Snail Fur

[NSimpkins]

I was doing my daily inspection of my tank and sump. Down in my sump the light was hitting one of my snails shell in just the right light and I noticed almost a fur on its shell.

The attached picture shows what I am talking about. There is almost a halo around the snail shell. It moves in the water current. Hard to capture on camera.

A quick search of the web called it Hydractinia echinata. I cannot find much to say if it is good, bad, or indifferent.

It doesn't seem to be bothering the snails and my thought is that it is at the least its another set of filter feeders not hurting anything but I'd like some opinions.

[Betta132]

Just looks like algae to me.

[downset21]

I know I'm late to the party here. I have just found this on one of my nasarius snails.

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3586/20130821/immortal-snail-fur-lead-cancer-research-breakthroughs.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hyzoanidfaq.htm

I found the wetwebmedia site on another thread in reef central.

[downset21]

I am going to let it ride. I have also found nothing about whether or not if it is harmful. I don't have corals in my tank which is just starting out, so I will see if this stuff does harm to anything.

[holy carp]

Any updates on these? I also found them on an astrea snail a couple of days ago... Can't seem to find anything that indicates they are a concern, though.