Micro? Macro algae ID - Red Bushy stuff

TXLewis · 09/27/2005, 12:22 PM

Any ideas what this stuff is? This stuff also seems to grow pretty fast. It's also easily removable. It's fairly dense and sort of tears away from the substrate - not at all like a hair algae. But it's very fine. Haven't noticed the Sailfin nibbling on this stuff.

Samala · 09/27/2005, 04:09 PM

Interesting specimen.. is it under lots of actinics? I was just wondering what color this stuff looks to be out of water. And, is it always so fluffy looking, or this just a less-clear shot of it? Without a closeup of the branch forms it'll be really hard to nail an ID down farther than a red algae.. but you already knew that part.

So.. from my books.. its interesting, because it has the color of Ochtodes, but doesnt seem to have its shape. Some fluffy macro possibilities include those in the Heterosiphonia or Callithamnion genuses. I think its gorgeous!

>Sarah

jmanrow · 09/27/2005, 09:17 PM

It may possibly be Asparagopsis taxiformis.
I dealt with it a couple of years ago. It was tougher than cyano, and grew nearly as fast. Water changes(R.O. water) and physically removing all that I saw in the tank cleared it up in a few weeks.

http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm

http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss2003_issue3.pdf

TXLewis · 09/28/2005, 06:56 AM

Could be a good call. I checked the two articles and the pictures look similar. To answer the other question, here is a color-corrected out-of-water picture under a flash. It is more red than how it looks in the in-tank picture. For sizing, this little strand is about 33 mm long. If you can see them there are little hairs off of the branches. Each "hair" is about 1mm long.

This stuff isn't "taking over" the tank, it is sort of pretty and it is easy to remove. I may prune it back for fear of it out-competing desirable algaes for nutrients. But otherwise, this isn't a problem for me. Heck - it could prove a good nutrient export vehicle.

I have seen some that is much pinker and much finer - much more like a "red hair algae" on the base of a coral. Both types are always this "fluffy".

kevin_mic · 09/28/2005, 09:52 AM

HURRAY, FINALLY A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I have been fighting this problem for over a year now and have had NO success. The only I could do to keep it in check is to run phosguard full time.

My recommendation to you is, if you like it, and you want to keep liking it, buy one or two of those snails now to keep it in check. If you don't, and it starts to spread like crazy like in my tank, you will regret it.

BradL. · 09/28/2005, 10:04 PM

I have the more cottony red algae. It started in my fuge for several months, than I put a couple turbos in there. They ate the stuff like cotton candy.Problem is,not to long after that it showed up in the display.Is there no way to eradicate this stuff?

TXLewis · 09/29/2005, 07:56 AM

Two problems with Turbos. First, frequently what is sold as a "turbo snail" is a Mexican species. Cold water - won't do well in my 81 deg. tank. Second, turbos are big bulldozers.

BradL. · 10/03/2005, 04:27 PM

It turbos or red algae.Ill take turbos

09/27/2005, 12:22 PM	#1
TXLewis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 113	Micro? Macro algae ID - Red Bushy stuff Any ideas what this stuff is? This stuff also seems to grow pretty fast. It's also easily removable. It's fairly dense and sort of tears away from the substrate - not at all like a hair algae. But it's very fine. Haven't noticed the Sailfin nibbling on this stuff. __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. -Unknown Current Tank Info: 220g in-wall reef (400g total water)

09/27/2005, 04:09 PM	#2
Samala Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,930	Interesting specimen.. is it under lots of actinics? I was just wondering what color this stuff looks to be out of water. And, is it always so fluffy looking, or this just a less-clear shot of it? Without a closeup of the branch forms it'll be really hard to nail an ID down farther than a red algae.. but you already knew that part. So.. from my books.. its interesting, because it has the color of Ochtodes, but doesnt seem to have its shape. Some fluffy macro possibilities include those in the Heterosiphonia or Callithamnion genuses. I think its gorgeous! >Sarah __________________ "Seaweed is cool, seaweed is fun, it makes its food from the rays of the sun!"

09/28/2005, 06:56 AM	#4
TXLewis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 113	Could be a good call. I checked the two articles and the pictures look similar. To answer the other question, here is a color-corrected out-of-water picture under a flash. It is more red than how it looks in the in-tank picture. For sizing, this little strand is about 33 mm long. If you can see them there are little hairs off of the branches. Each "hair" is about 1mm long. This stuff isn't "taking over" the tank, it is sort of pretty and it is easy to remove. I may prune it back for fear of it out-competing desirable algaes for nutrients. But otherwise, this isn't a problem for me. Heck - it could prove a good nutrient export vehicle. I have seen some that is much pinker and much finer - much more like a "red hair algae" on the base of a coral. Both types are always this "fluffy". __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. -Unknown Current Tank Info: 220g in-wall reef (400g total water)

09/28/2005, 10:04 PM	#6
BradL. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 991	I have the more cottony red algae. It started in my fuge for several months, than I put a couple turbos in there. They ate the stuff like cotton candy.Problem is,not to long after that it showed up in the display.Is there no way to eradicate this stuff? __________________ Put the most exotic creatures in the world in their rightful place---your living room.

09/29/2005, 07:56 AM	#7
TXLewis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 113	Two problems with Turbos. First, frequently what is sold as a "turbo snail" is a Mexican species. Cold water - won't do well in my 81 deg. tank. Second, turbos are big bulldozers. __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. -Unknown Current Tank Info: 220g in-wall reef (400g total water)

09/27/2005, 09:17 PM	#3
jmanrow Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tigard, Oregon Posts: 83	It may possibly be Asparagopsis taxiformis. I dealt with it a couple of years ago. It was tougher than cyano, and grew nearly as fast. Water changes(R.O. water) and physically removing all that I saw in the tank cleared it up in a few weeks. http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss2003_issue3.pdf

09/28/2005, 09:52 AM	#5
kevin_mic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 116	HURRAY, FINALLY A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I have been fighting this problem for over a year now and have had NO success. The only I could do to keep it in check is to run phosguard full time. My recommendation to you is, if you like it, and you want to keep liking it, buy one or two of those snails now to keep it in check. If you don't, and it starts to spread like crazy like in my tank, you will regret it.

10/03/2005, 04:27 PM	#8
BradL. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 991	It turbos or red algae.Ill take turbos __________________ Put the most exotic creatures in the world in their rightful place---your living room.