ID help: Rhodophyta Acanthophora spicifera??

[piercho]

In sump.
An entire branch (6")
Branchlets.

Branches are about 25cm long, irregular and sparsely branched, pale green to light red. Brittle, breaks easily, not calcified. When viewed in water, ultra-fine hairs seem to form short halo around the end of the branches. Can anybody confirm, deny, or otherwise assist to identify this algae? IMO this may be the best macro I've come across for a vegetative filter.

 

[Samala]

Sure looks like Acanthophora spicifera from Littler books. If you cross check with algaebase it looks a lot like the images there as well. I think Acanthophora is the closest ID you might get.

>Sarah

 

[piercho]

I've got a cross-correlation with some pics in Horge's Reef Frontiers gallery, so I'm pretty sure it's Acanthophora, probably A. spicefera. Being displaced by an unidentifed mat-forming red in my veg filter, although I still have some Acanthophora left. Grazed, IME, by Diadema, and possibly Mexican Turbos. Can spread by fragmentation, but a good veg filter alga otherwise - IMO. Grows well in a range of light intensities with better production/export potential than most Caulerpas and Chaetomorpha, at least in my veg filter conditions.

 

[CodyH]

That's a cool looking alga. What lighting do you have on the veg filter with this?

Any chance you might want to part with some if I can match the lighting?
I've been looking for a sargassum replacement.

 

[piercho]

150W 4100K Venture DE. I can send you some of what Acanthophora is left, but there is not much. A red turf has pretty much replaced it in the veg filter. This Acanthophora algae grows from an anchor so may be suitable in a seahorse tank, attached to rock. I can also send shoal grass and Halimeda tuna algae. Summer is a good time to ship plants cheap. PM me contact info.