Any one know what this is?

[1602reefer]

Hey I have this one weird hitchhiker on one of my live rocks. It started out about the size of a dime and now it is as big as the picture attached and its pretty strong to because when I was scrubbing that rock of green hair I hit that thing a few times and it didn't rip at all. Sponge maybe? I have no idea what it is.

 

[kraze3]

Is it soft on wavy in the water or harder?

 

[1602reefer]

It's soft and wavy. It looks like a underwater leaf.

 

[birdz]

fotofix

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

It's a fuzzy picture of something red. Does it have a mouth on it? That looks like an Australian favia on the right.... beautiful.

 

[acrodave]

its somekind of kelp

 

[1602reefer]

Yeah sister, I know what you mean about fuzzy, I had to lower the quality cause of that damn 50kb limit. No there is no mouth but it grows in a spiral pattern. I'm not sure what type of brain it is but when i saw it at my lfs I had to get it especially since it was priced at $40. I guess a frogspawn fell on it over night and damaged it other wise it would have been priced a lot higher. You think its an Australian Favia?

 

[waxy]

It's a macro algea!

 

[1602reefer]

Well if its a macro algae or or a kelp, should I just leave it alone or take it out?

 

[reefscape15]

if left alone without algae eating fish in your tank, it will take over. Although beautiful it can turn into a problem

 

[1602reefer]

Well I have a scopas tang and he just ignores it. He mainly goes after the green algae and the kelp I leave on a clip. What else would eat it? I would say fox face but I think it would get to big for my tank.

 

[reefscape15]

A Scopas will end up too big for your tank, and can reach up to 15" so a Fox Face would be a better choice for longevity. Having said that, i'll have to admit that i'm a completely hipocratic, because i also have a Scopas in a 54gal corner bowft. I am having a hard time getting mine to eat! Any suggestions?

 

[Kenmx10]

Id leave it alone and watch it for a while. It looks pretty cool.

 

[1602reefer]

That's funny I've heard they don't get too big... I bought this dried green seaweed from my lfs with garlic already in it. It's called Ocean Nutrition but you have to buy a clip for like $5. He destroys a two inch piece by himself in a day. He loves it and he looks a lot healthier.

 

[Aquarist007]

Its macro algae and in any case it is growing on phosphates and nitrates in your system. So let it grow for awhile. You can always trim it if it gets too big.

 

[Tylt33]

A red macro algae, maybe Titan Algae. If it grows slow, leave it, it will probably be pretty. If it starts popping up everywhere and taking over your tank... we gave you bad advice