Red grape algae safe for reef tank?

[cabin]

I have some red grape algae. It was thriving in my tank, but I didn't have any tangs at the time and got worried it would become a nuisance when I began to see green bubbles here and there on live rock (I have noticed that sometimes the red becomes green in places, so assumed this was the same plant) and removed it to the quarantine tank while I thought it over. Now I want to take down that tank, so I'm asking, should I put this algae in the main tank? Will a scopas tang be able to provide sufficient consumption to control it?

 

[beaslbob]

If you need to get rid of the red grape sent it to me

 

[kmk2307]

cabin,

I think a scopas tang will decimate that algae. The green buble algae you saw growing were probably a different species of algae (see Valonia and Ventricaria). If the red algae appears green it is probably either due to green algae growing over it or it being damaged and loosing its red pigment. The red bubble algae you have is probably Botryocladia.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[cabin]

Thanks. Sometimes I see red bubbles that apparently broke off, floating around. I don't need to worry that they will all settle somewhere and multiply into a nuisance? It sounds like you are saying I should put this algae (which is actually quite beautiful) into the refugium to let it flourish and to protect it from the tang?

 

[kmk2307]

Cabin,

I would keep it in the fuge and maybe try putting a cutting in the main tank to see if the tang will eat it. I think tangs usually like to eat most red algae. Where in Maine are you located? I'm studying on Mount Desert Island this summer.

Kevin

 

[cabin]

I'm in central Maine, about 40 minutes north of Augusta. We have a new reef club (Salt Water Addicts of Maine) that we just started a few months ago, we'd love to have you join us if you can. The next meeting (July 12) we're going to visit a member's home in Bangor, which is not far from you. We have a forum here at Reef Central, this is the link: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=300