It’s snowing in my tank…what are these?

[Reefacist]

Hey smart folks.

My tank has been clean for the most part but recently I have been lazy due to having a baby and remodeling a house I bought. During the time I noticed some white dots attached to the back of the aquarium and also in the skimmer section. Well fast forward 5-6months and the white dots are EVERWHERE in my sump. I recently finally moved and the tank is in the garage with a wall AC so water temps are around 86 degrees. Also I would assume nitrates are high as well due to no water changes and being late on filter sock changes.

anywho. What do you guys think these are? It looks ugly and hard to scrape off. How do I get rid of them before they take over.

 

[pecan2phat]

Calcium deposits?
Just use an old credit card and they scrape of easily, then you can siphon it out.

 

[Pkunk35]

Little white calacerous tube worms, likely they are littering your rock too, harmless and easy to clear if they get too numerous with a scraper

they like your sump for the debris!

 

[JGT]

Spiorbid worms. Harmless filter feeders.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Spirorbis worms as said above!

 

[Reefacist]

Spiorbid worms. Harmless filter feeders.

Spirorbis worms as said above!

is the only way to remove them to scrape them off? No other way? Like they are ALL over. You can see the bottom of the return pump compartment.

 

[AydenLincoln]

is the only way to remove them to scrape them off? No other way? Like they are ALL over. You can see the bottom of the return pump compartment.

You could add a predator but manual removal works the best.

 

[JGT]

is the only way to remove them to scrape them off? No other way? Like they are ALL over. You can see the bottom of the return pump compartment.

Nope, gotta scrape em. They come off easy. Old credit card works well on flat surfaces.

 

[Reefacist]

You could add a predator but manual removal works the best.

Nope, gotta scrape em. They come off easy. Old credit card works well on flat surfaces.

After I scrape them off won’t they just fall to the bottom of the tank or just reattach? Or once I scrape them they die off?
Also I’m about to set up my xxl 750. How can I make sure I don’t transfer them without having to bleach everything?

 

[AydenLincoln]

After I scrape them off won’t they just fall to the bottom of the tank or just reattach? Or once I scrape them they die off?
Also I’m about to set up my xxl 750. How can I make sure I don’t transfer them without having to bleach everything?

Scrape them off and siphon them out.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

After I scrape them off won’t they just fall to the bottom of the tank or just reattach? Or once I scrape them they die off?
Also I’m about to set up my xxl 750. How can I make sure I don’t transfer them without having to bleach everything?

This is a Normal thing in every tank. How bad it gets all depends on how your upkeep on then is. Sometimes after time it can die off. The key is to find the source of the nutrients that is feeding them all to grow so much and lower it.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

After I scrape them off won’t they just fall to the bottom of the tank or just reattach? Or once I scrape them they die off?
Also I’m about to set up my xxl 750. How can I make sure I don’t transfer them without having to bleach everything?

They really aren't a big deal. They will probably disappear after a while when their food source is reduced or another filter feeder species outcompetes them for food.

I get "blooms"/"outbreaks" of collonistas, limpets, chiton, spirobids, tiny feather dusters, etc... Never a problem, just good diversity in our tanks