What is on my corals

[bluebill]

I am pretty new at the reef thing and I have noticed that I have these red tube looking things that are growing on my candycanes (I have not noticed anything comming out of them just a reddish pink tube). I do not have pictures but was hopeing someone would let me know what they are and if it is a bad thing or what? Thanks a ton

 

[James404]

sounds like vermitid snails, do you see webbing coming out of them? They look like this:

 

[bluebill]

No. The base is convex with a single small tube protruding out of it. Not curled like the picture

 

[Alysiak00]

it can still be a vermatid. this picture shows a fairly old vermatid, thats why its so curled. young ones are exactly as you describe them. They are a convex reddish pink tube

 

[bluebill]

OK, thanks.. are they harmless?

 

[April_Sherwood]

They put out a web like material to catch detrius etc. as it flows through the water. Their webs can sometimes bother corals that are close to them. They don't sting or anything but the webbing can attach to the corals etc. and that can cause them to close etc.. They can quickly grow and some have said when left alone they can take over the tank and become a nuisance. If they start to grow in numbers, you can break them off at the base, usually with a knife or sharp object. Be careful, the edges are sharp on the tube they make. I've used a female slotted spoon to break them off before. Do you have any pics so we can be sure we're talking about verm. snails?

 

[bluebill]

No I do not, but I will try too borrow a camera soon