Macroalgae ID

[mwrobers]

Can someone ID this fern like algae. Don't belive it's caulerpa due to size (2-3 inch branches), structure and multiple fernlike extensions coming from each stalk.

 

[Anemone]

Hmm. The leaf structure looks like Caulerpa taxifolia, but the stem structure looks like a seagrass variety, possibly of the Halopila Genus.

Kevin

 

[bullock111]

I had that on some rock I got, my fish guy said to tank it out as it would take over in the tank. Is that true??

 

[lapin]

This might help Id it
https://www.marineplantbook.com/marineplantbookgreenalgae.htm

 

[mwrobers]

Thanks for ideas. I'm pretty confident it's Caulerpa Paspaloides (Palm Tree Algae) based on Lapin's link and additional searching. You can see it's a fast grower (new pick), but I don't think it will take over the tank due to its large size and my ability to easily remove it. I don't have fish yet, so I'm not sure if they'll mow it down when added. Tank will be FOWLR, so I won't have reef colors. I like the look, should I keep it?

 

[Misled]

I wouldn't.

 

[tjm9331]

honestly with you going FOWLR you can take your chances and leave it in there, it does look kinda nice and who knows if you get some kind of tang or dwarf angel they may graze on it and keep in check.

That said if its as fast growing as it seems and fish don't seem interested in it, once it gets a good foothold in your tank it may prove to be much harder to remove if/when it takes over the entire tank than it would be to just pull it out now.

If it were me, I'm a risk taker so I'd leave it in there, for nothing else but to possibly out compete nuisance algae and a bit of color.

 

[jlmawp]

That said if its as fast growing as it seems and fish don't seem interested in it, once it gets a good foothold in your tank it may prove to be much harder to remove if/when it takes over the entire tank than it would be to just pull it out now.

If it were me, I'm a risk taker so I'd leave it in there, for nothing else but to possibly out compete nuisance algae and a bit of color.

Yeah, just go into it knowing it will be a bit of a battle later on, should you choose to remove it. You'd be surprised at what little amount of leftover tissue it takes for it to regrow. It's difficult to fully remove. I have been trying to eliminate a smaller species of calurpa from my nano for a few months now, and the damn stuff just won't die.

 

[crawlerman]

If you plan to have any tangs or a foxface in the tank, it won't last. Might be a good thing to have in their for them to graze while they acclimate. I did this with my blonde naso to make sure he had plenty of food he would eat when I added him. but it was feather caulerpa.

 

[travis32]

Yeah, My rocks are sometimes nipped clean from my Fox Face eating at anything that grows on the rocks ( not corals though) Had a huge algae cycle and the algae is burning off and he east it like it's the best thing since sliced bread.

If it were me, I'd leave it. If you get to a lower nutrient level, I would think it would just die off anyways.