feather dusters taking over!!!!!!

[mandarin man]

i have a 55gal. salt and have had it up and going for about 10 months. And I started to get the brown feather dusters that grow on the live rock about 4 months ago. but now they have multiplied and multiplied and have completely taking over my tank they cover every rock; to the point you cant even see it anymore. What shall I do and how can i get rid of them or atleast control them?

 

[steve-s]

Tiny little miniatures about the size of a matchstick with a soft tube?

Unless they're bothering something or affecting the health of a coral, I wouldn't be too concerned about them. They are for the most part harmless although quite prolific and will wax/wane based on the nutrient in the tank.

If they are truely a plague, a single peppermint shrimp would definately control them if not eliminate them for the most part. Once/if the pepp is ever removed, they will most likely return though.

Cheers
Steve

 

[first-timer89]

do you have a picture? sounds kinda cool to me

 

[XXFirefighter]

You sure thats what they are? Sounds to me more liek apistesia...
If they all have tubes then they are tube worms... Pull em and sell em !
I have never seen them grow and multiply like that before....
Pics would be great here please !

Thanks

 

[SoylentGrundy]

Yes, pics please!

 

[Liz]

Sounds to me like hydroids not feather dusters. I have loads of these in my tank. They don't seem to do any harm but the fact that they spread quickly in a short amount of time is annoying. I've heard a peppermint will control them but I've never tried it. I am thinking about getting one though.

I think Steve once posted a link to a site with really good picks which helped me identify them.
I'll have a search for the post and add the link Steve gave if i can find it.
(Hope that's ok Steve)
Liz

 

[Liz]

The relevant post is on page 2 of the saltwater & reef - identification called small brownish polyps taking over (or something similar)

The site that helped me is:
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/hitchhikercnidarians.html
Takes a little while to load but does have very good pics

Hope this helps
Liz