Can anyone ID this white "algae" looking stuff --

[Abarnswell]

Hi, Gang

Can anyone ID this strange white "algae" looking stuff in my tank? It's on this plant, as well as on a small patch of sand.

Thanks!!

 

[Abarnswell]

Actually, I no longer think it's a type of algae. As it is growing, I can now see little "arms" sticking out at the top of each white thing. It's definitely something else, but I have no idea what. It's spreading like crazy in my tank, on plants, sand, and LR.

 

[Abarnswell]

No takers on this one????

 

[incysor]

Sorry. It could be some type of parasite of the plant...I was thinking it might be hydroids....It's just a bit difficult without a macro shot to see details.

B

 

[Abarnswell]

Thanks, Incysor

It's definitely not an algae, but some kind of "live" thing. Maybe a type of hydroids. It's spreading like crazy, from plants to the LR. I think I will take this tank apart and scrub the rocks and fake corals in there. This problem is in my seahorse tank. They don't bother the seahorses or the pipefish, but they are unsightly, that's for sure. I think I got "stung" by them. When I pulled out the plant that I showed in the pic, my hand and forearm were bright red with tiny little red dots on the skin and the skin burned for about half an hour.

 

[incysor]

That sounds like hydroids...

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=1036

http://www.seaotter.com/marine/research ... p.jpg.html

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoans.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm

B

 

[Abarnswell]

Thanks, Incysor! My stuff looks exactly like the stuff in that first link you gave: the cluster of hedgehog hydroids. Nasty stuff, probably hard to get rid of. I'll have to scrub everything.

 

[Dickie52]

I would go with hydroids also.....

I forgot the name of the chemical to kill them with, but you could get it by searching at www.seahorse.org

 

[Abarnswell]

Yes, hydroids are a huge problem with dwarf seahorses. They don't really bother the larger species, but still I don't want them in there. I believe Panacur is the treatment for getting rid of hydroids. There's also another product called Hydrox, I believe, for getting rid of hydroids.

Looks like I'll have to do some research and get busy on this!

 

[Dickie52]

Panacur is the one I am thinking of.....

I think you can get it on the sites that sell worm medicine for dogs.....which is what I think it is used for.