Reefgardner Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 So wanted to first say thanks, I've done a lot of research here before I got started. GREAT INFO!! What everyone always asks... 29 gallon 25 libs live rock 35 lbs live sand Up and running 8 weeks 1 small water recirculator 50 gallon biowheel filter Flourecent light (came w/tank) upgrading this weekend Added Yellow Tail Damsel and a Mushroom last Friday 0 ppm - amm, nitrite, or nitrates (all i'm testing, at this time) ph 8.2 salinity 1.024 temp 79 So got all sorts of cool stuff on my live rock tons of small orange feather dusters and other tube worms. Some mushrooms growing (came on rock) and some bristle worms active at feeding. However last night checking out my tank, I noticed what I initially thought was a hairy substance are actually Tiny (1 mm) white sticks with branching arms. I was wondering if anyone could identify for me? I added pics 1rst is my starter tank and second is close up on rock. Thanks All 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I have no idea what that is. Here are a few links I use sometimes to try to identify things: http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f184/hitchhiker-id-guide-202739.html http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Hitchhikers_Guide_to_the_Reef_Tank http://www.melevsreef.com/node/141 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneroller Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Are they soft like a sponge or hard, break with a crunch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgardner Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Update, so i went home last night and checked it out. They break like a stick. Thanks, Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Possibly a old dead macroalgae or sea whip. Were they there when you bought the rocks? Here are a couple of links to help identify hitchhikers that may pop up. http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm http://www.chucksaddiction.com/cleanupcrew.html http://marineplantbook.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgardner Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Definateley not dead, I scrubbed all of the rocks before putting them in the tank. These babies are growing and multiplying. Have checked all the links above and several others. Can't find anything. I'll keep checking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Branching looks like some sort of sponge or macro. Here's the guide I usually use, but I can't find anything that resembles those: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Branching coralline?? http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol317/Murray/Fall97/coralline_algae.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 funny you say the jim. i actually found some branching coralline in the overflow when cleaning up my current build last night. i think what we're dealing with here is a type of macro algae; given the fast recover time and fragmenting growth. id say keep scrubbin, or if it gets too bad pull the rocks and spray/dip them in peroxide. forewarning though you'll probably start another cycle in the process. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneroller Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I doubt its any form of algae based on the lack of color. Could be foraminifera but hard to tell from here. Can you see any type of polyps, strands, or other projections that we can't see in picture? ... and I still don't rule out sponge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.