Can Chaeto grow in the sandbed?

[Playdope]

I have a large clump of chaeto in my sump, but because all that separates it from the return pump is a piece of eggcrate - some pieces manage to get into the display periodically. I didn't think this was a big deal because I was told chaeto wouldn't reattach to anything in the display.

Now I am finding these short stalks of something coming out of my sandbed, and I'm not sure what it is. Can someone ID the stuff:

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Well that's not chaetomorpha- maybe a tube worm of some kind...

 

[Playdope]

Wow, thats a lot of tube worms. Are they harmless?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Tube worms are harmless, and I agree that is what those probably are.

 

[Fatal Morgana]

Guys/Gals, maybe we should "play the dope" and tell Jon how much trouble he is in with those nasty tube worms...

 

[Anonymous]

Funny you should mention that. There is actually new evidence in, from no less than the esteemed Dr. Ron, that heavy polychaete populations such as this can synchronize a vermicomposting effect that upon reaching critical levels can release a "phosphate explosion" into the water column.

That thing is just a ticking bomb in there dude!

 

[Anonymous]

that heavy polychaete populations such as this can synchronize a vermicomposting effect that upon reaching critical levels can release a "phosphate explosion" into the water column.

Can you SAY that on live internet?!?!?!! :lol:

 

[Playdope]

yeh yeh yeh

 

[Joew]

blah blah blah
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[DK]

Can't tell much from the picture. Tube worms....if nothing changes and they don't move then that might explain it. It also looks like snail siphons (if that is the right description) or both! Some of my snails stick them up through the sand during the day and do their thing at night.

 

[Playdope]

I thought it may have been a nassarius snail snorkel as well .. but then I realized I only have 8 of them, and there are about 30 tubes sticking out of the substrate Do they shed those tubes + regrow them? heh