Mysterious Red Growth (Macroalgae?)
- Thread starter Heather
- Start date
AFEICA,
If I could ship it to you I would
It's rooted in my liverock and I don't think it would survive a pruning. Unfortunately I have no idea what it is so I can't even educate myself on its care.
hubris007,
Yes, it's quite interesting how it starts as a small red bud and grows into a big "bush". My clowns, who are fascinated by absolutely anything and everything, have been mouthing the tips, which is really funny. Too bad they show no interest in the rose anemone.
So no one knows what this stuff is??
If I could ship it to you I would
It's rooted in my liverock and I don't think it would survive a pruning. Unfortunately I have no idea what it is so I can't even educate myself on its care.hubris007,
Yes, it's quite interesting how it starts as a small red bud and grows into a big "bush". My clowns, who are fascinated by absolutely anything and everything, have been mouthing the tips, which is really funny. Too bad they show no interest in the rose anemone.
So no one knows what this stuff is??
firefish15
New member
There is a picture on page 159 of the book "Marine Plants of The Caribbean" that that's very close to your picture. Scinaia complanata.
Here's a quote from the book:
" Plants are quite distinctive, translucent, pale red, and usually 5-8 cm tall. Branching is strictly dichotomous. Regularly cylindrical branches with a soft gelatinous texture are all approximately the same length, creating a bushy hemispherical plant. This alga grows at moderate depths (2 - 10 m) on coral fragments. "
This picture http://www.livingreefimages.com/Page1.html
looks slightly different than the one in the book.
Here's a quote from the book:
" Plants are quite distinctive, translucent, pale red, and usually 5-8 cm tall. Branching is strictly dichotomous. Regularly cylindrical branches with a soft gelatinous texture are all approximately the same length, creating a bushy hemispherical plant. This alga grows at moderate depths (2 - 10 m) on coral fragments. "
This picture http://www.livingreefimages.com/Page1.html
looks slightly different than the one in the book.
hubris007
New member
Found some more pictures of this little red guy.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161731&highlight=growth
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161731&highlight=growth
mystery solved!
mystery solved!
Thanks to all for help in solving the mystery.
Hubris,
Looks like we have the same plant. The growth rate is phenomenol. It's starting to shade my smaller clam.
Kevin,
The rock is a piece I got from Dale at Gulf View a few years ago. I have seen a lot of posts debating the virtues of Florida rock vs. Fiji etc. but I've been really happy with this rock. I didn't get any unwanted critters. And, the "desirable" ones are still thriving (the various clams and corals look great).
It's amazing to watch the rock continuously change over time.
mystery solved!
Thanks to all for help in solving the mystery.
Hubris,
Looks like we have the same plant. The growth rate is phenomenol. It's starting to shade my smaller clam.
Kevin,
The rock is a piece I got from Dale at Gulf View a few years ago. I have seen a lot of posts debating the virtues of Florida rock vs. Fiji etc. but I've been really happy with this rock. I didn't get any unwanted critters. And, the "desirable" ones are still thriving (the various clams and corals look great).
It's amazing to watch the rock continuously change over time.
hubris007
New member
I've no exp actually doing it, but i've seen people cut it, glue it, and trade it. You just find where two large clumps split off each other, pull them apart, and glue the torn junction to a rock. Done and done. It seems to be a bit fragile to actually ship well, IMHO. I think the easiest was to introduce it is to try to put it somewhere, watch it melt, and just wait for it to show up somewhere else in the tank (kinda like bubble algae).
