What are the white “curls” that stick to the glass in my saltwater aquarium?
by Aquaboy on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 | 3 Comments
My saltwater aquarium is accumulating small white worm shaped things on the glass. They look like a worm that is curled up – one end is touching the other end. This makes them look like a small disk from a distance but up-close you can tell it has a definite beginning and an end. When I use the mag-float to wipe them off, they seem to be brittle, leaving pieces on the glass as the majority of the being falls to the floor. I do not notice any movement when observing them up-close. Does anyone know what this might be? Are they harmful?
Not harmful at all. Just a nuisance because they keep growing on the glass.
These are a small species of fan worm (like a feather duster). If anything, they remove small food particles from the water. They’ll eventually grow (or try to) over the glass, live rock, and any equipment in your water.
See the photos of Pileolaria sp. at the bottom of this link: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/invert.htm
You can keep them off your glass but shouldnt try to irradicate them. They are in fact a small fan worm and eventually your live rocks with have thousands of them. They are totally benefical and won’t harm or interfere with anything inside your tank (except try to multiply on your glass!)
Do you have snails? sounds like your snails have laid eggs.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/IMG_0194%20overnite%20ap.JPG
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailreprofaqs.htm (scroll down a bit in this one)
some reference pics or if you don’t have snails live rock maybe?