identification needed (pic)

[spazz]

I found this pic in a different thread here on r/c. the guy who took the pic didn't know what it is either. I have this stuff all over my rocks and is making my sps recess at the bases. is this cyano(red turf looking stuff)? or an algae?I want to get rid of the stuff soon. at first it looked cool but when it started to make the base on my my purple monster recess, I got mad. I carefully scrubbed the rock and removed as much as I could. it came right back in 2 weeks.

 

[Dnice Reefer]

its calerpa...

 

[Dnice Reefer]

not a problem....

 

[spazz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8080488#post8080488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dnice Reefer
not a problem....

it is a problem for me. its atacking my sps corals. it only grows where the bright light is. on the very tops of the rocks where i have my prize corals at. is there a way to rid my tank of this stuff?

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8080486#post8080486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dnice Reefer
its calerpa...

Caulerpa? Are you sure about that, got a link?
I think it's something else.

Stick it in your fuge if you have one.

 

[chrisaggie]

I don't know what it is, but it's not caulerpa. The green is halimeda.

 

[GMAX]

Gracileria I think. Also known as Tang Heaven. Got any Tangs in the tank? They should love the stuff.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm going to move this to the main forum. It isn't a chemistry issue.

 

[Amphiprion]

Is it hard and calcareous or is it soft and fleshy? Looks like Gelidia, Gelidiopsis, or something similar.

 

[spazz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081315#post8081315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
Is it hard and calcareous or is it soft and fleshy? Looks like Gelidia, Gelidiopsis, or something similar.

its not hard. its soft and fluffy but very short tight nit.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081315#post8081315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
Is it hard and calcareous or is it soft and fleshy? Looks like Gelidia, Gelidiopsis, or something similar.

Sorry about that, it should be Gelidium, not Gelidia. Try looking up those two names and see if you don't find some matches.

 

[Paintbug]

Gracilaria, or Gelidium. they look alot alike. its about impossible to 100% ID any algae without a microscope.

 

[Amphiprion]

Agreed, which is why I left options open.

 

[spazz]

any good ideas how i can get rid of this stuff. or do i need to cook my rock to get rid of it?

 

[Amphiprion]

Do you have any strongly herbivorous fish or invertebrates? Some fish will eat it (more along an individual basis). If it is Gelidium or Gelidiopsis, then you may have trouble even after 'cooking' the rock. If it turns out to be a Gracilaria species, it should be readily eaten and eradicated by 'cooking.' Personally, I would examine nutrient levels, lowering them if needed. Then I would look to herbivores.

 

[King-Kong]

It might be a low-nutrient-thriving type of algae.

Looks similiar to the type of red turf I had a long with weatherman.

He cooked his rocks, and we were both BB. For both of us, a doliatus/virgatus rabbitfish helped in eating it. My purple tang also loves it. After I re-arranged my rocks it went away.

 

[Sk8r]

The hairy colored pincushion urchin [foster/smith] [striped]b eats many types of algae and is careful of corals. I have a 4+ incher [I was very worried when it arrived] in a tightly packed sps/lps tank, and while it will occasionally nudge a loosely set [my fault] coral, a little reef putty and its course is safe. Mine has been in there a month, keeps grape caulerpa in check, eats red carpet algae, and generally behaves himself. He's also guaranteed not to nip corals, leap from your tank, or prove hard to catch if you decide to remove him.