Blue alien algae.. ID?

[carriej]

Anyone know what the heck this is? It has been growing on this rock for awhile... And it didn't seem to be spreading; but I guess it's like aquarium herpes because tonight I noticed it growing on a powerhead and in some rocks...

What is it?

It's blue in color.

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[alexander_ktn]

It's Dictyota. Not good to have if you have SPS because every little piece that gets lodged in a colony will grow and thus smother the corals...

 

[carriej]

Ok. Gone to remove every piece I can find. Manual removal enough to get it out?

 

[alexander_ktn]

Only if you catch every piece of it...

Still, good luck!

 

[carriej]

Hmm that does not sound promising.

It has grown very very slowly - I thought it was a bit interesting and let it grow (my bad, obviously). My tang has shown zero interesting in munching on it either.

 

[alexander_ktn]

The problem is that the leaves are very loose once the algae has reached some size and the stuff drifts around the tank... Afaik blue lined rabbit fish (Siganus doliatus, Siganus virgatus) are among the few fish that eat it if you want to go that road.

 

[carriej]

I thought about a rabbit but I have so much money invested in corals I would become a bit upset if it decided to sample the other flora in the tank.

Let's hope it doesn't come back.

 

[gnu]

if the rock is easy to remove, a peroxide dip will get rid of it.

 

[carriej]

I removed the rock; however it seems to have spread worse than the herp. I see little blue sparkles all over my tank...

F

 

[tektite]

Yeah, Dictyota is a tough one. Very few things eat it! If you can't remove the rocks, try turning off all circulation pumps, then scrub the rocks hard with a toothbrush while siphoning the area to get all pieces of the algae. If even a tiny piece gets away, it can begin growing again. If you have a sump, stick a filter sock in it and put the end of the siphon tube in that. That way you can keep siphoning forever, no water change required.

 

[sjwitt]

FWIW, Siganus virgatus will not bother your corals.

 

[mistfall]

I know how to get rid of it! GIVE IT TO MEEEEE!

I think it's beautiful!!!!!

Seriously, dude... Can I have some??

 

[tektite]

You do not want this algae, unless you are ok with it growing on everything, rocks, powerheads, corals. If you don't manually trim it very frequently it easily clogs up powerheads and can kill off corals. It can look cool with its blue iridescence, but its not worth the downsides. There are other iridescent blue macros that are even more beautiful and are not invasive at all.

 

[mistfall]

Thanks, tektite -- good to know it.

I've only heard of Chondria coerulescens, and looked for it to no avail; do you happen to know what some of the others are? My macro algae tank really needs some!

 

[tektite]

Codium lucasii, and iridescent blue padina both have royal blue iridescence. Lareefs occasionally has the padina for sale.

 

[radiata]

FWIW, Siganus virgatus will not bother your corals.

I'd try the Rabbitfish if I were you. Many years ago I had one that that liked to munch on my mushrooms (first the purple-blue, then the green-striped). But, I never saw it bothering any other corals.

 

[carriej]

I've almost got it beat. Do not be entranced by its glittery ways. It is algae from hell.

I basically cooked it. Boiling water in a syringe... Turned green/brown then my tang and cuc decided it was good enough to eat.

However that doesn't solve te stuff in my overflow. I'm scared to shoot boiling water at te acrylic overflow and break it.

 

[Don Quixote]

I've almost got it beat. Do not be entranced by its glittery ways. It is algae from hell.

I basically cooked it. Boiling water in a syringe... Turned green/brown then my tang and cuc decided it was good enough to eat.

However that doesn't solve te stuff in my overflow. I'm scared to shoot boiling water at te acrylic overflow and break it.

Try soaking infected pieces with 35% peroxide or dose a diluted ammount directly into the water column, the second method not being reccommended and more of a last resort.