Invasiveness and IDs Please

[JokerGirl]

My new mantis tank is growing an interesting amount of Algae species, and I would like some help identifying them and finding out how invasive they are (and if I should get them out).

The first one has a brown and a green algae. They brown looks like the beginnings of Sargassum to me, but I don't recognize the green. There's also a smaller green type growing as well that I don't recognize. I've also got two types of red growing, but I couldn't get a good enough photo to make it worth posting. All I can say is that the one red algae has small nodules on it that glow orange under the actinics.

Thanks for the help.

 

[hollback]

I am fairly certain that the green algae is a species of halimeda. It is a calcifying algae. IME it it not very invasive.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

All three are types of Halimeda. They're fairly moderate in growth, but are easy to take care of if they get out of hand.

 

[JokerGirl]

Thanks so much. It's good to know they aren't something that will get out of control.

 

[graveyardworm]

The brown leaves in the first and second pic are sargassum, usually doesnt stick around though. The rest are Halimeda and can be a PITA to remove. The holdfasts are very capable of sprouting new plants.

 

[Cristi]

I have both in my tank--halimeda and sargassum. They sargassum is still in my tank over a year later. It will grow all the way to the top of your water line, but you can prune it back easily. I have not had any problem with the halimeda either. I like what it adds to the tank. If you like the look of macros in your tank, then keep them both.

 

[JokerGirl]

Well the tank is for my peacock mantis, so I'm not terribly worried about what grows on the rocks, but I also don't want anything taking over.

My main tank had Sargassum plant growing until I put a PhosBan reactor on it. I like the Sargassum and would let it grow all the way to the top. The longest strand I got was about 3ft long. It was fun