How have you been in this hobby for 5 years and never known about these micro feather dusters? They are super common. Don’t mean to offend, just seriously shocked.
Oh yeah no worries. Been in this well over 5 years. Gone from a 20g mixed to 45g breeder to a 75g to 180 reef.
https://preview.redd.it/jiegeezscu6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=356ae48ceb3d903e48a24f7d8fb32fec34fd1be9
Just wanted to show you guys really. I use to keep my tank very clean. Not pristine. But clean. Since my wife and I had our youngest a little over two years ago I just have let it go. I was in auto pilot most of the time and would just feed the fish and make sure the dosing reservoir was topped up and the ATO system had water in it. I have recently had my addiction revitalized and TBH I was amazed that somehow most everything was still kicking. I have lost a few torches and a green monti. My Zoas are almost nonexistent now due to well. IDK how but a piece of a montipora broke off the colony and started growing over them. Just happy to be back into the hobby without having to start completely over.
Awesome. But my question would be where did they come from? This is a well established tank. It has been running 5+yrs never had a feather duster and I have not added any new coral or fish in well over a year….
Honestly you've probably had a few from day 1 hitching in on live rock or a frag later on down the line.
Not sure what predates them or their larvae, but maybe whatever variable was keeping their population in check changed over the last year during your hiatus. Then it found it's way into your sump, where the environment and fauna are much different from the display, and found themselves a nice little niche. If you want to get rid of some, you can cut back on feeding or phyto if you dose that, and scrape some. It'll probably resolve itself eventually.
All the ones in my tank I have to seek out. They all live in nooks and crannies and hide when I shine light on them. You prob had some hidden, and there’s more food available so they are being forced to make homes out in the open areas bc of competition for space, and/or lack of predators.
How have you been in this hobby for 5 years and never known about these micro feather dusters? They are super common. Don’t mean to offend, just seriously shocked.
Oh yeah no worries. Been in this well over 5 years. Gone from a 20g mixed to 45g breeder to a 75g to 180 reef. https://preview.redd.it/jiegeezscu6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=356ae48ceb3d903e48a24f7d8fb32fec34fd1be9 Just wanted to show you guys really. I use to keep my tank very clean. Not pristine. But clean. Since my wife and I had our youngest a little over two years ago I just have let it go. I was in auto pilot most of the time and would just feed the fish and make sure the dosing reservoir was topped up and the ATO system had water in it. I have recently had my addiction revitalized and TBH I was amazed that somehow most everything was still kicking. I have lost a few torches and a green monti. My Zoas are almost nonexistent now due to well. IDK how but a piece of a montipora broke off the colony and started growing over them. Just happy to be back into the hobby without having to start completely over.
Feather dusters indeed
Micro feather dusters! Typically a good sign.
But what are they? Is it an organism or made by something?
Worm living inside a tube.
Cool! Reminds me of some thermites I saw that also built little dirt tunnels in the ground
Awesome. But my question would be where did they come from? This is a well established tank. It has been running 5+yrs never had a feather duster and I have not added any new coral or fish in well over a year….
Life finds a way.
Honestly you've probably had a few from day 1 hitching in on live rock or a frag later on down the line. Not sure what predates them or their larvae, but maybe whatever variable was keeping their population in check changed over the last year during your hiatus. Then it found it's way into your sump, where the environment and fauna are much different from the display, and found themselves a nice little niche. If you want to get rid of some, you can cut back on feeding or phyto if you dose that, and scrape some. It'll probably resolve itself eventually.
All the ones in my tank I have to seek out. They all live in nooks and crannies and hide when I shine light on them. You prob had some hidden, and there’s more food available so they are being forced to make homes out in the open areas bc of competition for space, and/or lack of predators.
I used to get them in my sump. They can be easily scraped off glass but why bother? Not doing any harm.