stuff growing on live rock??

[ryan0292002ca]

I just added live rock about 2 weeks ago, and now I noticed things growing on the outside and was wondering if its coral, they look like little tubes sticking out of the rock with feathers in the ends, sometimes the feathers retract into the tubes, theirs about 20 of them, are they corals, thanks?

 

[Curtswearing]

They are not corals....believe it or not, they are actually worms.

This sounds like a calcareous feather duster. It's a filter feeder and it is nothing to worry about whatsoever. In fact, they will help clean your water.

 

[plumber_bob]

Those are great to have in your system. You are very lucky. Most people never get any of them and if they do only a few. Enjoy them, and make sure they get enough food. Offer them some DT's Live Phytoplankton, Daphnia, or Cyclop-Eeze (Marine Plankton).
Bobby

 

[Beckmola24]

I must have gotten lucky with my LR cause I have a TON of them. I'd say on my one piece I have 20 or so little feather dusters. They are all bright red or pink. Pretty little things.

 

[plumber_bob]

Beckmola,
You sure did. I loves those things, they bring great color and great natural filtration. Like I said early, try to give them some kind of additional source of food. Not everyday, maybe once a week, if that. They will greatly appreciate it. If you use DT's Live Phytoplankton, just put some in a turkey baster and directly target each individual featherduster. They will probably shrink it, but you might get some plankton on them. If not it will be floating around in the water column and they will eat it sooner or later. Hopefully sooner than later because your skimmer will take the plankton out.
Bobby

 

[Beckmola24]

I use cyclopeeze and maybe that accounts for all of them being some shade of red =) lol