What is this creature growing on my corals??

KhanhQ83 · 03/28/2012, 08:18 PM

Hi all. I noticed a few of these started growing on my corals esp. monti caps. I snapped a picture, all of them are encrusted within the corals. Please advise what they are because they are very unpleasant to look at and are they harmful? Thanks

Pic:

Also, I have this stringy looking thing all over my sump... are they cyano? can someone please confirm?

GhostCon1 · 03/28/2012, 08:22 PM

First picture: Vermitid snails. Not entirely harmful to the corals. Can be a nuisance if they extend their feeding net and irritate the corals. Unpleasant to look at (in my opinion).

Second picture: Yes, that is cyanobacteria.

KhanhQ83 · 03/28/2012, 08:33 PM

GhostCon1 -

Thanks. How did those snails get there? and more importantly how do I get rid of them? they are a nuisance and very unpleasant to look at.

GhostCon1 · 03/29/2012, 07:42 AM

They come in on live rock and corals. They are hitchhikers; getting rid of them is quite difficult. Gluing over their opening into the tube is one of the best ways. Another is to crush their tubes.

Search RC for vermitid snails. GO.

gmate · 03/29/2012, 10:07 AM

+1 Vermitid snail, harmless

Psirex · 03/29/2012, 10:30 AM

reason for the unused frag plugs in the tank?

birdman1979 · 03/29/2012, 10:32 AM

They are not harmless. They will starve or at least irritate corals. I use needle nose pliers to crush them.

GhostCon1 · 03/29/2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdman1979

They are not harmless. They will starve or at least irritate corals. I use needle nose pliers to crush them.

They cannot starve corals, just irritate and cause sliming/reduced PE.

swanny · 03/29/2012, 10:54 AM

^irratate perhaps, starve, no way.

Sk8r · 03/29/2012, 11:31 AM

Depends on your corals. I have lps stony, and when happy, they can overpower aiptasia.

03/28/2012, 08:18 PM	#1
KhanhQ83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Boston Posts: 90	What is this creature growing on my corals?? Hi all. I noticed a few of these started growing on my corals esp. monti caps. I snapped a picture, all of them are encrusted within the corals. Please advise what they are because they are very unpleasant to look at and are they harmful? Thanks Pic: Also, I have this stringy looking thing all over my sump... are they cyano? can someone please confirm? __________________ - Khanh

03/28/2012, 08:22 PM	#2
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	First picture: Vermitid snails. Not entirely harmful to the corals. Can be a nuisance if they extend their feeding net and irritate the corals. Unpleasant to look at (in my opinion). Second picture: Yes, that is cyanobacteria. __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

03/28/2012, 08:33 PM	#3
KhanhQ83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Boston Posts: 90	GhostCon1 - Thanks. How did those snails get there? and more importantly how do I get rid of them? they are a nuisance and very unpleasant to look at. __________________ - Khanh

03/29/2012, 07:42 AM	#4
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	They come in on live rock and corals. They are hitchhikers; getting rid of them is quite difficult. Gluing over their opening into the tube is one of the best ways. Another is to crush their tubes. Search RC for vermitid snails. GO. __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

03/29/2012, 10:30 AM	#6
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	reason for the unused frag plugs in the tank? __________________ SALINITY NOW....

03/29/2012, 10:07 AM	#5
gmate MASC Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 2,267	+1 Vermitid snail, harmless

03/29/2012, 10:32 AM	#7
birdman1979 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 373	They are not harmless. They will starve or at least irritate corals. I use needle nose pliers to crush them.

03/29/2012, 10:54 AM	#9
swanny Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: denver Posts: 406	^irratate perhaps, starve, no way. __________________ 120 gallon soon to be (hopefully) sps dominant. Current Tank Info: 120g rr

03/29/2012, 11:31 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Depends on your corals. I have lps stony, and when happy, they can overpower aiptasia. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.