Fluffy loose brown growth

[pinnatus]

I have had this brown fluffy loosely-attached material growing in my tank forever. I don’t think it’s an algae, I was wondering if you smart people out there could identify it. And also offer a way to eliminate it. I have a 240 gallon fish-only. I’m sure my parameters are not great, and haven’t checked them in forever. Don’t need to be chastised about it. Mainly looking for an identification.

 

[game misconduct]

reminds me of that gunk that comes up with clumps of mussels full of worms and amphipods. every time i grabbed a clump for bait off the dock or boat pilings at the beach. when fishing. it always felt like algae to me how to get rid of it i have no idea aside from picking it off with long tweezers

 

[pinnatus]

It is very loosely attached. You can basically blow it off with no problem. I think it isn’t an algae, but something else, dinos, cyano, or something else.

Also, I think it is mildly poisonous to the fish. Luckily they don’t much eat it.

 

[Uncle99]

I don’t no the names of the algae and bacteria’s forming on your rocks.
I put them all in one basket called pest stuff. It appears to be a mix of several.

Unfortunately they multiply super fast in unstable water chemistry, or chemistry lacking basic needs like trace phosphate and nitrate, fluxing Alk and temp or a combination.

Under these conditions, they take over the hard surfaces not allowing the development of the good guy stuff. These guys keep hard surfaces clean but are slower to populate in sufficient quantities.

Without keeping an eye on chemistry, things can change a lot without you knowing.

Good guy algae’s and bacteria’s thrive in super stable waters and over time, if stablilty is maintained, they out compete that bad stuff and keep rocks and sand clean.

I’ve not cleaned a rock or sand in years.