Small white hairs under LR

[mikebusc]

Does anyone know what these small white hair like things are underneath my live rock? Just a sidenote in case it has anything to do with it I’m currently going through an outbreak of green hair algae. But the worst of it is over I think

 

[Formulator]

I can’t remember the name of those things, but they are common and harmless filter feeders. I have them in every cryptic zone of my rock and sump.

 

[malfist]

Are they soft or hard? Soft usually means sponges, hard means some sort of worm.

Either way, harmless filter feeders. If you're bothered by them, reduce nutrients

 

[jabberwock]

Are they striped? Could be micro brittle stars.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I can’t remember the name of those things, but they are common and harmless filter feeders. I have them in every cryptic zone of my rock and sump.

Well, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking. And I cannot remember the name either. Figure it out for me! I'm feeling lazy on this fine Sunday afternoon!

 

[mikebusc]

Are they soft or hard? Soft usually means sponges, hard means some sort of worm.

Either way, harmless filter feeders. If you're bothered by them, reduce nutrients

Not sure if they're hard or soft but I'll check next time. My nutrients were bottomed out a couple weeks ago, going through GHA now. Got nutrients back up recently.

 

[mikebusc]

Are they striped? Could be micro brittle stars.

Not striped

 

[vetteguy53081]

Does anyone know what these small white hair like things are underneath my live rock? Just a sidenote in case it has anything to do with it I’m currently going through an outbreak of green hair algae. But the worst of it is over I think

These are mesenterial filaments and cant be ignored or scraped off if they become too many. Scraping off best in a container of tank water

 

[Formulator]

These are mesenterial filaments and cant be ignored or scraped off if they become too many. Scraping off best in a container of tank water

How are these mesenterial filaments? I thought those were deployed by coral?

 

[mikebusc]

These are mesenterial filaments and cant be ignored or scraped off if they become too many. Scraping off best in a container of tank water

Unfortunately my aquascape won't allow me to remove the rock. Is this going to cause a great problem?

 

[RedReefer]

Well, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking. And I cannot remember the name either. Figure it out for me! I'm feeling lazy on this fine Sunday afternoon!

This is correct.

 

[vetteguy53081]

N

Unfortunately my aquascape won't allow me to remove the rock. Is this going to cause a great problem?

Not a harmful issue as its more of a nuisance

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

How are these mesenterial filaments? I thought those were deployed by coral?

Yeah, mesenterial filaments are deployed by corals (typically when the coral isn't doing great).

OP, these are not mesenterial filaments; these are a tiny variety of feather duster tube worms (they'll have a little feather crown they stick out of the top of their tubes to feed and breathe with - you can see some in the pics in the post linked below).
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/white-hair-growing-on-live-rock.303842/#post-5426275I have heard with this specific variety that if they're population starts getting out of hand, they can start growing up through corals, and the corals don't like that (this is also discussed in the linked thread) - I've only heard of that scenario happening like three times though, and these feather dusters are in a ton of tanks.

So, statistically, they're almost guaranteed to be harmless/beneficial filter-feeders. Personally, unless they do start popping up through corals, I'd just leave them be.

 

[Formulator]

Yeah, mesenterial filaments are deployed by corals (typically when the coral isn't doing great).

OP, these are not mesenterial filaments; these are a tiny variety of feather duster tube worms (they'll have a little feather crown they stick out of the top of their tubes to feed and breathe with - you can see some in the pics in the post linked below).
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/white-hair-growing-on-live-rock.303842/#post-5426275I have heard with this specific variety that if they're population starts getting out of hand, they can start growing up through corals, and the corals don't like that (this is also discussed in the linked thread) - I've only heard of that scenario happening like three times though, and these feather dusters are in a ton of tanks.

So, statistically, they're almost guaranteed to be harmless/beneficial filter-feeders. Personally, unless they do start popping up through corals, I'd just leave them be.

Cool. I wish they would start popping up under all my blue clove polyps…