Please ID these algae (and thing) for me

Mr31415 · 09/18/2006, 11:39 AM

and

DSMpunk · 09/18/2006, 12:12 PM

1. I think its a bad algae, cotton candy or something of the sort?
2. Hair Algae, definetly bad
3. feather caulerpa, a good refugium algae but I wouldnt keep it in your display tank
4. No clue

Nice pictures btw.

ericwebster · 09/18/2006, 12:18 PM

why are algea bad other than being ugly?

TWallace · 09/18/2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ericwebster
why are algea bad other than being ugly?

It can grow over corals, preventing them from getting light. Especially zoanthids, star polyps and other encrusting types of corals.

The third image is bryopsis, not feather caulerpa I'm pretty sure. I'm battling that and hair algae myself. I've got a new skimmer coming this week and I've recently added some sea hares and lettuce sea slugs and have 5 Mexican turbo snails on the way. My tank always shows 0 phosphate and nitrate, which is frustrating. I've also recently added a phosban reactor to the system.

Mr31415 · 09/18/2006, 12:40 PM

Anyone with ideas what 1 and 4 are? Also, what will eat 1-3?

coralnut99 · 09/18/2006, 12:45 PM

I think the first three are all bryopsis varieties, though the first is pretty cool looking. As has been said, it's not that they are ugly, just invasive, and detrimental to most corals. They are also extremely difficult to eradicate.

I don't have a clue about the last one either, but that one's pretty cool lookin' too.

Are you just inquiring, or do you have all four in your tank?

DSMpunk · 09/18/2006, 01:29 PM

Yeah I was wrong, #3 is definetly bryopsis not caulerpa.

coralnut99 · 09/18/2006, 01:43 PM

There've been lots of threads on bryopsis-munching species. The lettuce nudibranch from most Carribean livestock suppliers has been reported to eat it before it gets to a large stage. I've seen my tangs nip at it, and others have said their's won't even look at at it. The bottom line is that it's a very poor competitor for available nutrients in the water column. If you have a refigium, that's mature and functioning and good quality skimmer, bryopsis eventually loses the battle and dies of its' own accord. Its' presence can be taken as an indicator that water quality needs some attention and falls in the same category as hair algae.

Mr31415 · 09/18/2006, 02:37 PM

Yes I do have all four in my tank. The only measurable thing high in my tank is Phosphates - at 0.09mg/L. I am working to get this lower though.

I have about 4 other kinds of macro algae too...

coralnut99 · 09/18/2006, 02:40 PM

Run a phosban reactor. They do work really well. Just watch your Alk as running Phosban can lower it to some degree.

coralnut99 · 09/18/2006, 02:44 PM

ps you could post that last mystery species in the marine plant & macroalgae forum and see if anyone can ID it. I'd be curious to know what it is.

Mr31415 · 09/18/2006, 02:47 PM

I have had a Phosban reactor in there for the past two months (and still running it). I am not so sure the last one is an algae - it seems more like a kind of invert... It is not that sessile - it can turn left/right.

coralnut99 · 09/18/2006, 02:55 PM

I was going to suggest a worm of some sort. From your description that would sound about right. Wow! no results in 2 months. I noticed you keep macros in your display, but do you also maintain a refugium?

Mr31415 · 09/18/2006, 03:09 PM

Yup... Have added a ball the size of 2 cricket balls to the refugium about 4 weeks ago. It is growing nicely...

09/18/2006, 11:39 AM	#1
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Please ID these algae (and thing) for me and and and

09/18/2006, 12:12 PM	#2
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	1. I think its a bad algae, cotton candy or something of the sort? 2. Hair Algae, definetly bad 3. feather caulerpa, a good refugium algae but I wouldnt keep it in your display tank 4. No clue Nice pictures btw. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

09/18/2006, 12:45 PM	#6
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	I think the first three are all bryopsis varieties, though the first is pretty cool looking. As has been said, it's not that they are ugly, just invasive, and detrimental to most corals. They are also extremely difficult to eradicate. I don't have a clue about the last one either, but that one's pretty cool lookin' too. Are you just inquiring, or do you have all four in your tank? __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

09/18/2006, 01:29 PM	#7
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Yeah I was wrong, #3 is definetly bryopsis not caulerpa. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

09/18/2006, 01:43 PM	#8
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	There've been lots of threads on bryopsis-munching species. The lettuce nudibranch from most Carribean livestock suppliers has been reported to eat it before it gets to a large stage. I've seen my tangs nip at it, and others have said their's won't even look at at it. The bottom line is that it's a very poor competitor for available nutrients in the water column. If you have a refigium, that's mature and functioning and good quality skimmer, bryopsis eventually loses the battle and dies of its' own accord. Its' presence can be taken as an indicator that water quality needs some attention and falls in the same category as hair algae. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

09/18/2006, 12:18 PM	#3
ericwebster Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston MA Posts: 375	why are algea bad other than being ugly? __________________ "Nobody tried to sell me the most used piece of equipment I own .. my mop." 72G Tank LTA, Pulsing Xenia, Blue Tang, Mated Maroons, 2 Damsels, Neon Goby, Watchman Goby, Algae Blenny, Peppermint Shrimp (3), CBS (1), Cleaner Shrimp Current Tank Info: 100G bow front corner. Yellow Tank, Coral Beauty, Clownfish, some SPS, LPS and Soft Corals

09/18/2006, 12:40 PM	#5
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Anyone with ideas what 1 and 4 are? Also, what will eat 1-3?

09/18/2006, 02:37 PM	#9
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Yes I do have all four in my tank. The only measurable thing high in my tank is Phosphates - at 0.09mg/L. I am working to get this lower though. I have about 4 other kinds of macro algae too...

09/18/2006, 02:40 PM	#10
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	Run a phosban reactor. They do work really well. Just watch your Alk as running Phosban can lower it to some degree. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

09/18/2006, 02:44 PM	#11
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	ps you could post that last mystery species in the marine plant & macroalgae forum and see if anyone can ID it. I'd be curious to know what it is. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

09/18/2006, 02:47 PM	#12
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	I have had a Phosban reactor in there for the past two months (and still running it). I am not so sure the last one is an algae - it seems more like a kind of invert... It is not that sessile - it can turn left/right.

09/18/2006, 02:55 PM	#13
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	I was going to suggest a worm of some sort. From your description that would sound about right. Wow! no results in 2 months. I noticed you keep macros in your display, but do you also maintain a refugium? __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

09/18/2006, 03:09 PM	#14
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Yup... Have added a ball the size of 2 cricket balls to the refugium about 4 weeks ago. It is growing nicely...