Red Algae Identification?

Rev.

New member
I am new to Reef tanks but have had fresh water for years. Sandy force me to switch when I lost my 1.5 foot Jardini Arowana. That said, I have switched some tanks around and have a 4 month old 90 Gal Corner with DSB, live rock and 20gal sump. I have noticed that there is an unusual red algae growing. It does not look like the normal red slime algae, so I could use some help identifying it. Any thoughts would be helpful...

Thanks
 

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I can't make out much from the pics. Can you take a piece out and take a picture of it flattened out. It looks like it might have a "leaf" structure. Also describe its texture. It looks like it is likely a "decorative" type but I also can't make out the scale of it.

My opinion it looks nice and very red.

-Steve
 
I removed some from the tank and it is soft and fluffy. It does not unfold for a clear picture but I did upload some additional photos for scale. It appears to be only on the top rock spanning 8 inches from the surface. No other rocks have it. It does have a leaf structure, not like hair algae.
 

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cant help with the id, but i like it looks nice....i would agree with it being more of a decorative and "good" macro algae then a nuisance problem one...just from what i can see.....if you ever have enough to be able to share it...let me know...would love to give it a try....
to me it looks like it may have a "puffy top to it?? maybe something like....HETEREOSIPHONA GIBESSII??? but it is really hard to tell much in the pics
 
Just joining this thread because I have a tank with the same problem. I assure you it's not a decorative macro. It is hell. Nothing eats it, and it can take over an entire tank. If it's only on that one rock, remove it ASAP. If someone has a solution to killing this algae, I'd be very thankful for your suggestions.
 
revs tank can be free of this algae in one week since the rock stack isnt plated with corals and crammed into place...easily removed for a 3 min treatment, algae dead by next thursday probably 100% if treated today. You can do the whole tank at once by taking each rock out one at a time.

a few follow up spots will need to be re hit as holdfasts are becoming seated in the rock, but id take this kind of invasion over a bad diatoms or green hair algae invasion any day of the week. looks nicer too.

some people want this stuff though, you ought to save a few rocks of it in your tank because it looks nice and is quite easy to contain with our little bubbled cheat liquid featured above. I agree 5 years ago before we knew how to beat it, Id have thrown out all the rock, its invasive in a non macro dedicated tank. immune to nearly all nutrient, lighting and grazing controls. there are areas of the pure ocean that are overridden with similar invasions in spite of the natural selections in place, rhydophyta is really really well suited as an invader.
 
We have done 400 gallon tanks like that, i still think we can beat it. Here are your sensitive animals to be concerned with our method:

Lysmata cleaner shrimp

Sebae anems and cousins

Not coral...so, post a full tank shot in our thread I'll tell you if its safe based on pics. Nearly all treatments in the thread were on full running tanks. Larger volumes are easier to tolerate vs smaller ones due to dilution. I really want that 6...would be our biggest so far
 
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