ID Please, might not even be a hitchhiker

[Snoopdog]

I thought these could be hydroids but they do not look like any pictures of hydroids I have seen. They do not react to light and when pulled off with tweezers they feel really attached like they are more of an algae. Most all are branchy like tiny trees. When touched they do not react like they are any type of jellyfish or act like aptasia does. Before anyone says "scrub your rocks", that is not an option. The majority of my tank is covered in corals and these only seem to be in certain spots. Sorry I cannot get a better picture yet, the digital SLR is coming but today all I have is a camera phone. These are never on glass, only on rock and only on certain rock.

 

[sfin52]

Any pic with white lights

 

[Snoopdog]

Any pic with white lights

I will get another one tonight when I get home. I will break out a better camera with a macro lens, that may help.

 

[Snoopdog]

Okay, here goes.

 

[Snoopdog]

Everyone see how branchy it is? It is strange. It does not retract like any type of jelly or like an aptasia would. It is almost like it is a plant.

 

[sfin52]

@Eagle_Steve
@fishguy242
@F i s h y
@Lost in the Sauce

 

[MaxTremors]

Looks like algae, maybe cladophora.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

It definitely looks like a form of algea growing. Can't name it though

 

[fishguy242]

hydroids?? mini dusters??

 

[Double monti 61]

Does not look invasive.

 

[Snoopdog]

Looks like algae, maybe cladophora.

I looked that up, that is pretty green. This stuff is either white or a browner tone, depending on how long it is in there and how dirty it gets. Even in places it is fresh it is never green.

 

[Snoopdog]

hydroids?? mini dusters??

They do not react to movement or light like a feather duster would.

 

[fishguy242]

@Eagle_Steve thoughts ??

 

[Snoopdog]

@Eagle_Steve thoughts ??

I am going to go get an electric blue hermit tomorrow and see if he will touch them. I would really like to know what this stuff is. It is pretty pervasive, grows in the light and dark equally.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like colonial hydroids. Snip at the base of each cluster and discard

 

[Spare time]

Hyroids

 

[Snoopdog]

Looks like colonial hydroids. Snip at the base of each cluster and discard

Can they be starved out?

 

[tjohnson3]

Okay, here goes.

Branching hydroid…I can see the white polyps on the branching. they’ll go away if you eliminate their food source or physically remove them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can they be starved out?

yes- Simply direct water flow towards them, not at them and they will not be able to capture food and will starve and wilt

 

[Snoopdog]

yes- Simply direct water flow towards them, not at them and they will not be able to capture food and will starve and wilt

So basically what I am likely seeing are a lot of skeletons of old dead ones too. Good to know. I hope I do not starve my zoanthids in the process.