Why all the feather dusters?

[W0terMoist]

I run a JBJ 45 gal AIO set up. My reef is very clean with absolutely no algae. My water tests for nitrate and phosphate is always zero. I do feed with very small mysis shrimp so maybe small food particulates is feeding the tube worms; there's also a few sponge species in the back of my tank as well that I assume filter from the water. I personally like having the worms and sponge in the back of my tank; they are cool to look at and feed on what is missed by my corals, fish, and filter media.

Is the presence of the tube worms normal for a very low flow/low light area like that of the overflow boxes of an AIO? Or can there be something I am doing wrong like overfeeding or not running a clean enough reef?

 

[fishguy242]

bonus filtration, look calcium based...

 

[Tamberav]

Normal, no fish to eat them there...perfect place to catch particles. Helpful filters.

 

[Dan_P]

I run a JBJ 45 gal AIO set up. My reef is very clean with absolutely no algae. My water tests for nitrate and phosphate is always zero. I do feed with very small mysis shrimp so maybe small food particulates is feeding the tube worms; there's also a few sponge species in the back of my tank as well that I assume filter from the water. I personally like having the worms and sponge in the back of my tank; they are cool to look at and feed on what is missed by my corals, fish, and filter media.

Is the presence of the tube worms normal for a very low flow/low light area like that of the overflow boxes of an AIO? Or can there be something I am doing wrong like overfeeding or not running a clean enough reef?

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I never had these growing until I started dosing CheatoGro trace elements for my Ulva. Then the fan worm and pineapple sponge growth went wild. The coralline growth went nuts too. I take this as a very good indication, like a canary in a coal mine singing happily.