Little Spikes Everywhere

mempho reefer · 10-03-2007, 09:35 AM

Hi Gang

It's been awhile since I've posted but I've been dropping by from time to time just to read and keep up. Now I have a dilema and need some help. Over the last few months my tank has become infested with what seems to be some sort of parasite. They are small calcareus spikes about a quarter to a half inch in length. When I feed the tank they spray a sort of web, I assume to catch their share. It started with a few. Now they are everywhere. They are even growing on the shells of some of my snails.

Does anybody have any idea what they are? And, how do I get rid of them? Sorry I don't have pix right now.

BTW, here are the tank specs:
36 Bowfront
35lb LR with DSB
Mainly softies and LPS
T-5s
0 Ammo
0 Trites
0 Trates
PH 8.0-8.2
Undetectable Phos
Calc 480

BigAl07 · 10-03-2007, 10:40 AM

I can't picture them in my head but they sound more like some type of filter feeding worm rather than a parasite (parasite actually feeds on it's host). Try getting a pic of them when you can.

deaclauderdale · 10-03-2007, 10:50 AM

It is a worm and harmless to the tank. The name eludes me know but I have a few in my tank as well. Their rapid explosion could be caused by overfeeding.

wonderloss · 10-03-2007, 10:57 AM

Sounds like Vermetid Snails. A quick google search should give you plenty of information. They are not too much of a problem themselves, but they can be an indicator of high nutrients in the tank.

mempho reefer · 10-03-2007, 12:02 PM

Thank wonderloss. Vermetid it is. Karma to ya for the id. I found a link in case anyone else has this issue or is interested.

Snails That Worm Their Way Into Tanks by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

boozeman · 10-03-2007, 12:05 PM

those can be a real PITA

mempho reefer · 10-03-2007, 12:09 PM

You ain't kiddin' boozeman. It's enough to drive me to drinking.

boozeman · 10-03-2007, 02:23 PM

do you have many? I don't want to scare you but, I remember reading a thread on ''another forum'' where the guy had to eventualy boil all his rock to get rid of them

mempho reefer · 10-04-2007, 07:09 AM

They're everywhere. I'm going to try hermit crabs. Even though they are evil.....they are know to feed on them. If that doesn't work then I'll try manually removing them. Not sure how effective either will be but I really don't want to have to cook my LR to eradicate them.

10-03-2007, 09:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
mempho reefer Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 281 View Gallery Karma Komment	Little Spikes Everywhere Hi Gang It's been awhile since I've posted but I've been dropping by from time to time just to read and keep up. Now I have a dilema and need some help. Over the last few months my tank has become infested with what seems to be some sort of parasite. They are small calcareus spikes about a quarter to a half inch in length. When I feed the tank they spray a sort of web, I assume to catch their share. It started with a few. Now they are everywhere. They are even growing on the shells of some of my snails. Does anybody have any idea what they are? And, how do I get rid of them? Sorry I don't have pix right now. BTW, here are the tank specs: 36 Bowfront 35lb LR with DSB Mainly softies and LPS T-5s 0 Ammo 0 Trites 0 Trates PH 8.0-8.2 Undetectable Phos Calc 480

10-03-2007, 10:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere I can't picture them in my head but they sound more like some type of filter feeding worm rather than a parasite (parasite actually feeds on it's host). Try getting a pic of them when you can. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

10-03-2007, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
deaclauderdale Reefing for Jesus Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lancaster,California Posts: 2,499 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere It is a worm and harmless to the tank. The name eludes me know but I have a few in my tank as well. Their rapid explosion could be caused by overfeeding. __________________ 187 Gallon Peninsula Tank (2) 250 Watt HQI That's what I love about saltwater tanks. You get God's best!!

10-03-2007, 12:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere those can be a real PITA __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

10-03-2007, 12:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
mempho reefer Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 281 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere You ain't kiddin' boozeman. It's enough to drive me to drinking.

10-03-2007, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere do you have many? I don't want to scare you but, I remember reading a thread on ''another forum'' where the guy had to eventualy boil all his rock to get rid of them __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

10-04-2007, 07:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
mempho reefer Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 281 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Little Spikes Everywhere They're everywhere. I'm going to try hermit crabs. Even though they are evil.....they are know to feed on them. If that doesn't work then I'll try manually removing them. Not sure how effective either will be but I really don't want to have to cook my LR to eradicate them.

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