I.D. White stringy algae?

islander84 · May 4, 2019

Ive never seen this stuff before and was wondering if anyone could id it.... it doesnt seem to be spreading anymore but its hard to clean off the rocks and has a pretty strong base to it. Someone previously recommended a filamentous cyano, I’m not an expert but I definitely dont think it’s a bacteria.....Bacteria would be brittle and slimy wouldn’t it? You cant even scrub this stuff off the rocks hardly, almost has to be plucked....

P-Dub · May 4, 2019

How quickly does it grow? When you pull it off does it remain intact? Can you describe how it feels under hand? Can you take a photo of it out of the tank with a black background, as close-up as is possible? Know anyone with a microscope?

islander84 · May 4, 2019

Its a semi slow grower. It does stay intact when removed from rocks. It feels like a really thin macroalgae. I will pluck some out tomorrow.

islander84 · May 5, 2019

P-Dub · May 5, 2019

Hmm, I'm officially baffled and intrigued. #reefsquad

Fudsey · May 5, 2019

Sponge maybe?

P-Dub · May 5, 2019

Fudsey said:
Sponge maybe?

I was thinking a calcareous sponge as well but I have yet to see one like that with that particular growth pattern...

Fudsey · May 5, 2019

It almost looks like hair algae but I can't find anything that looks like that either....

P-Dub · May 5, 2019

@islander84 you wouldn't happen to have access to or know someone, reef club, school, that has a microscope that you can use?

islander84 · May 7, 2019

P-Dub said:
@islander84 you wouldn't happen to have access to or know someone, reef club, school, that has a microscope that you can use?

I don’t think so but I will order one from Amazon, I could probably use it more than I think anyways.... It feels like a thicker hair algae... Definitely is some type of algae