What are these?

Neogenocide · 10/27/2011, 07:37 AM

Hey guys,

Can anyone help identify what these are? This eggcrate covers the pump intake from my sump. This thing is just completely covered in them.

Thanks,

Scott

HiroPro · 10/27/2011, 08:19 AM

Looks to be Vermetid snails.
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/Hitchsnails.html

Neogenocide · 10/27/2011, 08:26 AM

These are def not snails. They are attached and growing on the egg crate, they almost look like little tubes.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Scott

DeepSeaBeauti · 10/27/2011, 08:40 AM

Spirorbidae ? Ive got the same things in my tank, There filter feeders. The grow everywhere!

DeepSeaBeauti · 10/27/2011, 08:43 AM

Maybe even baby hard tube-worm feather dusters. They are naturally occurring, harmless filter feeders that eventually show up in almost all reef tanks. You can scrape them off the front and sides of the tank with an algae scraper, but let them grow in the back. They get larger and beautiful when they get older, and help filter the water. They have beautiful calcium-based shells which form complex spirals and curves, and appreciate a calcium level of about 400ppm, with some strontium and magnesium added periodically. Some hard tube-worms can live for hundreds of years. The only problem they cause is that they also will grow inside pumps, where their shells can damage impellors, so pumps should be cleaned periodically to remove them, but you should be doing that anyway.

Dustin1300 · 10/27/2011, 08:45 AM

If you have good premium rock you'll see the tubing all over...

Neogenocide · 10/27/2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSeaBeauti

Spirorbidae ? Ive got the same things in my tank, There filter feeders. The grow everywhere!

I've got these in my tank, but that's not what I'm talking about in the pic. About your second post, they almost look like a tube worm/feather duster, but I never see the "duster" portion of them, day or night. I will see if I can get a better closer picture of them.

Thanks,

Scott

HiroPro · 10/27/2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neogenocide

These are def not snails. They are attached and growing on the egg crate, they almost look like little tubes.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Scott

Vermetid snails are sedentary much like feather dusters. Google a pic of them. I have them in my 120.

T-dub · 10/27/2011, 11:17 AM

Vermetid snails don't look like snails but it appears that's what you have mostly there. They're common and harmless. Be careful though, they can be super sharp.

10/27/2011, 07:37 AM	#1
Neogenocide Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Findlay, OH Posts: 851	What are these? Hey guys, Can anyone help identify what these are? This eggcrate covers the pump intake from my sump. This thing is just completely covered in them. Thanks, Scott __________________ NorthWest Ohio Reef Association

10/27/2011, 08:19 AM	#2
HiroPro Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bella Vista, AR Posts: 131	Looks to be Vermetid snails. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/Hitchsnails.html __________________ Ryan \| In2Deep.org "Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder - 120 In progress

10/27/2011, 08:26 AM	#3
Neogenocide Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Findlay, OH Posts: 851	These are def not snails. They are attached and growing on the egg crate, they almost look like little tubes. Any other thoughts? Thanks, Scott __________________ NorthWest Ohio Reef Association

10/27/2011, 08:40 AM	#4
DeepSeaBeauti Will Fielitz Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Patchogue , long Island Posts: 1,151	Spirorbidae ? Ive got the same things in my tank, There filter feeders. The grow everywhere! __________________ I can never figure out why my wallet is empty. But my tank sure is awsome looking. Current Tank Info: 300G DD reef tank, 100g sump 40g breeder set up as a refugium, C-skim skimmer, , 2 165w LED and t5 setup, BRS reactor for carbon and GFO. Fish: lawnmower blenny, 12clowns, Watchmen golby, FoxFace, Yellow angle, 6line wrase.

10/27/2011, 08:43 AM	#5
DeepSeaBeauti Will Fielitz Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Patchogue , long Island Posts: 1,151	Maybe even baby hard tube-worm feather dusters. They are naturally occurring, harmless filter feeders that eventually show up in almost all reef tanks. You can scrape them off the front and sides of the tank with an algae scraper, but let them grow in the back. They get larger and beautiful when they get older, and help filter the water. They have beautiful calcium-based shells which form complex spirals and curves, and appreciate a calcium level of about 400ppm, with some strontium and magnesium added periodically. Some hard tube-worms can live for hundreds of years. The only problem they cause is that they also will grow inside pumps, where their shells can damage impellors, so pumps should be cleaned periodically to remove them, but you should be doing that anyway. __________________ I can never figure out why my wallet is empty. But my tank sure is awsome looking. Current Tank Info: 300G DD reef tank, 100g sump 40g breeder set up as a refugium, C-skim skimmer, , 2 165w LED and t5 setup, BRS reactor for carbon and GFO. Fish: lawnmower blenny, 12clowns, Watchmen golby, FoxFace, Yellow angle, 6line wrase.

10/27/2011, 08:45 AM	#6
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	If you have good premium rock you'll see the tubing all over... __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/27/2011, 11:17 AM	#9
T-dub Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marshall, MN Posts: 214	Vermetid snails don't look like snails but it appears that's what you have mostly there. They're common and harmless. Be careful though, they can be super sharp.