rainbow grouper
Active Member
someone help me please my feather duster worms heads keep falling off why?
help! feather duster worms heads keep falling off
- Thread starter rainbow grouper
- Start date
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow grouper http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406615
someone help me please my feather duster worms heads keep falling off why?
Hi, it's starving. You need to add Kents microvert or something like it to the water for it to feed on. Feather dusters are filter feeders and we over skim our tanks, drawing all the food out of the water. A fan worm will keep losing it's crown and regrow it smaller and smaller until it dies. So feed the water and run the skimmer only a few hours twice a week. Be carfule to not overfeed, what feeds feather dusters...also feeds algae.
If the fan worm is in super strong current and being beat to death it will also lose it's crown or if the "fleathers" get full of gunk it will shed the crown and regrow a new one..
Originally Posted by rainbow grouper http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406615
someone help me please my feather duster worms heads keep falling off why?
Hi, it's starving. You need to add Kents microvert or something like it to the water for it to feed on. Feather dusters are filter feeders and we over skim our tanks, drawing all the food out of the water. A fan worm will keep losing it's crown and regrow it smaller and smaller until it dies. So feed the water and run the skimmer only a few hours twice a week. Be carfule to not overfeed, what feeds feather dusters...also feeds algae.
If the fan worm is in super strong current and being beat to death it will also lose it's crown or if the "fleathers" get full of gunk it will shed the crown and regrow a new one..
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
+1. Feed well, skim less and check your water parameters to make sure there's not something off.
Occasionally a worm will shed just to shed and grow back... but most of the time it's because of stress. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!
Occasionally a worm will shed just to shed and grow back... but most of the time it's because of stress. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406675
+1
i never stop running my skimmer but i do feed some phytoplankton stuff to my tank about once a month!
If you don't at least shut down the skimmer for the day you feed, the only thing you fed was the skimmer. (that is if you have a good skimmer, I have had a few that didn't skim when it was running full force) Overfeeding won't do anything but waste your money. Unplug the skimmer, dump and wash the cup...feed the coral...then after 8 hours at least..plug the skimmer back in and all is as it should be. Even if you forget the skimmer for a week it won't hurt a thing.
You should feed the coral twice a week.
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406675
+1
i never stop running my skimmer but i do feed some phytoplankton stuff to my tank about once a month!
If you don't at least shut down the skimmer for the day you feed, the only thing you fed was the skimmer. (that is if you have a good skimmer, I have had a few that didn't skim when it was running full force) Overfeeding won't do anything but waste your money. Unplug the skimmer, dump and wash the cup...feed the coral...then after 8 hours at least..plug the skimmer back in and all is as it should be. Even if you forget the skimmer for a week it won't hurt a thing.
You should feed the coral twice a week.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Hah, start a refugium and go skimmerless! Even better! XD
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406780
Hah, start a refugium and go skimmerless! Even better! XD
????? I run a refugium on both of my tanks...I also skim plenty of yuck out...please elaborate.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406780
Hah, start a refugium and go skimmerless! Even better! XD
????? I run a refugium on both of my tanks...I also skim plenty of yuck out...please elaborate.
1guydude
Well-Known Member
how am i overfeeding?
My skimmer stops skimming for awhile when i feed....than they produce some micro bubbles for a lil bit....than back to working!
I only turn my filters off when i feed actual food e.g. mysis, rods coral food and rods herbivore blend!
The phytoplankton crap is a liquid and get dissolved into the water...at least thats how i perceive it flower!
i guess it wouldnt hurt to turn the skimmers off too....but i dont think they get to much of the food!
My skimmer stops skimming for awhile when i feed....than they produce some micro bubbles for a lil bit....than back to working!
I only turn my filters off when i feed actual food e.g. mysis, rods coral food and rods herbivore blend!
The phytoplankton crap is a liquid and get dissolved into the water...at least thats how i perceive it flower!
i guess it wouldnt hurt to turn the skimmers off too....but i dont think they get to much of the food!
btldreef
Moderator
Flower is right, she's not saying you overfeed, she's saying that it wouldn't matter how much you fed your corals if you leave the skimmer running. I've witnessed this. I feed my corals Oyster Feast once a week and Rods Corsl Food once a week. On occasion I have forgotten to turn off the skimmer while feeding these products and it definitely gets filled quicker. I have a controller, so now when I put the tank into "feed mode" the skimmer turns off for a few hours and the MP40's slow down.
