Botryocladia... red grape marcoalgae question

[yellowfish]

does anyone have any info on this type of red algae? I think it is pretty. I had some given to me that I put in my display tank in a corner that doesn't touch any of my live rock. My tangs have started to nip at it. I noticed some of the algae break lose. Can it spread throughout the tank because of this?

I thought it would be nice for the tangs to have something to eat when I travel, but I was wondering if there are any negatives to have this type of algae and what the positives are...

Any info at all will be appreciated. I have a small quantity on a rock.

 

[yellowfish]

Does it spread easily, even if it is not touching the main rocks. Could it spread by a red grape getting lose and floating to another rock?

 

[tammysalt]

I am not sure if it is like grape caulerpa and spreads rapidly. Do you have a pic you can post?

 

[yellowfish]

It looks like caulerpa but is a reddish color. I have read it is an entirely different algae,although looking the same. I have also read it is rare, so it is hard to find info.

oh well, kind of looks like they are going to eat it all up anyway.

 

[tammysalt]

It must be rare because no one has any replies here. At least your fish are eating a delicacy then. 2 reef tanks, cool

Tammy

 

[Jack G]

I've had some in the past. It tends to grow much slower than grape caulerpa, in my hands anyway.

 

[yellowfish]

They ate all the little grapes. I wonder if they will grow back or if the plant will die now? The red branches remain.

 

[bluenassarius]

it will grow back. the grape bulbs can come off the stem. the bulbs don't create more of the macro tho. if you have the stem it will grow back. hth

 

[yellowfish]

oh wow, thanks, so then it won't spread around tank, sounds good.

 

[BrokkenTWolf]

From what I've read it's not related to caulerpa - as you point out. And it grows slower than caulerpa. It shouldn't be nearly as problematic either.

 

[vapester]

..i ordered some of that awhile back from gulf-coast eco. Maybe it wasn't too healthy when I got it, but it all died off pretty quickly. Fell apart in a couple days.