I have brine shrimp in their tank there is white flakes what are they?

Sounds like something that I can't remember the name of but something like "cotton disease". It's a white yucky substance that gets on the fish. You can get something at Wal Mart to put in the tank. Better act quickly if this is what it is (and if it isn't doing the treatment won't hurt anything) it can wipe out your entire tank in a matter of a couple of days.