Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) Hello, Can anyone please help me identify this brown worm like algae(?) that is growing only in two patches from one piece of wood in one of my planted tanks that has been running for almost 10 years. It grows back very quickly each time i trim it down. It started growing, roughly a year ago, at the same time the black beard/brush worsened as my population of guppies sky rocketed. I've removed all the guppies and the black beard is receding but this thing keeps growing. edit. after digging up my microscope it appears to be made up of tiny brown hairs growing out a stem (pics below) Edited January 23, 2021 by Marko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) Edited January 23, 2021 by Marko 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Its black bush algae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) The brown worm like structure is also black bush/black beard algae? Edited January 23, 2021 by Marko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 No just the stuff at the base of of worm like structure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 The brown worm like stuff looks like some type of fungus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 Yeah i know about the black beard. Am curious about this brown worm looking thing 😬 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charose Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 wow, that is pretty incredible looking stuff, interested to know what it is as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 So I dug up my microscope and cut a piece of it off. Seems to be made up of tiny brown hairs growing from a stem... very interested to see what it may be... if anyone knows let me know hahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charose Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Marko said: So I dug up my microscope and cut a piece of it off. Seems to be made up of tiny brown hairs growing from a stem... very interested to see what it may be... if anyone knows let me know hahah Edited January 23, 2021 by Charose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charose Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Nice! I assume that's the highest magnification objective you have? Doesn't look fungal to me, too complex in organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 This is about as close as i can get 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Wow that's weird! I've never seen anything like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 It appears to be Thorea hispida, quite a rare species. https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=K2f95b7b9144f5a01 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 (edited) @Marko that is a super fascinating video of the algae's movement. Like something you'd see in the ocean, instead of a freshwater tank. And the slides of it are amazing as well! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. And congrats on having the weird thing in your tank...lol! This could totally go on the What's That (I) Found Wednesday thread! Edited January 24, 2021 by Alesha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Billy Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 2 hours ago, Marko said: It appears to be Thorea hispida, quite a rare species. Wow! Good call there Marko, I learned something new today. Apparently some people aqua scape with the stuff too. Not sure how invasive it is tho. Here is a comparable pic i found. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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