Clear brittle tubes in overflow.

[Amel]

I have recently taken over care of a 20 year old 560 gallon reef tank. It has overflows in the back and at the bottom there is a thick tangle of these thin clear tubes. They are rigid but brittle and remind me of dry spaghetti but hollow. Some are as long as 6 inches. Does anyone know what they might be?

 

[Jamie814]

vermetid snails, can be a pita

 

[Gtinnel]

I don’t know what they are but they don’t look like any vermetid snails that I’ve ever had.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

My first thought would be some kind of macroalgae, but it’s possible they’re tubes of some sort of creature as well.

 

[Jamie814]

some kind of macroalgae, but it’s possible they’re tubes of some sort of creature as well.

Could be dead chaeto, it is clear-ish when it dies but it's not usually hard and brittle. I do agree that vermetid snails are usually straighter tubes too.