Whats eating up my live rock?

Tremolo · 07/04/2006, 02:57 PM

I have something in my tank eating up my live rock... Every once in a while I see a puff of what seems to be flakes of rock that is coming out of the rock and a few minutes ago I saw it again and that is a big crack going across one of the pieces of rock. Any ideas on what it is and how to get rid of whatever is doing this.

Thanks

Vince

sir_dudeguy · 07/04/2006, 03:04 PM

i dont know what would eat rock, but i know some of my rock is just weak like that...it will have a tiny crack, and then a while later the crack will be bigger almost like the weight of the rock itself is doing it...but i have no clue what would "eat" rock.

Tremolo · 07/04/2006, 03:07 PM

well i guess its not really eating it but digging around in it maybe.

yeldarbj · 07/04/2006, 03:28 PM

I've seen the same thing in several spots on my live rock. One spot randomly spits out small cloudy puffs of stuff. Another spot shoots out lots of tiny cylindrical pellets. I have no idea what's going on in there.

sir_dudeguy · 07/04/2006, 03:34 PM

maybe its mantis shrimp? the small cylindrical pellets would be poo...so my guess is something living in there.

Tremolo · 07/04/2006, 04:19 PM

well I ran to the store and bought a red led light we will see tonight if they come out to play.

REMF · 07/04/2006, 04:58 PM

Do you hear a clicking sound? If so you prob have a Mantis.

mlukason · 07/04/2006, 07:02 PM

I have a crab (hitchhiker) that come out when the lights are off and grazes on the rock. It can crush pretty good size pieces.

EdKruzel · 07/04/2006, 08:57 PM

Many animals can bore through rock however I would suspect its own weight or that of other rocks upon it would cause the cracks to enlarge.

Most puffs of debris and loafs of sediment are the waste of worms living in the rock.
Perfectly normal.

Ed

R33f3r · 07/05/2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EdKruzel
Many animals can bore through rock however I would suspect its own weight or that of other rocks upon it would cause the cracks to enlarge.

Most puffs of debris and loafs of sediment are the waste of worms living in the rock.
Perfectly normal.

Ed

Exactly.

WaterKeeper · 07/05/2006, 09:47 AM

Ed knows his puffs Vince.

Well said Ed.

Tremolo · 07/05/2006, 08:10 PM

Well thanks for the info.. I looked at it last night after about 2 hours with no light using the red led all I saw a a snail and 2 Bristle worms. I don't hear any clicking so hopefully there is nothing to worry about. I was planning on adding a lawnmower blenny to the tank but would it be better to add a Mandarin to keep the worms in check? Plus they look a lot nicer then the blenny.

Thanks
Vince

Octoberfest · 07/05/2006, 08:36 PM

don't worry about the worms, you want them.

07/04/2006, 02:57 PM	#1
Tremolo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aurora IL Posts: 644	Whats eating up my live rock? I have something in my tank eating up my live rock... Every once in a while I see a puff of what seems to be flakes of rock that is coming out of the rock and a few minutes ago I saw it again and that is a big crack going across one of the pieces of rock. Any ideas on what it is and how to get rid of whatever is doing this. Thanks Vince

07/04/2006, 03:04 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	i dont know what would eat rock, but i know some of my rock is just weak like that...it will have a tiny crack, and then a while later the crack will be bigger almost like the weight of the rock itself is doing it...but i have no clue what would "eat" rock. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/04/2006, 03:34 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	maybe its mantis shrimp? the small cylindrical pellets would be poo...so my guess is something living in there. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/04/2006, 04:58 PM	#7
REMF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 669	Do you hear a clicking sound? If so you prob have a Mantis. __________________ Really honey, this will be the last thing I need for my reef. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, T5ho. 46 Gal bow FOWLR, 20 Gal L 250w mh reef.

07/04/2006, 07:02 PM	#8
mlukason Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hopkinton, Massachusetts Posts: 101	I have a crab (hitchhiker) that come out when the lights are off and grazes on the rock. It can crush pretty good size pieces. __________________ MJL Current Tank Info: 65 gal AGA, 20 gal refgium, 10 gal sump, ER CS6-1 skimmer, 4x 96W PC, 100 lbs LR w/ DSB

07/04/2006, 03:07 PM	#3
Tremolo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aurora IL Posts: 644	well i guess its not really eating it but digging around in it maybe.

07/04/2006, 03:28 PM	#4
yeldarbj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,295	I've seen the same thing in several spots on my live rock. One spot randomly spits out small cloudy puffs of stuff. Another spot shoots out lots of tiny cylindrical pellets. I have no idea what's going on in there.

07/04/2006, 04:19 PM	#6
Tremolo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aurora IL Posts: 644	well I ran to the store and bought a red led light we will see tonight if they come out to play.

07/04/2006, 08:57 PM	#9
EdKruzel Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 7,384	Many animals can bore through rock however I would suspect its own weight or that of other rocks upon it would cause the cracks to enlarge. Most puffs of debris and loafs of sediment are the waste of worms living in the rock. Perfectly normal. Ed __________________ When you find yourself in "Deep Water" it's best to keep your mouth shut! Current Tank Info: 65RR Cube Mixed Reef

07/05/2006, 09:47 AM	#11
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Ed knows his puffs Vince. Well said Ed. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

07/05/2006, 08:10 PM	#12
Tremolo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aurora IL Posts: 644	Well thanks for the info.. I looked at it last night after about 2 hours with no light using the red led all I saw a a snail and 2 Bristle worms. I don't hear any clicking so hopefully there is nothing to worry about. I was planning on adding a lawnmower blenny to the tank but would it be better to add a Mandarin to keep the worms in check? Plus they look a lot nicer then the blenny. Thanks Vince

07/05/2006, 08:36 PM	#13
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	don't worry about the worms, you want them. __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube