Is it algae or an animal?

[wingster]

I am getting these branch like structures, along with pink spots all over the back wall of my tank. Is that some of my macroalgae growing on the back wall? The rock is a reflection, those branches are not coming out of the rock.
Should I scrape them off?
The tank is fairly new (Jan 2026), it is a mixed macro algae, coral & fish tank (JBJ 45AIO). The tank has not had any real issues (Dinosfor few days, aptasia gone in a a week). I keep nutrients not at zero because of all the macro algae. I have 5 tiny fish in there a few soft corals.

Stats have been stable since March (Salifert testing)
1.026
dkH 7
NO3 25ppm
PO4 0.25ppm
Mag 1320
CA 425

 

[sixty_reefer]

Image is not the best, they resemble spaghetti worms

 

[wingster]

Image is not the best, they resemble spaghetti worms

added some more images but the are still not great.

 

[mcarroll]

Is that green hair algae sprouts? (this is likely)

 

[wingster]

Is that green hair algae sprouts? (this is likely)

That could very well be, I just pulled some off and it is green plant like. Wonder why they chose the back wall over the rocks....

 

[mcarroll]

It's wherever the swarmers find hospitable.

Take it as a sign that your tank is filled with algae spores waiting to settle tho!

Remove all you can by hand ASAP. Yesterday would be ideal.

Consider upgrading your CUC (algae eating snails only IMO).

Consider adding a micron and/or UV filter to remove/kill swarmers.....this will slow or stop the spread of algae while you work to balance things out.

 

[sixty_reefer]

That could very well be, I just pulled some off and it is green plant like. Wonder why they chose the back wall over the rocks....

From this pic I’d say Cladaphora

 

[wingster]

It's wherever the swarmers find hospitable.

Take it as a sign that your tank is filled with algae spores waiting to settle tho!

Remove all you can by hand ASAP. Yesterday would be ideal.

Consider upgrading your CUC (algae eating snails only IMO).

Consider adding a micron and/or UV filter to remove/kill swarmers.....this will slow or stop the spread of algae while you work to balance things out.

I do have a cleanup crew, I think it is now time to stop feeding them Which I did because the tank was still newish.

 

[Tahoe61]

Do you have any chaeto?
Look at the vendor you get your macro algae from and see if they sell something that looks similar.

 

[wingster]

Thanks, that would be difficult to remember all places. I never bought any Chaeto because I don't have a sump. Most of the algae in my collection is "decorative" except for the Caulerpa prolifera that is hosting the clownfish. (what a pain in the tush that endend up being He could have picked anything in that tank grrr lol) I guess I'll leave it for now because I wasn't planning on scraping the back wall. Unless it looks like it is growing too much. Thank you very much for helping!