Derbird Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Hello everyone, I have had some little pests in my tank since my first live rock arrived. I have no idea what to call them but they are small things in a hard shell on the rock. Thy never seem to leave the shell but when they poke out they are white with what looks like two antenas on the top. The problem is they spit out some silk like a spiders web. This was always a minor thing until I changed my filter sock today. They went nuts (nutty) with those little particles that are released went in to the DT (I have yet to figure out a way around this). When I finished putting in the other sock I looked up and ever coral was covered by the silks. DOH! I was less then impressed by this. It took about twenty minuets with a turkey baster to get it cleaned up. This can't be good for coral. What is the best way to remove these little things. I don't really want to put a metal tool in to the tank. I am now terrified of adding any metals IE copper (scary) so I dont think that a pair of pliers will work too well. But they are really attached to those rocks DOH! I know erradication is not an option but I would like to get the ones around the coral at least. Any thoughts (scratch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beardedsmurf Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Some pictures might help us identify them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat2d Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 completely harmless. They are actually beneficial. The "silk" they put out is used to catch particles in the water so they can eat. some sort of tubeworm I believe, but I can't remember the name. Someone on here should have more info than I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Sounds like you have Vermetid Worms. They are harmless with the exception being that their silk can sometimes piss of things around them. I usually remove them with pliers or bone cutters just because I think they are slightly annoying but Bobby is right, they are for the most part a good member of the cleanup crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 You can just put a dab of superglue on the opening. Shut off your return pump when you change the filter sock, that should help in that regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Thank you everyone for you quick responces. I'm glad to hear they are harmless, except annoying the corals. I'll try to get the ones right by my mushrooms but will just ignore the others I seem to have about every pest that won't crash my tank already...LOL. Oh well as long as I don't get the horrible ones I guess I can't complain. Just part of reef keeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 You can just put a dab of superglue on the opening. Shut off your return pump when you change the filter sock, that should help in that regard. Wow such a simple solution that I didn't think of DOH! Not my most intelegent moments (whistle) I'll be shutting off my return pump during the sock changes from now on (laugh) Thank you for the easy fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batchelor Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I have a bunch in my 150. I think they're pretty fascinating and don't seem to bother my corals at all. Even when my SPS are covered in "silk" they dont seem to care. Natural filtration, gotta love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Wow such a simple solution that I didn't think of DOH! Not my most intelegent moments (whistle) I'll be shutting off my return pump during the sock changes from now on (laugh) Thank you for the easy fix. Funny how sometimes the easiest solution is just right there, I have been in that situation myself and thankful for the folks in this club! Glad I could help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherguy30 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Funny how sometimes the easiest solution is just right there, I have been in that situation myself and thankful for the folks in this club! Glad I could help This totally works! I did it to one that kept making my scoly all mad. Everyone called me mean. But it took care of the issue quick:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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