Unsolved mystery. What is it

[GSnake]

It only grows in darker areas, ( not found on any direct light surface)
It's not colored like other algae
It is soft to touch, can be pulled out or turkey basted to a degree but comes back in same place and others eventually.
I had it even before using biopellets in my system.
I've looked online and didn't find a match, most other reports with similar pictures were unsolved, suggestions included bacteria, and another was foraminiferans.
Phos .05
No 2
Alk 9.1
Ph 8.3
Cal 450
Mg 1360

Any idea? I'd or how to get rid of it..
Back when I had a lawnmower algae blenny, he would bite it off, and spot it back out. Wouldn't eat it like he would green algae. Had less in general though, reconsidering getting one again.

 

[tsouth]

Are there any sprouts at the ends of it that resemble a branching hydroid?

 

[GSnake]

Nope, just looks like a sparse messy bush.

 

[Bryknicks]

Looks like sponges. A great thing to have and shows maturity of your tank!

 

[UCF Alum]

Sponge.
Harmless. Have them growing next to acros.

 

[GSnake]

o, the sponges....the tube like things with the hole in the center yes, they are ok.
but are you saying the bush like things beside them are also sponges? the ones that look like miniature dead bushes or hair

 

[tsouth]

I am unable to clearly depect it in your pictures but i'm going to say do some research on branching hydroids. I would need to see a more focused picture, but this might be of some help:

Algae Identification

It's very thick like a macro algae, so it's seems different than typical GHA. It looks different than bropysis pictures, but it has a root like structure. White tips. @saltyfilmfolks or @Diesel, any ideas?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[GSnake]

With a close up and flow off, they are hydroids

 

[tsouth]

Sending good wishes your way on battling them! Cutting down nutrients & broadcast feeding, reducing coral food types (think reef roids) and/or sticking putty on them are all approaches. Let us know how your journey goes!

 

[GSnake]

O ya.. no more broadcasting reef roids. maybe I can get away with target feeding it in the future. What about acropower, should be ok? And my biopellets

 

[UCF Alum]

@GSnake
I thought you were talking about the white stuff?