Strange Critters in the Refugium???... (Just added Light)

[SanDiegoBryan]

It seems like most of you have "Refugiums" set up in the sump with a light that turns on when the tank is off.


Well... I added 2 96w Power Compact lights to the main tank, and put two regular plant and aquarium bulbs over the sump/refugium.

What are these critters that are growing!!!

#1 is a BUNCH of small black or brown slug-like things about 1/2 - 1 mm long. Pretty quick movers with a tail like this -<

#2 is several Worms... The biggest one has about 30 long tentacles that look like a coral banded shrimp (white and red). Others are usually brown or red..

#3 is white and looks like a q-tip with little hairs on one end.

#4 is all over the glass - very very very small hair like critters that attach to the glass at one end, and wave a string in the water. Must be millions of them. (Extremely small)

Most importantly, I'm curious what that "Coral Banded Worm" really is... Its quite large (1/4" around), lives in his tube in the aragonite, and picks up scraps.

I also wonder about my light.. Right now, I don't have an extra timer, so I run it 24 hours a day... Will that hurt anything?

 

[Bucktronix]

wow.. it seems like your refugium is doing what it is supposed to! fyi i keep mine light 24/7 with a small pc light

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Cool!!

Here's the thing.. critters can get IN the refugium, but cannot get out (Except through the pump).. is that how its supposed to be?

Any ideas on the critters?

 

[Bucktronix]

well in my case my sump is my refugium so it all flows in and flows back out if it wants to. if you have a mircon bag or sponge on either side i recon stuff would just end up in there. anyhow its all good if it ends back up in the tank anyway, thats its job.

 

[Chucker]

www.reefs.org/hhfaq

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

That FAQ is awesome - thanks...

I've already read that, and the "critters" aren't in the list (from what I can tell)

Any ideas on the coral banded worm or the slugs?

Thanks again!!

 

[Marco1]

SanDiegoBryan, #1 sounds like flatworms to me, #2 is probably spaghetti worms, not to sure about 3 and 4 but 3 could be some type of tunicate, hard to tell withpout pics.

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Are any of them harmfull to the Reef?

I wish I could take a picture, but I don't have a microscope..

Any Reefers here in San Diego? Email me!!!