The benefits of detritus.

[Paul B]

I know, stupid title but I didn't know what else to call it.
I just had to move a piece of coral in my tank and by doing so I had to stir up the gravel. (yes I have gravel) When I do that there is a slight dust or detritus storm which I know benefits the corals. As I was looking at the tank I noticed something that newer tanks may not experience. I forget about these things because I always see them and I figure they are normal but I figured I would post it anyway.
In my tank there are dozens of these small coiled up worms that have become part of the rockwork and can not be removed. (I think these are sponge worms, but don't quote me) I pay little attention to them and never see them do anything, but when I stir the gravel, the tank becomes encased in "spider webs" of sticky threads that are exuded from these tiny organisms. In 5 minutes, when the tank clears up and the storm dissapates all that is left is these 10" long strands that are slowly pulled into the animal where the meal is digested.
Normally the water is crystal clear and you can see nothing emerging from these worms.
These unassuming animals are one reason I am not a fan of a sterile tank.
Many animals that we really don't see or don't pay any attention to feed in this manner. If it were not for detritus, these worms and many corals, clams and microscope life would not exist. Some of these animals are at the bottom of the food chain and a healthy eco system depends on them.
I think most of us hobbiests are much more interested in the easier to see things like fish but I find the unusual parts of the hobby to be much more interesting. :

 

[Fish Brain]

I always love finding new worms, feather dusters, macro algae and sponges that appear out of nowhere from the live rock.

What you have there is a Vermetid Snail. They can be considered by some, including myself, to be a pest. They took over my tank and the feeding webs they put out irritated the surrounding corals. I took the rocks out of my biocube and systematically removed as many as I could (hundreds of them). I didn't like seeing all the webs when I did a water change, it looked like Halloween in my tank. I can see them coming back again so I think it might be time to exterminate some more when I transfer the rock to my new tank. :-\

I would just keep an eye on their numbers and watch they don't bother any of your corals, otherwise they are harmless.

 

[Paul B]

There are dozens of types of those worms and snails, some of them do become a pest and spread all over everything, the ones I have seem to be loners. I only have a dozen or so and they have been in there for decades without visably multiplying.

 

[Nickjr000]

Vermitid snails

The vermitid snail is yet another critter that lives in a tube. These filter feed by throwing out a mucous "net" to catch food. Most of the time, you won't see the worm but will be wondering what the "spiderwebs" in your tank are. Here's your culprit. They are harmless but can irritate corals if their nets are too close.

 

[howze01]

This is pretty funny. Was at Darren's this weekend and Ethan (from AqOb) was there servicing his tank. He was talking about a Mark Weiss product that he came across. It was supposed to help your corals grow and color up. It's ingredient was "Detrital Aggregate."

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

..."Detrital Aggregate."

Corn??

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

..."Detrital Aggregate."

Corn??

LMAO people will market anything!

 

[GluttonousSolarWrasse]

This is pretty funny. Was at Darren's this weekend and Ethan (from AqOb) was there servicing his tank. He was talking about a Mark Weiss product that he came across. It was supposed to help your corals grow and color up. It's ingredient was "Detrital Aggregate."

LOL I was just reading a news story about how some Japanese scientists were extracting protein from sewage to make "meat". I really can't imagine anything more disgusting.

 

[radiata]

I have to agree with those that consider vermited snails to be a pest. I've cut my fingers/knuckles numerous times on the sharp openings of their tubes. (Not cool if you'd like to avoid gram negative bacteria entering your body.) I remove them ('pop' them off) with a 1/4" wood chisel. If that doesn't work I pound them into oblivion with a small jeweler/watchmaker hammer. If you don't kill your vermited now, you'll be sorry. The only nice think I can say about them is that my hairy green mushrooms actually crawl out onto the tubes - I break off the tubes and Crazy Glue them to a rock for an instantly marketable mushroom frag.

There is something to be said for shaking up your detritus. Fifteen-plus years back a friend in WTTS, Franklin Middaugh, would physically move a powerhead around in his tank once a month to stir up the detritus. (Strap a powerhead to a rod to facilitate this.) I've since called it a "Franklin Storm". You'll find that there were an awful lot of extended polyps looking to gather in the detritus...

 

[radiata]

This is pretty funny. Was at Darren's this weekend and Ethan (from AqOb) was there servicing his tank. He was talking about a Mark Weiss product that he came across. It was supposed to help your corals grow and color up. It's ingredient was "Detrital Aggregate."

LOL I was just reading a news story about how some Japanese scientists were extracting protein from sewage to make "meat". I really can't imagine anything more disgusting.

I think Soylent Green is a bit more disgusting...

 

[DeathMagnetic]

i hate those frigged things...

 

[Dave]

So back to the actual topic, I agree Paul, a pristine tank can limit your ability to see other facinating creatures in your tank that would not survive.

I am one of those weirdos that thinks stirring your sand (in a controlled fashion) is a benefit to the health of your tank.

Thanks, as always, for sharing your experience.

 

[malulu]

my latest plan on my tank is:
- stir the 2" sands in the display tank once in a while
- do not stir the 3" sands in my refugium (very very fine sands)

 

[Paul B]

I have gravel and no fine sand so I stir it like a typhoon a few times a year. The fish and corals seem to love it although I can't see them when I do that. ;D

 

[Salty Yogi]

I think I have a few of these worms around too, my sps & monti's try to grow over them. The result is these mini "smoke stacks" growing long side the corals. I have a few that are 1-2 " tall so far I've not seen the web's they weave harming anything. Interesting critters!