Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad.

[shesacharmer]

Anyone know what these feather duster looking things are? I don't see any tube, they just disappear when startled and I don't see any shell. Could they be young barnacles? Are they pests? They are popping up all over suddenly. Hoping they are harmless.

 

[cloak]

Yeah, there just harmless feather dusters. No worries. The population will usually rise and fall, depending on how much food is available in the system.

 

[cedman]

Please help to ID worm/bug

Please help to ID worm/bug

found this bug this morning walking up the back wall of tank. less than 1/4 inch, maybe 5mm or a little smaller. the points are its back end, and it moves like a worm or slug. I saw another one when i got out the magnifying glass which was maybe the size of a pin head following this larger one.

sorry if the pic is blurry, its thru the aquarium on the back wall, best i could do.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That's a harmless copepod eating flatworm.

 

[jexrod]

Critter or else?

Critter or else?

Thank you Cloak.

Another question hope this is the right thread. Got a great deal on a tank and other goodies. I drive to pick it up and it looks great, make the deal. When I start tearing it down. Large white pieces or stringy slime/critter is everywhere in substrate but primarily under the filters. Any ideas?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sponges. Soak everything in white vinegar and water to clean it.

 

[Techne]

Does anyone know what this little red coral looking thing is? It's only about the size of a pea right now.

 

[cloak]

Foraminiferan most likely. (harmless)

 

[100%hydrophylic]

Does anyone know what this little red coral looking thing is? It's only about the size of a pea right now.

I would guess a type of red macro algae.

 

[cloak]

Does anyone know what this little red coral looking thing is? It's only about the size of a pea right now.

Are they hard or soft?

 

[Wolfren696]

I got a hunch that this is bad, I just want to see what you thinks. "That's the only one in my aquarium so far.

 

[cloak]

Aiptasia. Definitely bad. If you can take that rock out of the water, you might want to try and burn it off with a cigarette lighter.

 

[Wolfren696]

Aiptasia. Definitely bad. If you can take that rock out of the water, you might want to try and burn it off with a cigarette lighter.

Thank you @cloak, that was my suspicion hehhe, I think I might be able too get it out without removing the rock.

 

[billy mitchell]

I have this growing in the bubble trap from the first chamber to the refugium
where the last overflow is
have you any idea what this is and is it ok to have

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[SeeCrabRun]

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I have this growing in the bubble trap from the first chamber to the refugium
where the last overflow is
have you any idea what this is and is it ok to have

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That's a sponge.

Xanthid crab. Very destructive. Toss it in the sump.

 

[shesacharmer]

Does anyone recognize what type of Sea Star this hitchhiker might be? I watched him avoid encrusting corals so I'm not too worried about him. What do you think?

<a href="http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/shesacharmer/media/2014-06/IMG_20140627_201332_632_zpsj5io1ta2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b484/shesacharmer/2014-06/IMG_20140627_201332_632_zpsj5io1ta2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140627_201332_632_zpsj5io1ta2.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/shesacharmer/media/2014-06/IMG_20140627_201318_604_zpsxknlfger.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b484/shesacharmer/2014-06/IMG_20140627_201318_604_zpsxknlfger.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140627_201318_604_zpsxknlfger.jpg"/></a>

 

[cloak]

Asterina star. I don't trust them. :thumbdown

 

[shesacharmer]

Asterina, really? I didn't know they got this big. It's about the size of a dime.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yes, that's about as large as they get.