Need Algae ID

[mcfarrow]

Hey Everyone! My friend has some new stuff growing in his tank. I haven't seen it before and since he is not a computer guy he asked me to post for him.

He has very low nutrient levels and changes 50+ gallons a week on his system consisting of a 150g show, 65 frag and two 60ish sumps. His SPS grows like weeds but so does this stuff. He has tried the elevated Kents mag treatment, digging it out by hand and various additions to the clean-up crew. Lately he has been rotating rock out of his show tank to the darkness of his sumps. Any ideas what this is and what to try next? Thanks
Here is the tank.

 

[mcfarrow]

Maybe my photos are not showing up for everyone.

The Good


The Bad


Any Ideas?

 

[Mcgeezer]

Running GFO or no?

 

[whosurcaddie]

Looks like some type of macro to me.

 

[whosurcaddie]

Does it die easy when he moves it to darkness? I want to say bryopsis but its lacking the fronds at the tips, and if it dies easily in darkness then its not bryopsis.

 

[mcfarrow]

Mcgeezer - He does run a ton of GFO and uses the Pura Phoslock mat instead of a sponge. P04 and N03 are undetectable. Of course with something growing like this the tests could be off.

whosurcaddie - I thought it was bryopsis at first. Your right, it doesn't have the typical feathery ends but I suggested the Kents mag treatment anyway. I'll ask him about how fast it dies in the darkness. I'm only over every couple weeks and he rescapes like mad and is always pulling this stuff out by hand so its hard for me to judge.

thanks for looking! I'll get some more info from my buddy and will report back soon. Rock On!

 

[mcfarrow]

They are testing the P04 and N03 levels. I'll post them soon.

 

[Mcgeezer]

I don't think it's byropsis...doesn't look feathery to me, or have a similar appearance to fern caulerpa.