Short white stuff on glass and plants. Help needed.

[torch89]

Just got back from holidays and found short thin white things clinging to the glass and to the plants of one one of my tanks.  This is in a newer setup that has finished cycling.  Only thing new (not from my other tanks that don't have the problem) is some lava rock.  I don't yet have any algae eaters in the tank or anything like that.  Any ideas as to what this stuff might be and how to treat it?
Any assistance appreciated. 

[PoisonJello]

I think i have the same thing in my tank i just figured it is the start of some form of algee but i could be wrong, my tank is fairly new also
I just put 2 pleco's in a few days ago to see if they will clean it up but the africans are really beating up on them

[Melody]

Sounds like Planaria, usually a result of waste build-up/over-feeding.  While they don't harm the fish, the conditions that cause them can.  They may harm shrimp as they have a toxic layer of some sort.  They drive snails NUTS because they wiggle in under their shell, probably after the eggs there.  They'll eat eggs with great enthusiasm so they're a breeder's enemy.

You'll find lots of specific information if you Google 'Planaria aquarium' or the like.   

[torch89]

Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.  These things just cling to the sides of the glass at one end and the rest of the thing just floats out in the water.  I'm not certain it is planaria or not.  Just incase, this weekend, I will start a rigorous cleaning/water changing plan to see if that helps at all. Usually I vacume and these things never showed up in the tank when it was being cycled and I only noticed them a week or two after adding the plants.   

[torch89]

This one will remain a mystery to me.  Glass cleaned, water changes done, regular feeding and I'm not noticing a problem anymore like described.  Do have algae issue though that I am going to start dealing with in that particular aquarium.  Aquariums, such a learning experience!

[Laura]

You may want to do a picture search for hydra and see if that looks right.

[PoisonJello]

The hydra is a small cnidarian polyp that lives in fresh water attached to submerged rocks, leaves and twigs.  Its tentacles stretch out waiting for passing prey

If you mean that hydra then it don't sound like it, unless you mean this hydra...

HYDRA : A gigantic monster with seven heads (or nine) from Greek legend


[attachment deleted by admin]

[Laura]

Now if you find one of those large hydra in your tank, you're in really big trouble.....

I suggested torch89 check out hydra because of his/her comment "These things just cling to the sides of the glass at one end and the rest of the thing just floats out in the water."  It sounded like a possibility, but I'm happy to be wrong and have someone avoid a hydra infestation 

[torch89]

Thanks, will check the hydra thing out.

[torch89]

The hydra thing made for an interesting read, but I don't think that is it either.  Unless the problem crops up again, I will never know.  Not seeing it anymore.