Hey Y'all - I'm a newbie, so forgive me in advance! My 29g BC is about 6 mo old. Cleaning the rear chambers the other day - pulled off the filter tray and there were like white roots growing in the chamber! All over the walls and live rock rubble. They feel firm, just like roots, about the size of a heavy string. The only problem I am having otherwise is chronic brown, hairy algae that I just fight constantly. Fish and corals look great - water parameters are great - what the heck is this and how do I deal with it?

Worm tubes?

Beats me! Like I said, they are very firm, like a small plant root - they do not feel like any sort of worm I've ever seen - plus they are long - like growing across the whole compartment. I would have sworn there was a plant in there somewhere!

Do they tie the rocks together?

No - just like rambling across and thru them - mostly climbing the walls, like a vine almost

I'm gonna stick with worm tubes.

Ok...assuming you are correct, now what??

Syconoid sponges?

Nothing. It's all good.

Syconoid sponges usually look like q-tips rather than tubes or roots... ja?

I just googled the image, as I wanted to compare.....what I'm seeing is a bit different. I believe I will post a photo and perhaps that will help in figuring this out! Thanks thus far for all input!

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132956

http://www.melevsreef.com/id

So, if it's tube worms, no problem?? Don't need to try to clean them out during routine maint.??

Nope. They are actually desirable because they feed on floating particulates and that helps to "clean" your water.