Unknown white strands appared overnight

[MaxPado]

Hello reefers,

I have been winning my battle with hair algae for about a month now. This morning I woke up and I noticed these long white stands of something all over my rocks. I am unsure what has happened and how it could have happened so quickly. Please if anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks,
Max

 

[takitaj]

Do they retract when touched? (I might use something besides my hands) Hydroids maybe? I'm no expert so hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[MaxPado]

No retraction and it seems to be breaking off with the flow from my power heads

 

[CCauthers]

Mucus from corals?

 

[MaxPado]

I have no corals at all

 

[takitaj]

Or possibly vermetid snail webs? Watch for them after next feeding. I'm out of ideas.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

I'm thinking it may be dead algae streaming off the rocks. try sucking as much of it out as you can, if it comes back it may be a bacterial bloom.

 

[MaxPado]

So yesterday I did a 25% change and tried to suck up as much as I could while doing so. I also added another bag of carbon in my filter to see if that did anything and I have to say everything is looking much better right now. Not sure if I'm in the clear but it looks good now. Will update

Thanks guys
Max