Micro? Macro algae ID - Red Bushy stuff
- Thread starter TXLewis
- Start date
Samala
New member
Interesting specimen.. is it under lots of actinics? I was just wondering what color this stuff looks to be out of water. And, is it always so fluffy looking, or this just a less-clear shot of it? Without a closeup of the branch forms it'll be really hard to nail an ID down farther than a red algae.. but you already knew that part. 
So.. from my books.. its interesting, because it has the color of Ochtodes, but doesnt seem to have its shape. Some fluffy macro possibilities include those in the Heterosiphonia or Callithamnion genuses. I think its gorgeous!
>Sarah
So.. from my books.. its interesting, because it has the color of Ochtodes, but doesnt seem to have its shape. Some fluffy macro possibilities include those in the Heterosiphonia or Callithamnion genuses. I think its gorgeous!
>Sarah
It may possibly be Asparagopsis taxiformis.
I dealt with it a couple of years ago. It was tougher than cyano, and grew nearly as fast. Water changes(R.O. water) and physically removing all that I saw in the tank cleared it up in a few weeks.
http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm
http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss2003_issue3.pdf
I dealt with it a couple of years ago. It was tougher than cyano, and grew nearly as fast. Water changes(R.O. water) and physically removing all that I saw in the tank cleared it up in a few weeks.
http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm
http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss2003_issue3.pdf
TXLewis
Premium Member
Could be a good call. I checked the two articles and the pictures look similar. To answer the other question, here is a color-corrected out-of-water picture under a flash. It is more red than how it looks in the in-tank picture. For sizing, this little strand is about 33 mm long. If you can see them there are little hairs off of the branches. Each "hair" is about 1mm long.
This stuff isn't "taking over" the tank, it is sort of pretty and it is easy to remove. I may prune it back for fear of it out-competing desirable algaes for nutrients. But otherwise, this isn't a problem for me. Heck - it could prove a good nutrient export vehicle.
I have seen some that is much pinker and much finer - much more like a "red hair algae" on the base of a coral. Both types are always this "fluffy".
This stuff isn't "taking over" the tank, it is sort of pretty and it is easy to remove. I may prune it back for fear of it out-competing desirable algaes for nutrients. But otherwise, this isn't a problem for me. Heck - it could prove a good nutrient export vehicle.
I have seen some that is much pinker and much finer - much more like a "red hair algae" on the base of a coral. Both types are always this "fluffy".
HURRAY, FINALLY A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I have been fighting this problem for over a year now and have had NO success. The only I could do to keep it in check is to run phosguard full time.
My recommendation to you is, if you like it, and you want to keep liking it, buy one or two of those snails now to keep it in check. If you don't, and it starts to spread like crazy like in my tank, you will regret it.
My recommendation to you is, if you like it, and you want to keep liking it, buy one or two of those snails now to keep it in check. If you don't, and it starts to spread like crazy like in my tank, you will regret it.
