Identification please. ...and some questions

Ship of Fools · 04/25/2008, 01:30 PM

I bought some live rock and frankly, I don't know some of the organisms alive on it. Here they are:

In this picture - #1 is coralline algae. However, this piece of rock was given to me from a friend and it was stored in a box dry for some time. Is it still alive?

#2 has a few Identification questions.

What is that green tubular organism?
What are the purple grass-like stuff?

In the next pic, # 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all coralline algae. The question is does this type of algae start out pink and progress to a deep purple or does it sometimes stay pink?

5. is just another shot of the green tube.

Finally, Is the green formation on this rock a bad thing?

dzeadow · 04/25/2008, 01:36 PM

I don't know what the plants are, but there are several different colors of coralline algae.. purple, pink red, orange...etc. If it was in a box dry, i'd imagine that the coralline would die off and bleach out for a bit until it regrew. How long has it been in your tank? If it was dry and you just put it in, there will probably be die off from the plant life that's on it, unless it grew out of the rock after you put it in.

Ship of Fools · 04/25/2008, 01:40 PM

I am sorry. The questionable purple coralline algae is on a separate rock which is mostly covered up in this picture by that very live rock.

InsaneClownFish · 04/25/2008, 01:50 PM

Like dz said, there are all different colors of coralline algae.

The purple stuff is purple brush or turf algae. Completely harmless and a great way to naturally reduce nitrates. Some people don't like the look, so you may eventually end up trimming it back if it takes off.

The green strands, depending on the thickness, can either be cheato, or caulerpa racemosa. You don't want either in your display. Cheato is great for a fuge. In my opinion caulerpa racemosa has no place in a reef system. If it goes asexual it will take over your tank. Are there any small "buds" forming on those strands? Does it just pull off the rock, or is the "end" embedded in the rock and a little tough to pull off? If the latter remove it and scrape the area with a mixture of salt and alk buffer.

The rock is still alive but you don't want to add it directly to an existing system if it has been sitting for any amount of time. There will be dye off that can pollute your system.

Do some reading on curing of live rock.

Hope this helps.

Mappelbaum37 · 04/25/2008, 01:50 PM

The stringy stuff sort of look like little strands of chaeto. I don't really know why they would be on your rocks though...

Ship of Fools · 04/26/2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by InsaneClownFish

The green strands, depending on the thickness, can either be cheato, or caulerpa racemosa. You don't want either in your display. Cheato is great for a fuge. In my opinion caulerpa racemosa has no place in a reef system. If it goes asexual it will take over your tank. Are there any small "buds" forming on those strands? Does it just pull off the rock, or is the "end" embedded in the rock and a little tough to pull off? If the latter remove it and scrape the area with a mixture of salt and alk buffer.

It is thicker than the Cheato in my Fuge. It is about the thickness of a paper clip. The end seems well attached to the rock.

I did some searching and I am 98% certain that it is not caulerpa racemosa. If I had to guess at it right now, I wouls say cheatomorpha spiralis

I found this pic of cheatomorpha spiralis

Ship of Fools · 04/26/2008, 06:43 AM

There is another one that looks like it as well. In this photo I found it is growing next to the grass-like stuff I have on my rock. This pic is from Chiba University in Japan.

Cheatomorpha crassa -

04/25/2008, 01:50 PM	#4
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	Like dz said, there are all different colors of coralline algae. The purple stuff is purple brush or turf algae. Completely harmless and a great way to naturally reduce nitrates. Some people don't like the look, so you may eventually end up trimming it back if it takes off. The green strands, depending on the thickness, can either be cheato, or caulerpa racemosa. You don't want either in your display. Cheato is great for a fuge. In my opinion caulerpa racemosa has no place in a reef system. If it goes asexual it will take over your tank. Are there any small "buds" forming on those strands? Does it just pull off the rock, or is the "end" embedded in the rock and a little tough to pull off? If the latter remove it and scrape the area with a mixture of salt and alk buffer. The rock is still alive but you don't want to add it directly to an existing system if it has been sitting for any amount of time. There will be dye off that can pollute your system. Do some reading on curing of live rock. Hope this helps. __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

04/25/2008, 01:50 PM	#5
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	The stringy stuff sort of look like little strands of chaeto. I don't really know why they would be on your rocks though... __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

04/25/2008, 01:30 PM	#1
Ship of Fools Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 9	Identification please. ...and some questions I bought some live rock and frankly, I don't know some of the organisms alive on it. Here they are: In this picture - #1 is coralline algae. However, this piece of rock was given to me from a friend and it was stored in a box dry for some time. Is it still alive? #2 has a few Identification questions. What is that green tubular organism? What are the purple grass-like stuff? In the next pic, # 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all coralline algae. The question is does this type of algae start out pink and progress to a deep purple or does it sometimes stay pink? 5. is just another shot of the green tube. Finally, Is the green formation on this rock a bad thing?

04/25/2008, 01:36 PM	#2
dzeadow Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 2,589	I don't know what the plants are, but there are several different colors of coralline algae.. purple, pink red, orange...etc. If it was in a box dry, i'd imagine that the coralline would die off and bleach out for a bit until it regrew. How long has it been in your tank? If it was dry and you just put it in, there will probably be die off from the plant life that's on it, unless it grew out of the rock after you put it in. __________________ - Danny Current Tank Info: Dual 50 Breeder system, 30g custom sump/fuge, MSX200, Tank1-6x24T5 retro, Tank2-4x39T5 retro

04/25/2008, 01:40 PM	#3
Ship of Fools Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 9	I am sorry. The questionable purple coralline algae is on a separate rock which is mostly covered up in this picture by that very live rock.

04/26/2008, 06:43 AM	#7
Ship of Fools Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 9	There is another one that looks like it as well. In this photo I found it is growing next to the grass-like stuff I have on my rock. This pic is from Chiba University in Japan. Cheatomorpha crassa -