DavidP nailed it on the "nassarius snails". That's exactly what the ponies do. They wind themselves up in it and look like little pigs! David, do you have nassarius snails in your tanks? They are such clods, they knock down everything, however; they do keep the tanks clean. Thanks for the ID on that stringy mess. I kinda figured they were the guilty party. I have 3 of them in the 45 gallon. To many ya think?