tank growths and serpent star problem

Question
I need to know how to get rid of this long-haired algea hair,and these small, white, coiled things that seem to have very small feather dusters coming out of them that are mostly congregated around the thermometer (but are still all over the tank) in a 55 gallon with only a 4-inch-long porcupine puffer.
Also in a separate 20 gallon tank, I have a serpent star that just recently lost 80% of all of its arms. The only other thing in the tank with it is an inch-long clown fish.  I've had both of them in the tank together for at least 4 months, but about a month ago I had put a blue starfish in and it died. So I'm not sure if the serpent star got a disease or the clown is picking on it because the pieces of the arms are laying everywhere as if they just started breaking off for some reason...please help:)

Answer
Hi there,
I can help with the algae... algae can be caused by too much light, or too much natural light and feeds off excess nutrients so you need to check your params and make sure they're all in check. Also some clean up crew can help to rid it by eating it (snails, hermits) and there are a few fish that will eat algae.
Star fish can be hard to keep and need to be acclimated properly. They don't always take to change very well. If its a blue linkia star you refer to (the really large ones) they, I have heard, are one of the hardest to keep.
I doubt the clown would be causing the other stars legs to fall off.. perhaps something is just not quite right with the water quality. Make sure the tests are ok.
I am unsure of what the white coiled things are, I'm sorry, I would just suggest trying to syphon as much as possible out with a vacuum at next water change.
Sorry I cant be of more help.