Looking for an id

[Jadinop]

I have an epidemic of white threadlike hairs in my frag tank. They seem to grow on the bottoms of the rocks and corals just like sponges do. They feel calcerous(sp) and break off easily when touched. I'm enclosing some pics of a rock that I pulled out and placed in a clear jar to photograph. It was taken under incandescent lighting so please ignore the horrible yellow color. Any ideas on how to remove them or a possible predator would be greatly appreciated.

[JY13131]

WOW! I am looking forward to hearing this one.

[ChrisPrusha]

How fast growing are they ?

[JY13131]

They are weird aren't they?
I have seen maybe a few in my tank, but nothing like that!

[Jadinop]

Originally Posted by ChrisPrusha

How fast growing are they ?

When I picked some corals up from a guy who was breaking down his tank there were just a few of them on the bottom of the rocks. They have been in my frag tank for about 2 months. They don't seem to be spreading to any rocks other than the ones they came in on.

[Twitterbait]

I have a thought but before i say it please take a close look and see if you can see any appendages or tentacles or feeding. when you break them off do you see a reddish worm? what is the base like? does it form into a curly pile?

[Jadinop]

Originally Posted by Twitterbait

I have a thought but before i say it please take a close look and see if you can see any appendages or tentacles or feeding. when you break them off do you see a reddish worm? what is the base like? does it form into a curly pile?

There really doesn't seem to be a base. Each one looks like an individual that is attached to the rock surface. I don't see any kind of mat or connecting material between them. When I break them off I don't see any worm or tentacles left. Using a very bright flashlight I can see a single
appendage projecting from a few of them. The bristles of a toothbrush would be the best description of how the "worms" look and feel.