4 kinds of algae on my LR - Good or Bad?

[Melnick]

I put in some live rock a couple of weeks ago and there are several types of macro algae growing on it. So far I like how it looks but since I am planning on stocking up with corals I don't want anything in there that will take over the tank. I have tried to look them up on the forum and on websites but have not had much luck.

Anybody want to give me a simple "good" (it will look nice and not take over the tank) or "bad" (pull it out now!) for the pics below?


#1

#2

#3 - This stuff is really thick and looks cool

#4 - looks more purple than the pic shows, also very cool

THANKS!

 

[Mariner]

Well, I'm not sure about any of them really...pics aren't that clear. I'll guess, and then you can do a google image search and see if some of the pics match what you've got, ok?
I'd say #2 is padina (scroll algae) -- is it kind of hard and brittle?
If that's it, it is fine. It'll absorb some calcium, but probably disappear as the tank matures.
#3 Looks like a variation of Valonia (bubble alagae) which can be quite a nuisance. Are the stems kind of fluid filled? If so, try not to puncture or squeeze them when removing -- the fluid contains spores that spread the aglae.
#1 and #4 could both be some kind of dictyota, which is not good.
HTH,
Mariner

 

[Melnick]

Thanks for the reply. Your right, the pics could be better but I am using a camcorder to take them.

#2 is not brittle, sort of flexible like a leaf. It does seem to be growing the fastest.

Think #3 could be bubble algae, huh? It does not seem to have the bubble type look I have seen in pics of bubble algae but I am sure there are several variations. I will keep an eye on it.

I looked up dictyota and I think you are right. Funny, some people try to cultivate it in their tanks. I do have quite a lot of it and from what little I have read so far it is very difficult to get rid of.

I am set up for a fuge in my sump but just have not gotten around to starting it up (tank is only 3 weeks old). Any chance of starving out the dictyota or bubble algae with a fuge lit 24/7?

 

[bluenassarius]

hello there,

if you are looking to keep a macro tank thats great. if your going to keep a mixed tank (macro/coral) those algaes you have pictured will cover your live rock w/o regular pruning.

the last photo you have looks like the ochtodes very desired algae. might want to keep a piece of that inyour fuge. personally i'd chuck the others.. dictyota will grow EVERYWHERE if it isn't taken care of... glass, pumps, overflow, anything it can root itself into.

 

[Elite]

The last one look very nice... Ain't you have some before bluenassarius??

 

[bluenassarius]

i got a frag of it recently. the piece i got had bryopsis growing on it. it was pruned regularly, so when the algae started growing... so did the bryopsis. out went that piece of algae!