Pink Algae - please identify!!

Subw00er · 01/16/2012, 12:37 AM

Help! I think this stuff is spreading all over the tank. I bought a situated tank, but I fear in the move, I may have stirred up something bad. In the last week I've started seeing this pink algae appearing in patches? The biggest patch is about a nickle size now, and it seems to grow in shaded areas. Its quite pink in color with sort of holes in it and it appears to be gelatinous in texture, although I haven't touched it.

Its top center here:

Its enveloping my grape macro here:

How do I get rid of this? I have a small clean up crew of nassarius and small cone type snails (not sure of their name) and a couple hermits. Maybe its time for more?! Thanks!

ReeferHead84 · 01/16/2012, 12:56 AM

Looks like Coralline algae.

Subw00er · 01/16/2012, 01:30 AM

It has some height to it.. the darker purple stuff I have all over the coral is coraline right? Here is a better pic of it:

Is this more pinkish stuff just an early stage of coraline growth?! Is it perhaps a sponge? My biggest fear is that its a nuisance algae, because its sort of appearing everywhere in the tank.

phillyfishguy · 01/16/2012, 06:23 AM

Its coraline algea and it grows in shaded areas in my tank also.

Subw00er · 01/16/2012, 07:39 AM

I guess I didn't think this new stuff was coralline because it wasn't flat to the rock and it's very light pink, almost translucent (first pic above).

firsttimereefer · 01/16/2012, 07:52 AM

It looks like a sponge. Is it soft to the touch or hard

Saltydrip · 01/16/2012, 10:56 AM

The first pic doesn't look like coraline to me.

lokii_37 · 01/16/2012, 11:10 AM

To me it looks like a sponge. I don't know if it's good or bad

tebstan · 01/16/2012, 11:25 AM

It's sponge!

My favorite kind. If it grows around your prize specimens just rip it out, its not invasive. I have it growing all over some zoas - it's really cool to see. The zoas dont mind it because their heads grow up around it, and the sponge grows tubes out for feeding. It's been like that for years, no harm to the zoas, in fact they're spreading. I'm sure the sponge is just opportunistic, its a good spot for flow.

from the side:

from above:

Subw00er · 01/16/2012, 01:55 PM

OH THANK GOD! I thought I was in for it.. this stuff appeared and is growing all over! I did change flow and lighting a lot - the last owner had a lot of macro in his tank so I assume it blocked a lot of light. The salt was also a bit low, so thats really the only change I did.

I havent touched it yet. I've made it a habit to not go touching things that I dont know since I learned what my bristle worms can do.

But it certainly looks like it would be squishy.

Thanks so much for the replies, I feel so much better. This is a scary hobby!

Subw00er · 01/17/2012, 01:55 PM

So I felt it.. it feels sort of slippery. Its not as high as I thought it was.. but I'm pretty sure its just a sponge. I noticed one other nickel sized one in my filter yesterday. Thanks for all of the replies!

Teddynola · 01/17/2012, 06:34 PM

Hi Subw00er, I have a pink sponge, quite similar to yours and I was so excited to see it growing. My only concern is the grape caluerpa in your tank. Unless you have a fish that will eat it, it will root in your tank and take over. I intentionally place it in my tank because my One Spot Foxface goes crazy for it. Good luck!

heckfire · 01/17/2012, 06:38 PM

not scary at all, i dont understand the need to kill everything that doesnt fit into our concept of a healthy reef system

Subw00er · 01/27/2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tebstan

It's sponge!

My favorite kind. If it grows around your prize specimens just rip it out, its not invasive. I have it growing all over some zoas - it's really cool to see. The zoas dont mind it because their heads grow up around it, and the sponge grows tubes out for feeding. It's been like that for years, no harm to the zoas, in fact they're spreading. I'm sure the sponge is just opportunistic, its a good spot for flow.

from the side:

from above:

hey, you're right. The sponges are spreading on the underside of exposed rocks, and they started growing translucent mouths out of the center of them! You have to look really close to see them, and they sort of pulse in and out. Very neat!

