giant bubble algae pic

[cal3v]

Hi all, here's a piece of bubble algae I found in my tank. Its a bit larger than xxl egg-size. Anybody have bubble algae or seen them larger? Just wondering .

 

[Aluapaula]

WoW!!!! Thats HUGE!!! I have *never* seen one that big!! Some of them in my tank look like green noodles creeping along the rock, but I have never seen one like that!

Can you imagine.... that is a *single* cell! (right?)

 

[cal3v]

yep, algaes are awesome. Some people make too much of a hassle to get rid of all of them, I say we need to have a mixed variety of corals, and algae as well, not a super clean tank. I am gonna hold onto this guym hopefully it doesn't pop or something lol.

 

[The Lance]

My brother-in-law pulled one out of his tank that was just a bit smaller than that. We toosed it around his fish room and since it wouldn't break he teed it up and it blew up against his driver. Stuff like that always helps get any reef stress out.

 

[Leviathan]

Never had any that large myself, but have seen close to that size in other peoples tanks from time to time. Great pic

 

[BlAcK_PeRcUlA]

THAT'S AMAZING

Last year in eigth grade i learned something like cells can't get huge because as they get bigger the surface area doesn't grow as much as the inside so they can't get enough stuff in and an enough crap out or something. I see that this cell has overcome those obstacles.

 

[KORE(67)]

Not to sidetrack this forum, but the aglae bubble isnt a single cell David, But made up of many cells, so it is growing bigger as the cells divide and increase in numbers, so it hasn't overcome the obstacles....

 

[horge]

Hi, K_N_G

Actually, that being Ventricaria ventricosa,
it is a single cell (though multinucleate).

Of the more common green 'bubble algae',
all Valonia and Boergesenia are similarly so.

Many others are decidedly multicellular, along the lines that you are describing

Regardless, it is a good photo and a good (unencrusted) specimen.

Cal,
Can I use that photo for an online algal database I am setting up?
(I would need your name, so I can mark the credit on the photo.)
I might also have to fiddle with contrast and color saturation a wee bit.
If you allow me, and want the photo to be a clickable link to your website, let me know.




horge

 

[cal3v]

Hi Horge, sure you can use the pic. I don't have a website, just uploaded from the pic so you can use the one directly. Thanks for the cool info. What does multinucleate mean in regards to the cell? Will PM my name etc.

 

[KORE(67)]

sorry bout the mistake, u learn something new everyday....hehe.....

 

[johnrags1234]

Thats crazy! Did you call the guinness book of world records yet?

 

[cal3v]

Lol not yet, but I did leave it in the tank and a few weeks ago it burst. Watch now I am going to have like 20 of those that size.

 

[billsreef]

The typical cell that's given as an example in most general biology classes has a single nucleus, essential the "brains" of the cell. In the case of a multinucleate cell, such as bubble algae, the cell actually has several nucleus's to run things.

 

[cal3v]

Thanks for the info Bill. Do these algaes have an extra thick/special cell wall to them?

 

[KORE(67)]

Hmmm....i beta go study my biology book a bit more......hehe......