Help with Red Algae ID

[Stasisgate]

I noticed this algae blooming in in my reef tank and have no idea how to get rid of it. It just started showing up a few months ago and it's pretty persistent even after scrubbing and rinsing the rocks that it grows on. Oh, and now it's migrated to one of my powerheads as you can see.
I've tried to take a good enough picture and this is the best I can do with my current camera. Any ideas what this could be?

 

[Phycophila]

What does it feel like - slimy or more firm? That red looks more like tunicates to me. Are they roundish with an opening on each "ball"?

 

[Stasisgate]

I know the tunicates and these are definitely not tunicates. I have lots of green ones on and under some of the live rock. Tunicates are my friends :lmao:

Under the water the algae feels slimy but when it's out of the water it feels sort of spongy. When the algae gets bigger it grows into tufts of red flower-like algae. I'll see if I can take another pic of the algae tomorrow.

 

[Stasisgate]

Here are some new pics that I took tonight.

 

[Stasisgate]

So I got down into the tank to take this pic. (Don't know why I didn't think of it before?) :wildone:

It's much better than before and you can see especially in the center of the tuft how the algae produces flower-like growths. They are pretty to look at but pretty annoying as they're growing on some of the stony corals, causing them to die back.

 

[Phycophila]

Sorry for the delay! In-water pictures are always good

Are the blades straplike (flat), or are they thicker and more gelatinous? I can't tell from the pictures if the blades are just twisted or constricted (pinched at some points that separate more swollen segments)

If it's gelatinous with branch constrictions (you did say the branches are "spongy"), I'd guess a Coelarthrum. Otherwise there are a few other things you can look at....

Cool!!

 

[Stasisgate]

I like how you sound excited about this algae (at least one of us is haha).

Yep the blades are definitely flat, not swollen or bulbous in any way. There are twists and constrictions in the blades as well.

 

[Phycophila]

I'm a grad student in macroalgae taxonomy and diversity...I like this stuff

If flat, my best guess is a Gracilaria...maybe G. hayi. Hard to know for certain without a close-up picture.

 

[Reefer140]

I think it is a type of graciliaria, but maybe not the hayi... This stuff seems to stay very short and the hayi would grow out a little more.

 

[Stasisgate]

Sorry I couldn't take a close-up pic for you guys to see. I ended up treating the affected rocks and surfaces with Hydrogen Peroxide so there'e not much algae anymore. As a plus for me the hydrogen peroxide works great!

However, I still don't know why this red algae was blooming everywhere in the tank but there was barely any green algae to be found.

All my other parameters seemed fine. Nitrates were at zero, phosphates would rise a little after feeding but were generally about 0.05 or lower, carbonate alkalinity shifts but is usually around 8, calcium at about 480, magnesium about 1250. I add Kent Marine Essential Elements once a week (although I hear it's not needed but the corals seem to be responding very well since adding it).

I'm at a loss... sigh :crazy1:

 

[custom58hd]

I'm a grad student in macroalgae taxonomy and diversity...I like this stuff

If flat, my best guess is a Gracilaria...maybe G. hayi. Hard to know for certain without a close-up picture.

Any chance you can identify this stuff? It is growing slowly. If it is nuisance I want to control it now. It it is beneficial I will move it to my 'fuge.View attachment 310416

 

[Phycophila]

Hard to tell from the picture, but are those jello-y blobs or flat and broad blades?

 

[custom58hd]

they are little red bubbles with bright red dots.
i'll try to attach a better pic

 

[FinzAquatics]

That last picture is red bubble algae. Like green bubble but nicer looking... Does pose the threat of becoming a nuisance..

 

[Vilelent]

they are little red bubbles with bright red dots.
i'll try to attach a better pic

Do you have more or has your little colony of it grown? I would be interested in some if you'd like to trade or sell.

 

[custom58hd]

Do you have more or has your little colony of it grown? I would be interested in some if you'd like to trade or sell.

I have just what you see in the pic, maybe one more bubble since the pic was taken. It is a pretty slow grower.
What do you have in mind for a trade??

 

[Vilelent]

I have just what you see in the pic, maybe one more bubble since the pic was taken. It is a pretty slow grower.
What do you have in mind for a trade??

Whatever you want, i have lots of pieces of dragons breath, gracilaria hayi, purple ogo, red ogo, shaving brushes. PM me