Possible filter feeder and furry hermit crab shell? ID needed

[ticklemyelmo]

Hi everybody, I noticed these little buggers popping up a while ago and now theres a whole colony as seen in the second pic. They don't seem to be harmful, looks like they're just some type of filter feeder to me, but was wondering if you guys could ID it as I'm giving my fish away soon and wanted to make sure it wasnt some kind of disease. Thanks! Much appreciated....

Also, I have a hermit crab with what looks like a "furry" shell....seems to be a bunch of little strings or maybe fibers that kind of trap stuff? Almost like the consistency of a fungal disease on freshwater fish....

Any help or insight anyone can give is much appreciated

 

[louti]

1st- q=tip sponges, fine
2nd- hair algae? hard to tell from the pic

 

[fretfreak13]

+1 on both, it's hair algea. he needs a hair cut lol, grab a new tooth brush, pick up teh crab, and gently scrub off his shell. The Hair algea wont hurt him, but it'll spread all over your tank and make it look nasty.