Tiny white tree-looking algae?

[Fritz05]

I have many of these white, small (<1/4 inch) algae (?) on my rocks. Does anybody have an idea what they are?

 

[BristleWormHater]

I have many of these white, small (<1/4 inch) algae (?) on my rocks. Does anybody have an idea what they are?

I found nothing online except another thread on r2r suggesting it could be a type of sponge but that thread never resolved. This is something for @ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[BristleWormHater]

I found nothing online except another thread on r2r suggesting it could be a type of sponge but that thread never resolved. This is something for @ISpeakForTheSeas

I'm 90% sure this is not algae but other than that I'm lost.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Maybe spaghetti sponge?

 

[DangerDave]

Maybe spaghetti sponge?

Looking around the internet for spaghetti sponge pics and reef tank threads, it does appear to be that.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I have many of these white, small (<1/4 inch) algae (?) on my rocks. Does anybody have an idea what they are?

Any chance you could get a clear, close up pic of just one little cluster of them? Being able to see the details of the branching/base more can be useful for these ID's.

 

[Fritz05]

Here a close up.

 

[corosato]

I am not sure what it is but I want to commend you on your "clear, close up" cause good lord that's better than 99.9% especially my own

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Here a close up.

I'm assuming those feel solid/calcified rather than soft/squishy, yes?

It looks hard and lumpy, so my first thought would be a branching bryozoan of some variety - bryozoans are harmless filter-feeders.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Wow those are pretty cool

I'm assuming those feel solid/calcified rather than soft/squishy, yes?

It looks hard and lumpy, so my first thought would be a branching bryozoan of some variety - bryozoans are harmless filter-feeders.

 

[Fritz05]

I am not sure what it is but I want to commend you on your "clear, close up" cause good lord that's better than 99.9% especially my own

Thank you. I just pressed my phone on the glass and used a flashlight to make sure there was enough light.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Thank you. I just pressed my phone on the glass and used a flashlight to make sure there was enough light.

No you are definitely a professional photographer my phone pics look like a big foot photo and my hands are shakier than a 90 year woman having a heart attack.

 

[Fritz05]

No you are definitely a professional photographer my phone pics look like a big foot photo and my hands are shakier than a 90 year woman having a heart attack.

 

[Fritz05]

I'm assuming those feel solid/calcified rather than soft/squishy, yes?

It looks hard and lumpy, so my first thought would be a branching bryozoan of some variety - bryozoans are harmless filter-feeders.

They are actually soft and move in the flow.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

They are actually soft and move in the flow.

Interesting - I know there are some soft bryozoans, but they're not common that I've seen.

Texturally, this doesn't look right for a sponge, though. Any chance you could get some microscope pics of a sample of it? Or, do you know if these send out any really tiny feeding crowns/polyps/etc. like hydroids, feather dusters, corals, etc.?

 

[Fritz05]

Here my attempt at a picture of a piece of it under a microscope.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Here my attempt at a picture of a piece of it under a microscope.

Any chance you could do a more zoomed out microscope pic?

The goal would be to show a portion of one of the branches zoomed out enough to see both sides of the branch, but close enough to see details like if there are polyps/zooids on the branch.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have many of these white, small (<1/4 inch) algae (?) on my rocks. Does anybody have an idea what they are?

This is likely sponge and typical location especially is there is low flow in that area

 

[Fritz05]

Here another attempt.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Here another attempt.

I would guess a bryozoan from the taxonomic order Ctenostomatida (a Ctenostome bryozoan), some of which are known for being gelatinous/soft-walled. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the order to narrow it down from there, but a bryozoan would be harmless.