As for the OP's question, it's one of three things:
1) they're growing (unlikely if they continuously loose their crown, especially if it's growing back smaller over time)
2) water parameters are sub par
3) something is picking at them (herbivores such as tangs and angels like to nip at them. I had a coral beauty kill 3 on me. I've even seen a skunk cleaner shrimp pick at one until it died).
As for the OP's question, it's one of three things:
1) they're growing (unlikely if they continuously loose their crown, especially if it's growing back smaller over time)
2) water parameters are sub par
3) something is picking at them (herbivores such as tangs and angels like to nip at them. I had a coral beauty kill 3 on me. I've even seen a skunk cleaner shrimp pick at one until it died).
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406783
how am i overfeeding?
My skimmer stops skimming for awhile when i feed....than they produce some micro bubbles for a lil bit....than back to working!
I only turn my filters off when i feed actual food e.g. mysis, rods coral food and rods herbivore blend!
The phytoplankton crap is a liquid and get dissolved into the water...at least thats how i perceive it flower!
i guess it wouldnt hurt to turn the skimmers off too....but i dont think they get to much of the food!
Hey...Like BTLDreef said, I wasn't saying you overfeed. It is the job of a good skimmer to remove stuff out of the water....coral food to the skimmer is stuff it needs to remove. If the skimmer removes the food, the poor coral is still hungry and only got a little of the yummy food you added to the tank. So I suggested that when you feed your corals, turn off the skimmer so the corals get the full benifit of the food. I also (for the sake of all who read this post) warned to be careful to not overfeed....because doing that that will feed algae.
I also stated that if...IF...you were to forget to turn the skimmer back on....it wouldn't hurt a thing. A skimmer can be off for a week or two with no ill effect on the tank. I said to unplug the skimmer because that way you have not messed with the dial that regulates the skimmers skim...as soon as you plug it back in...it will run just like it used to at the same settings (Acrylic51 taught me that trick)
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3406783
how am i overfeeding?
My skimmer stops skimming for awhile when i feed....than they produce some micro bubbles for a lil bit....than back to working!
I only turn my filters off when i feed actual food e.g. mysis, rods coral food and rods herbivore blend!
The phytoplankton crap is a liquid and get dissolved into the water...at least thats how i perceive it flower!
i guess it wouldnt hurt to turn the skimmers off too....but i dont think they get to much of the food!
Hey...Like BTLDreef said, I wasn't saying you overfeed. It is the job of a good skimmer to remove stuff out of the water....coral food to the skimmer is stuff it needs to remove. If the skimmer removes the food, the poor coral is still hungry and only got a little of the yummy food you added to the tank. So I suggested that when you feed your corals, turn off the skimmer so the corals get the full benifit of the food. I also (for the sake of all who read this post) warned to be careful to not overfeed....because doing that that will feed algae.
I also stated that if...IF...you were to forget to turn the skimmer back on....it wouldn't hurt a thing. A skimmer can be off for a week or two with no ill effect on the tank. I said to unplug the skimmer because that way you have not messed with the dial that regulates the skimmers skim...as soon as you plug it back in...it will run just like it used to at the same settings (Acrylic51 taught me that trick)
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Flower! A pleasure as always to teach you something new. You know that algae removes nitrate and phosphate out of the water, as well as other essential wastes and heavy metals... when your algae grows out of control, you remove some of it. The "nasty yuck" that is being sucked out of your system from your protein skimmer is actually some essential coral nutrients. I've done research into this and have found that some people have diluted some of the green "yuck" in their protein skimmers and re-fed it back to the system with amazing results.
Skimmers remove too many beneficial algaes, small amounts of trace elements, copepods and other beneficial creatures when all a tank really needs is a well maintained refugium for adequate nutrient export as well as a monthly or yearly water change. Occasionally, but not very often, I will use a skimmer if there is a problem with a tank when something has died and wasted away or the aquarium is overstocked. I saw this one guy with a volcano skimmer on his 1600g reef tank that had a blue carpet anemone that disappeared on him... only to find him dead. His skimmer had overloaded with thick sludge over the next couple of days. A good read.
Mind you, this sludge was brown and gray, unlike the typical green "yuck" aquarists are quick to remove from their systems.
Just food for thought and to each his own.
