gardner, MA Posts: 961	I have heard some say the webbing can potentially irritate corals, but not sure if they can actually kill anything. Well. Maybe if there was a large concentration of them (?). I have some in my tank. I just leave them alone. They are, in a sense, a part of the clean up crew. A few live right near my corals. No problems noted.

08/30/2010, 12:08 PM	#8
eperez25 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 187	I will let them be. I feel a lot more comfortable now that I know what is causing them.

08/30/2010, 12:13 PM	#10
kcochran0010 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 676	+1 on melevsreef due to the fact it is great for alot of stuff especially diy projects!