New form of growth?

[mach1ray]

I've gone crazy looking on line for anything similar to what I have growing in my tank and nothing resembles this. Not knowing the name of this life matter makes it that much harder to find let alone treat against it. I took it to my LPS who said he never saw such a thing as it leaves a skeletal behind when I scrubbed it off the rock. At first he thoguht is was brown hair algae until he saw it.

Any one here ever see this? If so, any idea how to get rid of it? Tired of sun bleaching my rocks to get rid of it. Any help is appreciated

 

[mach1ray]

This stuff grows on everything, even the shells of my crabs and snails.

 

[ritter6788]

It leaves a skeleton? Can you get a clearer picture? Top pic looks like Aiptasia and the lower pics look like algae but it's not real clear to me.

 

[mach1ray]

Unlike brown hair algae, you cant simply brush this stuff off. When you scrub it off it leave a skeleton behind.

 

[mach1ray]

I have a rock outside and will take pics of the remaining skeleton.

 

[mach1ray]

just hairy, nothing like Aiptasia.

 

[caudill187]

colonial hydroids maybe?

 

[steamer51]

Many macro algaes are calcerous which may leave a skeleton behind. The closest to your pic I could find was Pencil Cap Algae, (Penicillus capitatus). I have some that came in with some live rock rubble but it seems to be growing right out of the rock, there is no skeleton that I can see. Hard to see in the pics but if it has small polyps it looks like "Corky Finger Gorgonian". I don't know if they have a skeleton and I doubt they would grow so well to become a pest.

 

[mach1ray]

Someone else suggested hydroids am recommended I smother it small sections at a time with calcium
is there a better way without killing off my live stock?

 

[mach1ray]

OK I googled hydroid images and this is not what I have. My infestation is like hair. Someone please chime in with a remedy that wont kill off my zoas and mushrooms sharing the rocks.

 

[dedubya]

Try dipping it in 100% peroxide always works for me and it wont kill your corals 30 seconds and remove it

 

[mach1ray]

Dip the entire rock? As for the snails and crabs, should I get rid of them to stop the spreading or treat them too?

 

[mach1ray]

OK, I'm back. Did as suggested and dipped a few pieces in pure peroxide. Well it did kill off some of the stuff and did not hurt the coral. Problem is it did not kill off the hairy stuff off the rocks. It actually looks like it ****** it off. I'm at a loss for direction. Don't know what to do. Pics below were taken with the light off. I'e also had the lights on only 1 hr a day for the last 5 days and I dont notice a difference there either.

 

[Pkunk35]

First we need to identify the species and it seems like no one can yet (it certainly looks like algae to me tho). Have you tried emailing wetwebmedia for an ID and possible resolution? They would be the first resource after the forums where I would ask for help.

Also, I'm not 100% sure, but I think you want to dilute the H2O2 with RO water and dip for longer than 30 secs to try and remove algaes. At least that is how the process is lined out in the zoa forum.