Hi guys. Long time lurked that doesn't post much at all and now I need some help. For the last couple of months I have had a featherduster outbreak that has gotten insane. For over a year I had them randomly grow in my sump without any in the display. During that time I kind of just figured it was microfauna doing it's job. Then, several months ago, I picked up a mini colony of pink birdsnest that had one growing on it. I figured it wasn't a big deal since I already had them in my sump, so I dipped and then put it in my tank (yes I have learned my lesson about quarantining!). Several months latter this stuff has taken off like weeds. They grow on the rocks and in huge clumps on the sand. I keep pulling it off as best I can but I can't seem to get rid of them. Until today. Yesterday I started my tank move (and last one at that!) into our new house. I spend the better part of 4 hours today scrubbing every last one off all my LR that doesn't have coral on it. Tomorrow I get to do that which I'm sure will take all freaking day! So while I'm 100% positive I got every last one that I could see, I'm sure there are a couple that are lurking in some deep part of the rock I couldnt get too. So my question is, is there anything that eats these things? I was told MAYBE a 6 line. My livestock consists of a yellow, hippo, and clown tang, a melanaurus, two fake percs, a chromis, a cleaner and coral banded shrimp, and around 30 hermits. Coral is a mix of SPS, LPS, and couple softies with the SPS being the most dominant. Tank size is a 120 corner with a 400W radium under a Lumark III and a 30 gallon sump, turf scrubber, chaeto, and GFO. Nitrates are undetectable and Phosphates are anywhere from .03 to .05
Small Tube worms that cover everything... FAST!!!
- Thread starter Flyerrider
- Start date
I'm sure the fact that these guys' populations are self-limiting based on nutrient levels isn't very reassuring, since you already run an ATS and chaeto. Since getting a yellow coris wrasse it seems that my feather duster has decreased, and my nudibranch population is non-existent. I never actually saw him eat anything, so it may just be a correlation. I've heard melanarus wrasses can help with undesirables as well, but they may also attach snails and other CUC when larger.
Salt mix is reef crystals mixed at 1.023 and I make my own water from my RODI with chloramine filters (thank you Moulton Niguel Water District for providing the worse water in Socal!!!) that has a 0 TDS output. I built an auto water changer that changes out 3 gallons every night at midnight. That comes out to around 75% total water change a month. I only feed 6 cubes every other day. I alternate between mysis and spirulina infused brine and there is usually Seaweed of some sort for the tangs. I probably do underskim a bit as I am running a RS80 with a total watervolume of 150 gallons. It kind of seems like a catch 22 since these things feed on the same stuff as the coral. I think I have a pretty low bioload as far as fish go for my tank size. I'm getting a 6 line tomorrow and will also try an arrow crab as a friend suggested. I'm still in the process of my tank move and today I went nuts on my sand to get all of them out. It's finally starting to clear so now it's time to start on getting everything back in. I did mix about 60% new water so we'll see if that helps.
don't pee in the tank... lame...
a copper band butterfly did get rid of all of the worms in my tank... took them out like in two weeks... the tubeworms killed off a huge montipora and some other SPS colonies i had...
seems that you are just underskimming... do you use filter socks...? maybe you should change them out a couple of days sooner than you usually do... that might help... you don't use any media like carbon...?
a copper band butterfly did get rid of all of the worms in my tank... took them out like in two weeks... the tubeworms killed off a huge montipora and some other SPS colonies i had...
seems that you are just underskimming... do you use filter socks...? maybe you should change them out a couple of days sooner than you usually do... that might help... you don't use any media like carbon...?
Well time to shop for a new skimmer. It will have to wait until my new mega sump bin gets here which will be in a shed on the other side of the wall from the tank. Everything I'm buying is going to be rated for at least 400 gallons as a 300 gallon peninsula/dividing wall tank will be happening in around a year and a half. I'm going to have to change the combo on the gun safe though when that project starts. Getting shot with one of your own guns is just embarrassing and I doubt my wife wants to explain why it happened on 60 Minutes!
i find you usually see them grow in areas of the tank that are poorly lit over not getting light like under sides of rocks........
Get more light or eliminate dark areas can help...doesnt fix the problem though....I see very few in my main display since I have 3 250w halides but in my sump they grow in the dark all over the place on rocks
What kind of lights do you have?
Get more light or eliminate dark areas can help...doesnt fix the problem though....I see very few in my main display since I have 3 250w halides but in my sump they grow in the dark all over the place on rocks
What kind of lights do you have?
