I.D. White stringy algae?

[islander84]

Ive never seen this stuff before and was wondering if anyone could id it.... it doesnt seem to be spreading anymore but its hard to clean off the rocks and has a pretty strong base to it. Someone previously recommended a filamentous cyano, I’m not an expert but I definitely dont think it’s a bacteria.....Bacteria would be brittle and slimy wouldn’t it? You cant even scrub this stuff off the rocks hardly, almost has to be plucked....

 

[P-Dub]

How quickly does it grow? When you pull it off does it remain intact? Can you describe how it feels under hand? Can you take a photo of it out of the tank with a black background, as close-up as is possible? Know anyone with a microscope?

 

[islander84]

Its a semi slow grower. It does stay intact when removed from rocks. It feels like a really thin macroalgae. I will pluck some out tomorrow.

 

[islander84]

 

[P-Dub]

Hmm, I'm officially baffled and intrigued. #reefsquad

 

[Fudsey]

Sponge maybe?

 

[P-Dub]

Sponge maybe?

I was thinking a calcareous sponge as well but I have yet to see one like that with that particular growth pattern...

 

[Fudsey]

It almost looks like hair algae but I can't find anything that looks like that either....

 

[P-Dub]

@islander84 you wouldn't happen to have access to or know someone, reef club, school, that has a microscope that you can use?

 

[islander84]

@islander84 you wouldn't happen to have access to or know someone, reef club, school, that has a microscope that you can use?

I don’t think so but I will order one from Amazon, I could probably use it more than I think anyways.... It feels like a thicker hair algae... Definitely is some type of algae