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Are these pests? (1 Viewer)

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DAreefer

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Hi reefers,

i’m currently cycling my nee tank with an old rock from my current tank. It’s about a week into the cycling process. Only used the old rock and turbo start. Today i’ve noticed a white either worm or colony of some sort and a number of little critters running around the rock, see pic. Anyone happens to know what these are and should i remove them? FBA31A7C-E25C-4C35-B079-DC9BCBDF7620.jpeg 6ADCBC0F-315E-4E80-B8BE-91E7E33EBAE8.jpeg
 

steveb

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1st pic I can't tell. Can you get better focus? Although the one in the middle (white one) looks to be a pineapple sponge or tunicate (not a pest). the other other five are not clear enough for me.

2nd pic is a pineapple sponge. Not a pest IMO.
 

frankc

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I think you are ok. The bigger white things are definitely sponges - harmless filter feeders that are good to have. The other critters look like harmless isopods that are part of the clean-up crew and provide good food for certain fish.
 

Ross tha Reefer

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Those look to be bristleworms...all of the above are ok to have in the reef! I’d keep an eye on the bristleworms tho....they can be problematic when bigger or I think there are different kinds???


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I definitely see a pineapple sponge and those other guys grow into the live rock. They are harmless. The ones I had were filter feeders.

This is live rock or older established rock?
 
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