Tanaid control predator?

[therman]

After not finding much at all with google, I think I have determined that I've had a long term domination of my reef tank by tanaid Arthropods. They form tiny (1-2mm dia) mucous/detritus tubes covering virtually all surfaces of rock and encroach on LPS, SPS, and zoanthid encrusting tissue and sometimes prevent growth or cause it to recede. They are rather aggressive little critters that will pinch at skin when extracted from their tubes.

I found the short write up by Dr. Shimek but there is very little about their biology in a reef tank or ecological interactions. Does anyone have any recommendations for their control? They have persisted through a few interceptor treatments and seem to avoid detection by wrasses due to their cryptic tubes. THe one tank where they dont dominate has a tuxedo urchin, which I suspect indiscriminantly destroys their tubes from accessible rock surfaces while grazing. I haven't tried a mandarin or pipefish in a while. Maybe a dragon pipe would be meticulous enough to find them?

Any suggestions or similar experiences are welcome.
Thanks!
Tim

[007Bond]

After not finding much at all with google, I think I have determined that I've had a long term domination of my reef tank by tanaid Arthropods. They form tiny (1-2mm dia) mucous/detritus tubes covering virtually all surfaces of rock and encroach on LPS, SPS, and zoanthid encrusting tissue and sometimes prevent growth or cause it to recede. They are rather aggressive little critters that will pinch at skin when extracted from their tubes.

I found the short write up by Dr. Shimek but there is very little about their biology in a reef tank or ecological interactions. Does anyone have any recommendations for their control? They have persisted through a few interceptor treatments and seem to avoid detection by wrasses due to their cryptic tubes. THe one tank where they dont dominate has a tuxedo urchin, which I suspect indiscriminantly destroys their tubes from accessible rock surfaces while grazing. I haven't tried a mandarin or pipefish in a while. Maybe a dragon pipe would be meticulous enough to find them?

Any suggestions or similar experiences are welcome.
Thanks!
Tim

Hi Tim,...can I ask what did you ever find on these guys? I believe I have them in my fuge,...it has a sugar fine sand bed and they seemed to show up from who knows where. I kept seeing the tubes but nothing around them,...some up to 2" long gong straight out horizontally. I finely opened a couple up and seen the mucous type creatures but didn't know what to think.
My DT has larger substrate so they don't show up
I know this is an old thread,...wondering what you ended up doing with yours?
Thanks in advance.---Rick

[therman]

I think there is a spaghetti worm that makes the tubes coming out of the sandbed as you describe. You will see two clear tentacles reach out and writhe around searching for food. These are totally harmless.

The tanaid arthropods I had made their tubes on hard surfaces, such as frag plugs, rock, and glass. They were little hard-shelled cigar shaped whitish invertebrates, maybe 3mm long not slimy at all.

I treated my system using Sentinel a year or two ago and that pretty much annihilated every arthropod in my system (far more lethally than Interceptor). Haven't seen them since.

[007Bond]

Thanks,...that sounds right. I'll take a look at spaghetti worms to get some info.---Rick

[007Bond]

Hey Tim,...you id my spaghetti worms :) would you know what these white hair growths are ? I posted them on two different RC forums but no answers. Are they the Tranaid that you had? Thank you in advance.---Rick

http://i.imgur.com/mLyZw0l.png
http://i.imgur.com/Nup2N8T.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HDNiHVB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JypPpTM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/itUuT0W.jpg

ps. I see you corals in the for sale forum. My system is large,...and I see a lot I would like to get !

[therman]

Hey Rick,

I think they are a tube worm. Filter feeders, nothing to worry about.

Let me know if you'd like some corals. We can find a place to meet for a pickup if that works for you.