Skimmers remove too many beneficial algaes, small amounts of trace elements, copepods and other beneficial creatures when all a tank really needs is a well maintained refugium for adequate nutrient export as well as a monthly or yearly water change. Occasionally, but not very often, I will use a skimmer if there is a problem with a tank when something has died and wasted away or the aquarium is overstocked. I saw this one guy with a volcano skimmer on his 1600g reef tank that had a blue carpet anemone that disappeared on him... only to find him dead. His skimmer had overloaded with thick sludge over the next couple of days. A good read.
Mind you, this sludge was brown and gray, unlike the typical green "yuck" aquarists are quick to remove from their systems.Just food for thought and to each his own.
rainbow grouper
Active Member
I never have my skimmer on
rainbow grouper
Active Member
I never have my skimmer on
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow grouper http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407168
I never have my skimmer on
If you don't have a refugium, if you don't have macro algae, if you don't run any kind of skimmer.....you may have a water quality issue like Mike indicated.
The point is....you have to have some way of removing the unwanted yuck out of the tank, stuff you can't test for.
For right now.....please post your test results so we can see whats going on in your tank and see if we can weed out the problem.
Originally Posted by rainbow grouper http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407168
I never have my skimmer on
If you don't have a refugium, if you don't have macro algae, if you don't run any kind of skimmer.....you may have a water quality issue like Mike indicated.
The point is....you have to have some way of removing the unwanted yuck out of the tank, stuff you can't test for.
For right now.....please post your test results so we can see whats going on in your tank and see if we can weed out the problem.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407071
Flower! A pleasure as always to teach you something new. You know that algae removes nitrate and phosphate out of the water, as well as other essential wastes and heavy metals... when your algae grows out of control, you remove some of it. The "nasty yuck" that is being sucked out of your system from your protein skimmer is actually some essential coral nutrients. I've done research into this and have found that some people have diluted some of the green "yuck" in their protein skimmers and re-fed it back to the system with amazing results.
Skimmers remove too many beneficial algaes, small amounts of trace elements, copepods and other beneficial creatures when all a tank really needs is a well maintained refugium for adequate nutrient export as well as a monthly or yearly water change. Occasionally, but not very often, I will use a skimmer if there is a problem with a tank when something has died and wasted away or the aquarium is overstocked. I saw this one guy with a volcano skimmer on his 1600g reef tank that had a blue carpet anemone that disappeared on him... only to find him dead. His skimmer had overloaded with thick sludge over the next couple of days. A good read. Mind you, this sludge was brown and gray, unlike the typical green "yuck" aquarists are quick to remove from their systems.
Just food for thought and to each his own.
Every system is different...You are assuming all refugiums have macro algae....my 90g does not. I have the macros in the seahorse tank, but the 90g has nothing but sand and some rock...and a bubble line (no stone) On the 90g I run the Aquaripure filter (vodka dosing) and a skimmer, that also pulls out dark brown sludge. Copepods and amphipods were seeded into the tank and refugium....it's only purpose is to remove nitrates and breed some tasty treats. Because of the Aquaripure there is no algae except the sheet I put in there for the fish to nip at and coraline. I do water changes about every 3 months to replace trace elements. There is a little coral in the tank but for the most part it's just six reef safe fish in there.
The small 30g seahorse tank is loaded with macros and the Tunz nano slimmer is designed to not trouble the copepods and amhipods. Seahorses are MESSY, MESSY eaters, I have so many nutrients in the tank, nothing will starve even with over skimming. The corals in that tank are as happy as can be, the critters too...the tank is thriving. I run a refugium complete with more macros, sand and rock along with the little Tunz skimmer....it pulls out brown tea looking stuff and the corals, and macros have plenty to satisfy them...LOL...the fan worms are huge and happy. I have 65 snails and a sea hare too. I also do weekly water changes.
I agree we hobbyists do overskim, but I am not ready to not run any skimmer at all ever. Refugiums are great, but I don't consider them a cure all....the turf scrubber some of the folks on the site have designed...now that thing can replace everything.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407071
Flower! A pleasure as always to teach you something new. You know that algae removes nitrate and phosphate out of the water, as well as other essential wastes and heavy metals... when your algae grows out of control, you remove some of it. The "nasty yuck" that is being sucked out of your system from your protein skimmer is actually some essential coral nutrients. I've done research into this and have found that some people have diluted some of the green "yuck" in their protein skimmers and re-fed it back to the system with amazing results.
Skimmers remove too many beneficial algaes, small amounts of trace elements, copepods and other beneficial creatures when all a tank really needs is a well maintained refugium for adequate nutrient export as well as a monthly or yearly water change. Occasionally, but not very often, I will use a skimmer if there is a problem with a tank when something has died and wasted away or the aquarium is overstocked. I saw this one guy with a volcano skimmer on his 1600g reef tank that had a blue carpet anemone that disappeared on him... only to find him dead. His skimmer had overloaded with thick sludge over the next couple of days. A good read.
Mind you, this sludge was brown and gray, unlike the typical green "yuck" aquarists are quick to remove from their systems.Just food for thought and to each his own.
Every system is different...You are assuming all refugiums have macro algae....my 90g does not. I have the macros in the seahorse tank, but the 90g has nothing but sand and some rock...and a bubble line (no stone) On the 90g I run the Aquaripure filter (vodka dosing) and a skimmer, that also pulls out dark brown sludge. Copepods and amphipods were seeded into the tank and refugium....it's only purpose is to remove nitrates and breed some tasty treats. Because of the Aquaripure there is no algae except the sheet I put in there for the fish to nip at and coraline. I do water changes about every 3 months to replace trace elements. There is a little coral in the tank but for the most part it's just six reef safe fish in there.
The small 30g seahorse tank is loaded with macros and the Tunz nano slimmer is designed to not trouble the copepods and amhipods. Seahorses are MESSY, MESSY eaters, I have so many nutrients in the tank, nothing will starve even with over skimming. The corals in that tank are as happy as can be, the critters too...the tank is thriving. I run a refugium complete with more macros, sand and rock along with the little Tunz skimmer....it pulls out brown tea looking stuff and the corals, and macros have plenty to satisfy them...LOL...the fan worms are huge and happy. I have 65 snails and a sea hare too. I also do weekly water changes.
I agree we hobbyists do overskim, but I am not ready to not run any skimmer at all ever. Refugiums are great, but I don't consider them a cure all....the turf scrubber some of the folks on the site have designed...now that thing can replace everything.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Lol. Turf algae scrubbers also have their place. I wouldn't have a refugium without macro algae... but I guess that's just me.
I was considering a turf algae scrubber for my little 20g tank. I'm going to be doing some heavy feeding experiments.
I was considering a turf algae scrubber for my little 20g tank. I'm going to be doing some heavy feeding experiments.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407246
Lol. Turf algae scrubbers also have their place. I wouldn't have a refugium without macro algae... but I guess that's just me.
I was considering a turf algae scrubber for my little 20g tank. I'm going to be doing some heavy feeding experiments.
I can't get a light into the cabinet of the 90g...it's a very tight fit in there...and no..without macro algae it doesn't do the job, hense why I now have the Aquaripure de-nitrater (fancy vodka doser). However it does such a nice job, I may well get me one for the SH tank.
You have to be handy to make a turf scrubber, they don't sell them (LOL...I'm not handy) and it looks like so much work...every week it MUST be cleaned. It does sound like an awesome and cheap way to keep the tank with perfect healthy parameters...$400.00 skimmers are not considered even in the low range of the truely "GOOD" skimmers, and the turf scrubbers do a better job, removing phosphates and nitrates.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///forum/thread/387288/help-feather-duster-worms-heads-keep-falling-off#post_3407246
Lol. Turf algae scrubbers also have their place. I wouldn't have a refugium without macro algae... but I guess that's just me.
I was considering a turf algae scrubber for my little 20g tank. I'm going to be doing some heavy feeding experiments.
I can't get a light into the cabinet of the 90g...it's a very tight fit in there...and no..without macro algae it doesn't do the job, hense why I now have the Aquaripure de-nitrater (fancy vodka doser). However it does such a nice job, I may well get me one for the SH tank.
You have to be handy to make a turf scrubber, they don't sell them (LOL...I'm not handy) and it looks like so much work...every week it MUST be cleaned. It does sound like an awesome and cheap way to keep the tank with perfect healthy parameters...$400.00 skimmers are not considered even in the low range of the truely "GOOD" skimmers, and the turf scrubbers do a better job, removing phosphates and nitrates.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Jeez, I wish someone could just go ahead and invent a standardized turf algae scrubber for tanks instead of people having to DIY it themselves. lol. hey wait a minute...