Anyone know the formal name of these sponges? I think its Aplysilla rosea

Here is a youtube vid of the mouthy things mine developed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSyC8yG3I0E

01/16/2012, 12:37 AM	#1
Subw00er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 460	Pink Algae - please identify!! Help! I think this stuff is spreading all over the tank. I bought a situated tank, but I fear in the move, I may have stirred up something bad. In the last week I've started seeing this pink algae appearing in patches? The biggest patch is about a nickle size now, and it seems to grow in shaded areas. Its quite pink in color with sort of holes in it and it appears to be gelatinous in texture, although I haven't touched it. Its top center here: Its enveloping my grape macro here: How do I get rid of this? I have a small clean up crew of nassarius and small cone type snails (not sure of their name) and a couple hermits. Maybe its time for more?! Thanks!

01/16/2012, 10:56 AM	#7
Saltydrip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,826	The first pic doesn't look like coraline to me. __________________ Current tank 48" 75g DT w/ 55g sump/fuge.

01/16/2012, 11:10 AM	#8
lokii_37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Santa Rosa Posts: 1,270	To me it looks like a sponge. I don't know if it's good or bad __________________ Mostly SPS 90G DT with 50G sump, SRO2000 INT, DIY LED T5 hybrid

01/16/2012, 11:25 AM	#9
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	It's sponge! My favorite kind. If it grows around your prize specimens just rip it out, its not invasive. I have it growing all over some zoas - it's really cool to see. The zoas dont mind it because their heads grow up around it, and the sponge grows tubes out for feeding. It's been like that for years, no harm to the zoas, in fact they're spreading. I'm sure the sponge is just opportunistic, its a good spot for flow. from the side: from above: __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

01/17/2012, 06:34 PM	#12
Teddynola pod wrangler Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 301	Hi Subw00er, I have a pink sponge, quite similar to yours and I was so excited to see it growing. My only concern is the grape caluerpa in your tank. Unless you have a fish that will eat it, it will root in your tank and take over. I intentionally place it in my tank because my One Spot Foxface goes crazy for it. Good luck! __________________ 75g Oceanic RR mixed reef in progress, 40b sump. Current Tank Info: Black occ pair, lawnmower blenny, scooter dragonette, yellow tang, male and female green mandarin, one spot foxface, flame hawkfish, fire shrimp, harlequin shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, harlequin starfish, with softies, sps, lps.

01/16/2012, 12:56 AM	#2
ReeferHead84 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Solano County Posts: 61	Looks like Coralline algae.

01/16/2012, 01:30 AM	#3
Subw00er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 460	It has some height to it.. the darker purple stuff I have all over the coral is coraline right? Here is a better pic of it: Is this more pinkish stuff just an early stage of coraline growth?! Is it perhaps a sponge? My biggest fear is that its a nuisance algae, because its sort of appearing everywhere in the tank.

01/16/2012, 06:23 AM	#4
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	Its coraline algea and it grows in shaded areas in my tank also.

01/16/2012, 07:39 AM	#5
Subw00er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 460	I guess I didn't think this new stuff was coralline because it wasn't flat to the rock and it's very light pink, almost translucent (first pic above).

01/16/2012, 07:52 AM	#6
firsttimereefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 122	It looks like a sponge. Is it soft to the touch or hard

01/16/2012, 01:55 PM	#10
Subw00er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 460	OH THANK GOD! I thought I was in for it.. this stuff appeared and is growing all over! I did change flow and lighting a lot - the last owner had a lot of macro in his tank so I assume it blocked a lot of light. The salt was also a bit low, so thats really the only change I did. I havent touched it yet. I've made it a habit to not go touching things that I dont know since I learned what my bristle worms can do. But it certainly looks like it would be squishy. Thanks so much for the replies, I feel so much better. This is a scary hobby!

01/17/2012, 01:55 PM	#11
Subw00er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 460	So I felt it.. it feels sort of slippery. Its not as high as I thought it was.. but I'm pretty sure its just a sponge. I noticed one other nickel sized one in my filter yesterday. Thanks for all of the replies!

01/17/2012, 06:38 PM	#13
heckfire Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 331	not scary at all, i dont understand the need to kill everything that doesnt fit into our concept of a healthy reef system