Feather Duster Tube Disintegrating

[bitfishy]

Hi

I recently moved my feather duster and noticed its tube has bald spots - the fibrous skeleton is still there (sort of) but the covering has gone and there are fibres sticking out. For some time I had a phosphate problem which was preventing things from getting their calcium but his has been sorted for a couple of months now. Could it be that? - I haven't the foggiest what these tubes are made from - or is something having a nibble perhaps?

I'd be grateful for any ideas on this

Thanks

 

[chrissaysyes]

For one thing--if Im not mistaken--the only way phosphates prevent the absorption of calcium is by promoting algae growth thus covering whatever organism is attempting to gain calcium with algae. Your feather dusters "tube" should be covered by either rock or substrate. I personally dont think your feather duster is in any real danger but it's not the best sign of health. Bury all of him but the "head" end in the substrate.

 

[bitfishy]

Thanks for the reply, however he's always been buried in my substrate which is why I've been a bit delayed in noticing this.

I didn't know however that the algae grew only on the contents which were trying to absorb calcium, I thought it was something to do with the chemisty of the water molecules and that phosphate 'locked' calcium, preventing everything from absorbing it properly. Either way, algae wasn't growing on the tube obviously because it in the substrate. Is the tube made of calcium, do you know? I ask because I believe that phosphates get easily 'stored' in substrate and maybe the levels are higher down there than in the water.

Thanks

 

[chrissaysyes]

Like I said, Im not 100% on phosphates actually absorbing calcium...you may be right but I've never heard that before. I didnt mean that algae only grows on calcerous surfaces, I just meant that if it does then that surface is thereby hindered in it's ability to absorb said calcium.

 

[Lynden]

For one thing--if Im not mistaken--the only way phosphates prevent the absorption of calcium is by promoting algae growth thus covering whatever organism is attempting to gain calcium with algae. Your feather dusters "tube" should be covered by either rock or substrate. I personally dont think your feather duster is in any real danger but it's not the best sign of health. Bury all of him but the "head" end in the substrate.

Phosphate "poisons" calcium crystal formation. Excessive amounts can therefore prevent calcareous animals from growing (stony corals, clams, perhaps even snails if the concentration is high enough). Otherwise, a little extra phosphate is actually helpful to a healthy tank because it will boost photosynthesis and help those organisms (including the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae)) reproduce, leading to better nourished soft corals and respective higher growth rates.

Back to the duster, the hard tubes ones do use calcium, but others use a soft "skin" or cement bits of substrate together. Perhaps something is rasping at the tube?

I remember one time I got two tubeworms by special order. One of them had nothing but a few scraps of tube left, so I cut a piece of clear airline tubing and placed it near his "butt", and he crawled inside and began using it as his own. It worked perfectly for months and he began to construct his own tube lining the interior. But, somehow he was lost behind rocks and by the time I found him he had left the tube.

 

[chrissaysyes]

You learn something new everyday...so then could my phosphate levels be the reason I've yet to see significant coraline growth?

Sorry, not trying to hi-jack, just looking for a yes, no, or maybe

 

[Lynden]

Could be.

 

[bitfishy]

You learn something new everyday...so then could my phosphate levels be the reason I've yet to see significant coraline growth?

Sorry, not trying to hi-jack, just looking for a yes, no, or maybe

I had phosphate problems for months, but continuous rowaaphos use in the skimmer slowly brought it back down - now my corraline is growing back really well - and I've got an urchin in there which munches on it all day! It might be worth testing for phosphates


Thnaks Lynden for the info. I need to check if its a hard tube one or not as I don't know the difference and deal with it from there. Thanks again

 

[bitfishy]

Well I did my homework and its a Sabellide - parchment like tube - so it must be being nibbled. Something in the substrate perhaps? Its an odd one!