What is this (& I don't think it's hydra) on my flame moss?

[Bedfordshire]

Not sure it's algae, it's not hydra as it doesn't retract, shrimps don't mind it and babies sit on it, and it seems to like strong light: there is more of it in my strong light tanks.

Is it a colony of some sort of organisim?

Thanks

[kobal]

Hi,

Maybe some kind of Vorticella?

[Bedfordshire]

...researched that online, it can't really be vorticella as they move.

[Summit MicroFarm]

Bedforshire,
Hard to tell from the picture but it looks to me like the dreaded black hair algae... I have seen it start in one of my tanks this way.

[Bedfordshire]

Hi, I don't think so: it's white/transparent, it never gets bigger or goes any where else, only stays on moss and never any other plant. The spacing between tufts is always maintained etc...

[mordalphus]

Moss roots/anchors

[killer007]

Bedforshire,
Hard to tell from the picture but it looks to me like the dreaded black hair algae... I have seen it start in one of my tanks this way.

i think so too...

[Bedfordshire]

Against Black Hair Algae Argument:

(1) If black hair algae why does it never appear on any other form of plant and only on moss.
(2) once evenly spaced it never clumps, and is only ever on one side of the moss stem not both. (on xmas moss it's only on the underside)
(3) It sometimes vanishes on it's own.

For Black Hair Algae Argument:

(1) Know one really knows.
(2) More in tanks with higher light

Conclusion: I doubt it is black hair algae.

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Against Moss Anchor Argument:

(1) It is not on all types of moss in my tanks.
(2) It is more on some than others.
(3) It's on the tops of fmae moss which doesn't anchor at the top.

For Moss Anchor Argument:

(1) It's only on one side and underneath on xmas moss, so looks like an anchor of sorts.

Conclusion: I don't think it is moss anchor or roots.

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Bryozoa (moss animals) link: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...nize-them.html A lot like hydra, but not harmful. Just unsightly.

Argument for Bryozoa:

(1) Looks like it
(2) shrimplets graze in it, not harmful
(3) doesn't spread and always evenly spaced

Argument against Bryozoa:

(1) Doesn't retract when touched.

conclusion: can't be Bryozoa.

[mordalphus]

I still think it's roots of moss, they will grow roots in water column if that's where the nutrients are. There is another option I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet, which is that it's fungus growing on trapped detritus. This happens often in moss because it traps everything like a filter floss and keeps it inside until it's shaken or disturbed.

But to me, it looks like root or fungus.

[powerreef]

i have similar to you, every time i vacumm the substrate some of my plant show similar to your pic. the substrate dust was stick to my plant