Please help me identify this green bubbly blob.

tizmylife · 05/10/2009, 06:26 PM

These green bubbly blobs, about 1/4 tall and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter appeared on a piece of live rock in my tank a few months ago. It has spread all over the one piece of rock. Can anyone help me idetify it and more importantly, tell me if it is an invasive something I should eliminate from my reef tank while I still can! Thanks, Bob

THE ROOK · 05/10/2009, 06:54 PM

I'm no algae expert but "bubble algae" is the first thing that comes to mind. As you can see it could eventually take over.

I would remove the rock & scrub clean & rinse in some old saltwater. You don't want to try that in the tank because I believe popping the bubbles causes it to spread rapidly.

tizmylife · 05/10/2009, 07:42 PM

Thanks for your reply. It is a bubble algae, i found an article online with a photo and this is it:

Bornetella sphaerica forms single, grape-like, multicellular bladders sporting a hexagonal array of lighter blotches across the sturdy surface. These markings correspond to the ends of interior filaments radiating from a vertical spine-like axis within the vesicle. The vesicle itself grows to just over 1/3 of an inch in diameter. The internal framework of filaments, which lends the alga a surprising resilience, forms as the vesicle approaches sexual maturity -not surprising since the filaments bear spore-bearing structures. The species is found in the Western Pacific, from Japan down south to the Philippines, and eastward to Hawaii and Fiji. Two other species of Bornetella, B. nitida and B. oligospora, form singular, elongated vesicles up to two inches long and 1/5 inch thick. Mature bladders again feature the internal axis that radiates filaments out to a lightly calcified bladder wall. These two algae are chiefly distinguished from one another by an internal characteristic: the number of sexual structures on the tiny internal filaments. They can be confused at first glance with Merman's Finger algae (Neomeris spp.) and are found in the Western Pacific, from Japan to as far south as Australia, and as far East as Fiji.

I have removed the piece of live rock, I could not get in all of the deep crevaces to remove all of the bubble algae, now the rock in in a bucket of bleach. A few weeks in the sun after coming out of the bucket and it will be ready for reseeding.

Thanks!!!

THE ROOK · 05/10/2009, 07:57 PM

No problem. Glad to hear you caught it before spreading.

05/10/2009, 06:26 PM	#1
tizmylife Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 13	Please help me identify this green bubbly blob. These green bubbly blobs, about 1/4 tall and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter appeared on a piece of live rock in my tank a few months ago. It has spread all over the one piece of rock. Can anyone help me idetify it and more importantly, tell me if it is an invasive something I should eliminate from my reef tank while I still can! Thanks, Bob

05/10/2009, 07:42 PM	#3
tizmylife Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 13	Sure enough, it is a bubble algae! Thanks for your reply. It is a bubble algae, i found an article online with a photo and this is it: Bornetella sphaerica forms single, grape-like, multicellular bladders sporting a hexagonal array of lighter blotches across the sturdy surface. These markings correspond to the ends of interior filaments radiating from a vertical spine-like axis within the vesicle. The vesicle itself grows to just over 1/3 of an inch in diameter. The internal framework of filaments, which lends the alga a surprising resilience, forms as the vesicle approaches sexual maturity -not surprising since the filaments bear spore-bearing structures. The species is found in the Western Pacific, from Japan down south to the Philippines, and eastward to Hawaii and Fiji. Two other species of Bornetella, B. nitida and B. oligospora, form singular, elongated vesicles up to two inches long and 1/5 inch thick. Mature bladders again feature the internal axis that radiates filaments out to a lightly calcified bladder wall. These two algae are chiefly distinguished from one another by an internal characteristic: the number of sexual structures on the tiny internal filaments. They can be confused at first glance with Merman's Finger algae (Neomeris spp.) and are found in the Western Pacific, from Japan to as far south as Australia, and as far East as Fiji. I have removed the piece of live rock, I could not get in all of the deep crevaces to remove all of the bubble algae, now the rock in in a bucket of bleach. A few weeks in the sun after coming out of the bucket and it will be ready for reseeding. Thanks!!!

05/10/2009, 06:54 PM	#2
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	I'm no algae expert but "bubble algae" is the first thing that comes to mind. As you can see it could eventually take over. I would remove the rock & scrub clean & rinse in some old saltwater. You don't want to try that in the tank because I believe popping the bubbles causes it to spread rapidly.

05/10/2009, 07:57 PM	#4
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	No problem. Glad to hear you caught it before spreading.