Translucent tubes

[Lofus]

I've got a bunch of these showing up on the underside of a lot of my LR. They are translucent white tubes with tenticales coming out of one end. Each one is about two mm in diamenter and maybe 8-10 mm long.

What are these things and what can I do to get rid of them?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

LOL! You don't have to get rid of everything you can't identify. Welcome to reefs.org.

By your description you may have sprouted some sea squirts/tunicates. They're filter feeders, and considered by some to be a bit delicate. So clearly you're doing something right, yeah? Short-lived, IIRC, but perfectly fine in your tank. I say leave them be.

If you're still worried about them, try to post a picture if possible. That would be most helpful.

 

[Lofus]

Thanks for the encouraging reply. I'll try to get a picture to verify that they are sea squirts. I've already found a muscle or some type of bivalve as a hitch-hiker. He seems to be feeding and happy as he is open maybe 75% of the time.

 

[Anonymous]

The more inverts you have happy and healthy (especially when new stuff sprouts up), the better it is, not only for your system, but for your prospects for success and longevity in your endeavor. Also, the better it speaks for your skills. I look forward to seeing pics.

 

[Anonymous]

LOL! You don't have to get rid of everything you can't identify. Welcome to reefs.org.

By your description you may have sprouted some sea squirts/tunicates. They're filter feeders, and considered by some to be a bit delicate. So clearly you're doing something right, yeah? Short-lived, IIRC, but perfectly fine in your tank. I say leave them be.

If you're still worried about them, try to post a picture if possible. That would be most helpful.

Sounds more like feather dusters to me, sm.

They are filter feeders like sea squirts, only they are worms in a calcerous (sp?) tube. They are good guys.

If it looks spongey, it is a tunicate/sea squirt, if it is a tube, it is a feather duster. (OR possibly a hydroid, but based on the "white tube," I'd say probably not)

Welcome aboard, Lofus!
HTH
HD

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, Salty Seamaiden, what the heck does IIRC stand for, anyway? I must not be geeky enough to know that one.

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC = if I recollect correctly. Which I sometimes don't. I still think tunicates, he never mentioned a tube.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a bunch of these showing up on the underside of a lot of my LR. They are translucent white tubes with tenticales coming out of one end. Each one is about two mm in diamenter and maybe 8-10 mm long.

What are these things and what can I do to get rid of them?

Thanks

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, THAT's what IIRC means. Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

OUCH! You'll be getting a pinch for that one..wait, I'll be getting a pinch... :lol: Sea ya Saturday!

 

[Anonymous]

OUCH! You'll be getting a pinch for that one..wait, I'll be getting a pinch... :lol: Sea ya Saturday!

Ooo, pinches! :wink:

 

[Lofus]

Here is a pic of the "tubes"

 

[Lofus]

This is the Bi-valve. I think its a muscle of some sort:

 

[Lofus]

The bi-valve is about 2.5 cm across. I was really excited to find it.

 

[Anonymous]

DOH! The Salty Seababe is right, Lofus, those are tunicates (sea squirts). Don't get rid of them, they're good filter feeders.

(They LOVE the inside of my skimmer and sump)

Good call, sm

 

[Anonymous]

The bi-valve is about 2.5 cm across. I was really excited to find it.

Sorry, I can't make much out of the bi-valve pic.

HD

 

[Micah00]

Hey Lofus I just now looked @ this thread and I had a piece of live rock covered with those about 3 months ago. Check out my thread to see what they look like now.

 

[wombat1]

Those are actually sponges, possibly genus Leucilla. They're listed in the Hitchiker FAQ. They grow prolifically in shaded, high flow areas (like the inside of skimmers).

There's a pic here:
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/pictur ... ponge.html

 

[Lofus]

I don't think they are a sponge because they have more tentacles on top. They are more like a fat featherduster.

 

[Lofus]

I don't think they are a sponge because they have more tentacles on top. They are more like a fat featherduster.

 

[wombat1]

Pull one out and squeeze it. It's a sponge. The "tentacles" are for filter feeding. You never see them retract like in a feather duster, right?