What is this growing on the frag plug?

[Huntersreef]

This odd white growth coming from the frag plug. Was not there last week. Does not appear to be aiptasia and more of a tube with nothing coming out of it. Any ideas?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Any chance you could get a closer pic of it?

Going from the description, my first thought would be a sponge, but I can't tell for sure.

 

[Huntersreef]

Any chance you could get a closer pic of it?

Going from the description, my first thought would be a sponge, but I can't tell for sure.

The camera on my phone not helping. Any closer and just too blurry. I do see now something small coming out of the top.

 

[dwest]

The camera on my phone not helping. Any closer and just too blurry. I do see now something small coming out of the top.

It’s tough to see but I’m guessing vermatid snail. If the tube is hard, I’d assume that and crush the whole thing.

 

[dwest]

If it is a vermatid, it’s important to crush it all the way back to where it curls up on it’s attached surface. Otherwise, it will retract when bothered then make another shell. Then multiply. I use needle nose pliers and say lots of cuss words when I do it.

 

[Huntersreef]

If it is a vermatid, it’s important to crush it all the way back to where it curls up on its attached surface. Otherwise, it will retract when bothered then make another shell. Then multiply. I use needle nose pliers and say lots of cuss words when I do it.

I’m new at reef keeping so having to google Vermatid Snail. . Needle nose pliers to the rescue.

 

[dwest]

I’m new at reef keeping so having to google Vermatid Snail. . Needle nose pliers to the rescue.

Good luck. If you reef long enough you’ll get them. But the longer you keep them out, the better.

 

[exnisstech]

I don't see a spiral like my vermatid shells which are also a maroon color. The first pic looks like it may be a little aiptasia to me. Is it hard of soft?

 

[Huntersreef]

I don't see a spiral like my vermatid shells which are also a maroon color. The first pic looks like it may be a little aiptasia to me. Is it hard of soft?

Hard. White part is not flexible at all.

 

[exnisstech]

Hard. White part is not flexible at all.

Not an aiptasia then. Personally I'd rather have them than vermatids. I have natural predators to control the aiptasia not the vermatids. I had to pull a some frags yesterday to scrape some off. They're equal opportunity annoyers and populate in all of my tanks

 

[Huntersreef]

Not an aiptasia then. Personally I'd rather have them than vermatids. I have natural predators to control the aiptasia not the vermatids. I had to pull a some frags yesterday to scrape some off. They're equal opportunity annoyers and populate in all of my tanks

Thanks for the insight. I’ll get it removed.

 

[bossman818]

Looks like a feather duster shell forming. Harmless.

 

[RedReefer]

If it is a vermatid, it’s important to crush it all the way back to where it curls up on it’s attached surface. Otherwise, it will retract when bothered then make another shell. Then multiply. I use needle nose pliers and say lots of cuss words when I do it.

lol

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, if it's hard, then chances are high it's either a Vermetid Snail or a Serpulid feather duster worm.

The snail would send out mucus strings to catch food while the worm would have a little feather crown; the inside of the snail's tube would be shiny while the worm's tube interior would be matte.