Possible parasites in filter?

[PetePin15]

Hello everyone, I was cleaning my filter and noticed something odd. It looks like white sticks growing on l the inside of my canister as well as the baskets. I have never seen anything like this before. TheY don’t appear to be moving and I honestly mistook them for plastic at first until I noticed the amount. I broke down the filter and have it soaking in a bleach solution at the moment. Does anyone recognize these and know what I can do about them? Thanks in advance.

 

[CassCats]

They look like bryozoa colony tubes.
Harmless, actually really fascinating creatures.
They come in many forms, they live inside a mineral tube usually that they create and retreat inside when disturbed. They have a fan like head that they use to catch microfauna and algae in the water to feed.

Some videos

 

[PetePin15]

Thanks! I’ve never seen these before are they common? Where might I pick something like this up?

 

[CassCats]

Did you bring in any plants or driftwood within the last month or two?
Theyre not super common, but they can pop up.

 

[PetePin15]

No nothing new. The filter was new and the plants and log are artificial both bought new. The substrate is play sand from Home Depot. That’s the only natural thing in the tank. It’s also been up and running for at least a year and I’ve never seen them in the tank. They’re only in the filter.

 

[CassCats]

Another possibility is midge larvae, I get those in my filters or where other detritus builds up, they build tubes, though normally aren't so white in colour like yours. But they'd get in there by adults laying eggs into the tank, very small insects but also harmless

 

[PetePin15]

Unfortunately, those I am familiar with. I have had those before. These are definitely different. I think you were probably right about the Bryozoa, I’m just at a loss of how they got there and how to prevent them from coming back.

 

[CassCats]

I cant say how to fully get rid of them if they're truly bryozoa, but theyre totally harmless, if they come back.
They very well could have come in off anything. Ive gotten mine in off wood and plants. They're able to survive quite a bit.

 

[PetePin15]

Ok thanks. Hopefully that’s all they are. I’ll keep an eye on the tank and see if they come back. I used a lot of bleach so I can’t imagine them surviving.

 

[PetePin15]

Hey so after I checked the filter they still seem to be there. Even after being soaked in bleach over night. But I was able to get better pictures.

 

[PetePin15]

Does this help with identification? I can take more photos of these aren’t good enough. Thanks again.

 

[CassCats]

Take them out and place them in a jar of water, see how they react.

Manually remove them with tweezers as best as you can.

Bleach won't get rid of the mineral tubes, the actual living animal stays inside those.