ID this marco algae please (pics)

heller792 · 07/31/2008, 12:17 AM

hi, can someone please ID this macro algae. I want to know if it should stay or go. I dont want it becoming a pest weed.

BuddhaKiss · 07/31/2008, 02:06 AM

I have the same algae in my sump and its been growing pretty good. The guy at the LFS said its a type of caulerpra.

landlord · 07/31/2008, 04:49 AM

Without any fish to keep that in check it will indeed grow like a weed. At least in most aquariums it does. Tangs, dwarf angels, emerald crabs and many others are known to feed on it. I personally used a yellow tang and a bicolor angel to completely remove it from 180 lbs of liverock that I slow transfered from my old planted marine tank to my reef.

discocarp · 07/31/2008, 05:21 AM

Definitely caulerpa. Possibly caulerpa serrulata.

heller792 · 07/31/2008, 08:29 AM

do I leave it or take it out guys? the only herbivore I have is a mythric crab and he seems happy enough scraping algae from the rocks

discocarp · 07/31/2008, 08:31 AM

Take it out. Belongs in a refugium or nowhere IMO. Can be a nightmare once established if you don't have a tang or something to eat it.

heller792 · 07/31/2008, 10:10 AM

cheers, will take it of the rock tonight

discocarp · 07/31/2008, 10:21 AM

You will probably need to use tweezers. Get all the footholds or it will come back. Good luck!

SWaquariast · 07/31/2008, 12:15 PM

It looks like kelp to me.

BuddhaKiss · 07/31/2008, 03:02 PM

I keep it in my sump with some Chaeto. Some strands do get sucked up into my display but haven't seen any outbreaks...and I don't have any herbivores either...guess I'm just lucky.

07/31/2008, 12:17 AM	#1
heller792 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: wigan Posts: 652	ID this marco algae please (pics) hi, can someone please ID this macro algae. I want to know if it should stay or go. I dont want it becoming a pest weed.

07/31/2008, 04:49 AM	#3
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	Without any fish to keep that in check it will indeed grow like a weed. At least in most aquariums it does. Tangs, dwarf angels, emerald crabs and many others are known to feed on it. I personally used a yellow tang and a bicolor angel to completely remove it from 180 lbs of liverock that I slow transfered from my old planted marine tank to my reef. __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

07/31/2008, 12:15 PM	#9
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	It looks like kelp to me. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/31/2008, 02:06 AM	#2
BuddhaKiss Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,068	I have the same algae in my sump and its been growing pretty good. The guy at the LFS said its a type of caulerpra.

07/31/2008, 05:21 AM	#4
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	Definitely caulerpa. Possibly caulerpa serrulata.

07/31/2008, 08:29 AM	#5
heller792 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: wigan Posts: 652	do I leave it or take it out guys? the only herbivore I have is a mythric crab and he seems happy enough scraping algae from the rocks

07/31/2008, 08:31 AM	#6
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	Take it out. Belongs in a refugium or nowhere IMO. Can be a nightmare once established if you don't have a tang or something to eat it.

07/31/2008, 10:10 AM	#7
heller792 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: wigan Posts: 652	cheers, will take it of the rock tonight

07/31/2008, 10:21 AM	#8
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	You will probably need to use tweezers. Get all the footholds or it will come back. Good luck!

07/31/2008, 03:02 PM	#10
BuddhaKiss Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,068	I keep it in my sump with some Chaeto. Some strands do get sucked up into my display but haven't seen any outbreaks...and I don't have any herbivores either...guess I'm just lucky.