Live Rock Smoking

[JoeRonda]

I've seen small puffs of debris come out of L.R. holes before, but this was strange! I was watching my tank today and I saw a huge exhale of what looked exactly like smoke blow out of a hole in my rock. It was so big that it actually hung in a cloud before dissipating into the water column. What kind of Live Rock monster do I have in there that could do this? Has anyone else ever seen what looks like evidence that The Marlboro Man is living deep within their L.R.? Should I worry about the dangers of second hand smoke to my tank inhabitants who are predominantly non-smokers? Just be aware, although you thought you raised your saltwater tank to be good, it may turn out to be a rebel.

 

[syrinx]

A good size bristlewrm will do this. Obviously there are a myrid of things that can do this either through expelling debris, or breeding behaviour- but that last few real big clouds were from bristleworms that when seen were as thick as a pencil- and consideraly longer!

 

[JoeRonda]

Thanks for the reply Syrinx, I should have know it was Bristle-zilla that was responsible for it. Actually I didn't know they were capable of that, I went on a rampage trapping bstlwrms for like 2mo solid. Eventually I figured the number of them I removed was enough but I never caught the big one that kept stealing the bait. Could this beast be responsible for the Camel Shrimp and 2 Peppermint Shrimp that went missing without a trace? I wonder what other mayhem he is capable of? Thanks, Joe

 

[Sk8r]

No, bristleworms are good guys, even the big ones. They clean better than any hermit or snail: Matilda was just dusting out her parlor.

 

[syrinx]

I think the ones I have in various tanks are not a problem. There is a chance you have another kind of worm- likely mispelled- eucilid worms- which have diferent "headgear" and are not detrvors like the bristleworms.

 

[JoeRonda]

No, bristleworms are good guys, even the big ones. They clean better than any hermit or snail: Matilda was just dusting out her parlor.

Hahaaha...I like that !! That is actually good to know, thanks for the info Sk8r

 

[dogstar74]

Some clams burrow into the rock and get completely covered over except their siphon. It may have been expelling gametes into the water column.

 

[fasteddie99]

I've got a huge bristleworm in my tank, about 10" long and about 1/2" in diameter when he's contracted and he's a model citizen of the tank. They are good critters to have.

I have seen my turbo snails die and give off a few puffs of smoke. Surprising amount too! Maybe a snail got stuck in the rock?? Just a thought.

 

[kawicivic]

stomatella will create puffs when "in the mood"

 

[sjmantis]

No chance it's a mantis? Have you heard any clicking?

 

[Flippers4pups]

stomatella will create puffs when "in the mood"

First time i saw this i thought all my live rock was on fire and the whole tank was in the mood!!! LOL. Seriously, it was a good sign to see this. :love1:

 

[Indymann99]

stomatella will create puffs when "in the mood"

+1 especially if the tank is new.

After about a year all the Stomatella snails I had have disappeared...
but when I had them I saw the "smoke" quite often.

 

[Fish4Me2]

I have had peanut worms in my rock do this. They're messy little guys!

 

[JoeRonda]

No chance it's a mantis? Have you heard any clicking?

I've heard horror stories about Mantis shrimp, and that might explain where my Camel Shrimp went, I also had a couple of Peppermints go missing too, but no I haven't heard any clicking.

 

[JoeRonda]

stomatella will create puffs when "in the mood"

What is a stomatella? I have never heard of it.

 

[Indymann99]

What is a stomatella? I have never heard of it.

Stomatella are snails that dont have hard shells. They look like a fingernail is on the back... usually about the same size as a pinky fingernail.

 

[JoeRonda]

No, I don't have any of those. Thanks for clarifiying for me.:hmm5: