What are these white dots on the back of my tank?

[mrangel]

I was looking at my tank last night and I have these white dots on the back of my tank and on my rocks? I don't know what they could be.
has this happened to anyone else? Should I be worried?
Marguerite

 

[ophiura]

Are they hard? Do they look like tiny spirals? They are most likely spirorbid worms, a filter feeder that builds a calcareous (usually) spiral tube. They often grow on the back and sides of tanks when there is not a lot of algae scraping. They may come and go in blooms according to nutrient levels in the tanks, but are generallly considered to be normal and harmless parts of the tank community.

 

[brinkdrum]

Sounds like baby feather dusters to me. Once I had them all over...in my filters and everything. Not to be worried, they are very nice looking.

 

[toddpolish]

I have them too. Interested to see what happens with them.

 

[wrassecal]

How old is your tank? I've had "white dots" that have been everything from pods to micro bubbles.

 

[toddpolish]

Mine is still cycling...3 weeks in.

 

[wrassecal]

possibly some type of pods starting up - a good thing. You can check out this link hitchhicker faq's about halfway down the page it talks about pods. It's all interesting info though. HTH

 

[mrangel]

I think mine are spirorbid worms, I looked them up and it does look like little worms curled up.
I guess I don't have anything to worry about, which I'm really glad.
Marguerite

 

[mrangel]

Kipass4130
That's a really good pictures, that's exactly what they look like.
Glad it's normal and I don't have to worry about them.
Marguerite