Pest Issues! help!

[Beano1169]

So I have noticed over time a growing population of what I believe are sundial snails, as well as a few other odd and pesky items.

Other than physical remove of the snails what other way can I get rid of them without harming corals and inverts.
Specs: 12g Nanocube dx
78-81.2F
1.025sg


pics of pests posted as soon as i load them up
Please Help ID if possible

[ckmullin]

Bad things...glad I don't have atm at least.

You had said you don't want physical removal...however I'd be against chemicals. I'm sure someone will chime in about a good fish which will keep the population under control.

[Beano1169]

I can physically remove some but my rockwork crazy sensitive so I have to be careful. So perhaps a invert or small fish that will crunch down on them will be the best.

Please note that the camera sucks but I will ateempt to explain each photo as best as I can.

[Beano1169]

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/d62f770a-5fbc-49f0-baee-781b69ef7865_zpsb92072c7.jpg (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/Beano1169/media/d62f770a-5fbc-49f0-baee-781b69ef7865_zpsb92072c7.jpg.html)

^^ These white guys look like little worms coming out of the rocky, and are somewhat fuzzy looking.


http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/d8de1ec0-33db-4615-b079-0bfafcb5484e_zpsdabb752e.jpg (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/Beano1169/media/d8de1ec0-33db-4615-b079-0bfafcb5484e_zpsdabb752e.jpg.html)
^^^This thing looks like a brown leech with small bumps on its back. Kinda freaky, I will point out though the hammer coral seems fine and isnt suffering from any seen issues.

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0488_zps23f754db.jpg (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/Beano1169/media/IMAG0488_zps23f754db.jpg.html)

^^^these dude looks like little hairy sticks I think I know what they are but cant remember off the top of my head. latin name starts as a hist--- hysio-- someting ahha

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0486_zps93fbfa3b.jpg (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/Beano1169/media/IMAG0486_zps93fbfa3b.jpg.html)

^^ these effers are everywhere, little whitesnaily dudes which I assume are the sundial snails I have only seen on Big on in the tank so far but like 30-50 little guys


http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0485_zpsf778aa60.jpg (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/Beano1169/media/IMAG0485_zpsf778aa60.jpg.html)

^whats happening here is I see little white spiky strings coming from under my GSP, also I see these strings all around the tank at night time and they kind of look like a white wrecking ball with stickyspiky hairs on the wire and the end part.

any ID on these things would be greatly appriciated as I can find nothing. Thanks for your help and suggestions

[ckmullin]

lots of pics!

1. are they free walking or only coming in and out of a hole? if free walking perhaps a nudibranch of some sort. (if nudie can be bad...if just a worm..typically good)

2. kinda looks like a nudibranch (mostly all bad)

3. looks like feather dusters (good)

4. looks like a limpet (good)

5. another worm (not bad but from my reading they can irritate corals) they throw out a 'net' that you see to catch food stuffs

again...all imo.

Go here and see what you think:
http://www.worldwidereefers.com/forums/showthread.php?4768-Hitchhiker-id-guide

[Dearth]

I have had and currently have items 3,4 and 5

All are harmless to your tank as far as I know.

The exception is the limpets my yellow tail damsel had a craving for them(it left everything else alone but damn it went after them like crazy) and they no longer exist in my tank or if they do are hiding from my damsel in places it can't get.

[chris121277]

pic #5 looks to be a digitate hydroid
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.saltwaterfish.com/3/31/3190cbf3_vbattach160819.gif&imgrefurl=http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/258477/digitate-hydroid-help&h=300&w=400&sz=387&tbnid=78i137soL3bPSM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=122&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddigitate%2Bhydroid%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo %3Du&zoom=1&q=digitate+hydroid&usg=__Rrtxybd0TiNJjThwJplrS2e2wmg=&docid=XF8_prM2hQVUyM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MgFqUfd06uGLArnpgeAC&ved=0CC8Q9QEwAA&dur=319

[hillegom]

These might help

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/pods.html

[Beano1169]

thanks for all the help everyone I have established that #5 is digitate hydroid number three is colony hydroid, still no ID on the brown thing on the base of my hammer coral. Strill hasnt moved yet mind you. and those snails I believe to be COLLONISTA SNAILS yet I have like tons of them. not sure how to get rid of them or keep there population down.

Does anything eat these snails and possibly the digitate hydroids? and is that anything able to cohabitate within my tank?

[Beano1169]

Chris they are thos digitate hydroids, whats the best way to get rid of them? I fear they are killing off my GSP

[Starry]

pic #3 is also hydroids, colonial.

[Dearth]

Collonista snails are generally considered harmless and reef friendly and are helpful in controlling algae but as you have found out tend to breed like rabbits I lucked out in that my Yellowtail damsel developed a liking for them and only them as I haven't seen any in quite some time.

There are wrasse that will eat them but then they may make meals out of your other snails, crab and shrimp as well. From what I have heard the best way is the old reach in the tank and pick them out with the fingers routine.

[hillegom]

the collonista snails are good. Eat algae, uneaten food and detrius
Keep them,

[chris121277]

Chris they are thos digitate hydroids, whats the best way to get rid of them? I fear they are killing off my GSP


I had an out break of the a few years back......and tried several things to get rid of them, nothing worked. I had a bunch on the rubble in my sump, I even went as far as to take it out and let it dry in the sun for a few weeks.....upon putting it back in POOF they were back again.

Eventually they went away on there own, and to this day I never noticed any ill effects from it being my tank.

As for the GSP I wouldn't worry about it, that stuff is indestructible.....in fact there will prolly come a day when you'll be swearing trying to kill some of it back LOL

[hillegom]

I have taken the rock with the hydroids out of the tank and blasted just that part with a propane torch. Worked for me. Wear protective eye wear.

[Beano1169]

thanks for all the ideas everyone. This has been most helpful!

[gmckay]

L

[Beano1169]

so I have noticed that the snails are plateauing at a steady pace so not too worried about them any more, however those dendrite hydronises things or whatever are getting numerous, any suggestions?