Feather Duster Outbreak

[nickjt15]

I know there are other threads out there with almost the exact title but they all seem to be slightly different. So maybe someone on here is having the same problem and finds this useful. But sorry for the repetition ahead of time.

I've got a HUGE outbreak of baby feather dusters. Or what I understand to be feather dusters. I googled "baby feather duster" and found pictures of exactly what I have. They are tiny, hard, white spirals on my rock and glass. But I'm talking like HUNDREDS. And I only have a 10 gal. They are covering the back of my glass and are millimeters apart all over my rock. I clean the side and front class all the time so they're not there, but would be if I let them. I understand that these are filter feeders and are considered to be safe, but from what I've read they usually have to be introduced into the tank and don't just spread everywhere all at one time. Does anyone have any idea why I have this outbreak?

 

[Sk8r]

those are not feather dusters. They're spiorbid worms. Just scrape them off. On the rock, they're just natural. On the glass, scrape 'em.

 

[TrogdorFTW]

+1 sporid worms.

I have hundreds of them in my tank, they are mostly harmless. imho they help to consume extra nutrients. The only concern is that they might steal food from a coral near by so if you have anything sensitive try and remove them from that area. Otherwise the population will bloom and then stabilize just like most other reef populations.

If you want a real surprise turn your rocks over, I just re-scaped my tank because I needed to remove some damsels and the undersides of some of the rocks were practically covered in these little guys.

BTW big thanks to sk8r! I see him on the new to the forum page helping people all the time. He is an asset to the community.

 

[billdogg]

+1 sporid worms.

I have hundreds of them in my tank, they are mostly harmless. imho they help to consume extra nutrients. The only concern is that they might steal food from a coral near by so if you have anything sensitive try and remove them from that area. Otherwise the population will bloom and then stabilize just like most other reef populations.

If you want a real surprise turn your rocks over, I just re-scaped my tank because I needed to remove some damsels and the undersides of some of the rocks were practically covered in these little guys.

BTW big thanks to sk8r! I see him on the new to the forum page helping people all the time. He is an asset to the community.

FWIW - Sk8r is a she. Still a tremendous asset to the RC family however!

 

[killinit123]

I have these as well and some have gotten quite big on my rock work.. it got to the point where some of the larger ones were casting such a big web they were killing off some zoas and also causing some acans and some of my acros to recede their polyps.. so just an FYI do not let them get out of control.. and if you see any of the larger ones with a redish orange color put some super glue or epoxy over them and smother them because they can irritate corals pretty bad.