Growth on Lava rock

[d-dogg]

Hi, new member from VA here.

We started a reef tank about 4 months ago, and finally have it sustainable.

It's just 29 gallons, and we have two false clowns, two damsels, two gobies, a wrasse, and a blenny. Also a number of astreas, a cleaner shrimp, a couple of small hermit crabs and 3 turbo snails. There is about 25lbs of live sand/coral and 20 lbs of live rock. Also two large lava rock and a small coral.

It's been a learning process, and we've lost a little live stock (two featherdusters, two anemonies, a brittle star fish and a couple of turbo snails due to a larger hermit crab with an appetite. He's on the way out as soon as I can find him a home.

Anyway, my water tests out just fine, but I am beginning to see a growth on my lava rock. They are white, with a tiny ball on the end of a stalk. I'm trying to include a photo, but the detail isn't that hot.

Can anyone guess what this growth may be? I guess from what I'm reading, I should remove the lava rock, but it seems to have turned into live rock.

Thanks,

[Doug1]

Its probably some kind of filter feeding worm, and should be OK
I am leary of using lava rock in a reef, hard telling what is in the rock and may leach out over time

[Reeftanker3295]

Thats too many fish for a 29!

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT!

[Jadinop]

Lava rock does not belong in a reef tank. It will not serve the same filtering purpose as reef based rock. Lava rock is too porous and the pore sizes are simply too big. Lava rock clogs quickly with large amounts of detritus. The other negative aspect is the unknown composition. Silicates and other chemicals will leach out of lava rock over time.

The fact that a tubeworm is growing on the rock means nothing. They grow on the glass, pumps, heaters and everything else in a tank. Good liverock is porous and can house large amounts of beneficial bacteria. What grows on the outside is unimportant.