white stuff awareness thread

[amphipod]

I'm not always correct in my assumptions, but this time I think I am. There has been a growing issue with an invasive organism in several of our tanks recently. I'm not sure what it is, many people are saying its probably a sponge ( they probably are correct ), in my humble opinion a fungus shouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility. Either way this stuff has enormous invasive potential and can overtake an aquarium relatively quickly. The purpose of this thread is to make reefers aware of this organism, figure exactly what it is, figure where it came from, figure what will eat it, and many more things pertaining to the white organism.

First I will go through this case by case there have been 4 up to date.

I'm not saying these are the only cases that have ever occurred, but these are the only cases I've commented on.

First case Stellablue's halimeda holdfast that was infested http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/357673-identification-assistance-white-root-ish-thing-on-live-rock/

Second case Steelin's frag that was overtaken http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/360453-what-is-this-stuff-white-stringy-suffocating/

Third case ackattackkk's invasion http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/361413-what-is-this/

Fourth case Mom2many's zoa infestation http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/361872-way-to-remove-this-from-my-zoas/

This thing must have something against zoas because 2 of the cases were on zoas

Any information and comments regarding this matter are welcome.

[ackattackkk]

Mine seems to be going away. Slowly though. I havent done anything different to my tank so im not sure whats making it go away.

[braaap]

I came in here expecting to talk about cocaine. I leave disappointed.

[ReefWeeds]

I haven't seen any more since I removed the first piece I found, but that thing grew FAST. It went from one or two strings to a mass about the size of a quarter. In less than 2 weeks.

[ReefWeeds]

and to consolidate my random messages into one place: the piece of rock I had it on came from Vietnam. Also, has anyone seen any other posts about the white stringy stuff on other forums?

[amphipod]

Mine seems to be going away. Slowly though. I havent done anything different to my tank so im not sure whats making it go away.

maybe its starving? Less nutrients in the water maybe?

Where did your rock come from?

[GMay]

After reading these threads, I doubt that the white filamentous growth is a fungus. tibbys07 makes serveral arguements in one thread that I agree with and I can provide some more to argue against these white filaments being fungus. I have 30 years of research experience with mostly filamentous fungi. Individual hyphal filaments are generally too small to be seen without a microscope, of the order of 10 micrometeres in diameter. Even large clumps of filaments are very small. Yes you can see an entire colony when it grows on a good nutrient source but in general this is the exception rather than the rule.

 

Having said this, there are marine fungi that do damage coral reefs, Aspergillus sydowii for example was the cause of a loss of caribbean gorgonians. But I have not seen reports of large filamentous mats from this event.

 

My conclusion: Not likely a fungus.

[amphipod]

After reading these threads, I doubt that the white filamentous growth is a fungus. tibbys07 makes serveral arguements in one thread that I agree with and I can provide some more to argue against these white filaments being fungus. I have 30 years of research experience with mostly filamentous fungi. Individual hyphal filaments are generally too small to be seen without a microscope, of the order of 10 micrometeres in diameter. Even large clumps of filaments are very small. Yes you can see an entire colony when it grows on a good nutrient source but in general this is the exception rather than the rule.

 

Having said this, there are marine fungi that do damage coral reefs, Aspergillus sydowii for example was the cause of a loss of caribbean gorgonians. But I have not seen reports of large filamentous mats from this event.

 

My conclusion: Not likely a fungus.

look, I'm going to be honest he fungus theory was not my original idea, tibbsy had actually been the first to suggest it in Stella blue's thread, but after reading his idea, I thought that it could be possible, unlikely it may be, it still is possible. That is why I will continue to support that it could be a fungus along with the likely conclusion it is a sponge. I definitely respect your knowledge and experience, and you are probably correct, but to keep ones mind open to all possibilities of this thing would be, in my lowly opinion, a great way to approach it.

It actually looks like fungal hyphae to me... Hard to say exactly what it is, so it's hard to know if it's good or bad. If you aren't set on keeping the halimeda, I'd remove the whole piece.

this is his exact untampered quote, the original idea that I will continue to give at least some support until the identification is certainly found.

Also I don't think that the visible part is the individual hyphae, I think it is the fruiting body of the fungus.

If it is a fungus

[ackattackkk]

heres a better pic

[ReefWeeds]

Amphipod! What do you think of this stuff? It seems to be growing differently than the stuff I originally had, but it is growing kinda quick and is the same general color. Seems to be a different texture though and growing more like a mass rather than a filament.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/363308-id-assistance-sponge/#entry5081675

[amphipod]

Amphipod! What do you think of this stuff? It seems to be growing differently than the stuff I originally had, but it is growing kinda quick and is the same general color. Seems to be a different texture though and growing more like a mass rather than a filament.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/363308-id-assistance-sponge/#entry5081675

lucky for you its not the white monster.