Root like things coming out of rock

[Coral reefer]

Assuming other people have seen little white hairy root like stuff that grows on/out of live rock. Anybody know what they are or what they do?

 

[melly mel]

I have the same things on my rock. Always wondered what they were.

 

[JAR]

I think I know what you are talking about.
I believe them to be a very tiny tube worm.
There are millions on the undersides of all my rock.
Looks almost like hair.

 

[Coral reefer]

That is what I'm talking about. One vote for worms. Anyone else?

 

[xcaret]

Tube worms; lift a small rock and see them, lift a frag and there they are.

 

[yardartist]

You guys think this could be a sponge? I see no movement on what is inside a few of the tunnels in my rock. With any of the worms there are parts that move to collect debris. This white threadlike structure sticks out less than half an inch and seem to cover the surface with tips that branch giving it the root look you suggested Mike.

At Steinhart I have seen similar growth in the temporate water tanks. Just thought it was a type of sponge, but it is not thick enough to have structure for internal flow.

 

[Coral reefer]

Doesn't seem like a worm to me...doesn't been it isn't though. Somebody has to know!

 

[melly mel]

I dont know if I am thinking about he same thing but the ones i see on my rocks look exactly like plant roots....but white and tiny. Is your similar Mike?

 

[JAR]

If I get up close and use magnification I can see tiny little feather duster things on the ends.

 

[Coral reefer]

Magnification. Brilliant!
Rommel, yep same stuff

 

[tuberider]

Looking at the pic it is undeniably a sea monster. Might I suggest a trident for species control?

 

[Erick]

I thought I was going crazy cause people were able to answer without a picture

 

[sfsuphysics]

I'm going to throw my bet at hydroids

 

[Coral reefer]

Not hydroids

 

[anathema]

Androids

 

[xcaret]

I have white sponge that resembles roots and just discovered one (don't know if it's sponge) that is covering some zoanthids, feels/looks slimy; I'll keep it in check.

 

[sfboarders]

Look like what I posted here?

http://www.bareefers.org/home/node/12356

 

[JAR]

I thought I was going crazy cause people were able to answer without a picture

This is such a great thread because we are probably talking about 5 different things.
I get satisfaction because I know I'm right on the money here.

 

[Erick]

here's my blind guess "Foraminiferans The branching white type are usualy mistaken for a sponge, if you look closely you can see what looks like thin hairs at the ends of the stalks, these are the Rhizpodia which collect food particles, they also can be red and are usualy only a single stubby branch no more than 1/4 inch tall, which at first led me to believe they were a type of branching coraline algae. As you can see, this animal classification has many members which do not resemble each other much. Click on the link for a detailed article on this family group." From chuck's addiction.

 

[Coral reefer]

Look like what I posted here?

http://www.bareefers.org/home/node/12356

Nope. I'll post a pic. I think jar is right