what eats this red macro algae? ID please?

[chinaman4u]

I have this algea overtaking my tank, it's to the point where I would have to find something to eat it or just live with it. Manual removal only made it spread and i wouldnt do it again. So what eats this algae and can anyone id it. I have searched but without good pictures its hard to tell what it is.

It is red in color, each round bulb thing is filled with water or some other liquid that pops under pressure, no branches, and grows everywhere, especially on top the purple corraline that grows on the back glass of my tank.

 

[graveyardworm]

Botryocladia pseudodichitoma, not sure on predators, I have some of that in my fuge. Here's an article which may help.

 

[Samala]

David that is an awesome older ReefKeeping article! I cant believe I've never seen it before now.

I've been trying to grow this, or at least a very similar, red algae for months now. It just wont grow! Sounds like those of us who have it and want it can't keep it, and those of us who hate it cant get rid of it. I wonder what the differences is between my macro focused tanks and yours that allows this guy to take such a phenomenal hold. This is certainly the first time I've heard of red 'fleshy' macros becoming invasive.

>Sarah

 

[mastou]

I also had quite a bit of this Botryocladia (I don't know if it is exactly the same kind), but don't think they are a problem. I have some Cerith snails, which I think eats some of the smaller algae and combined with a bit of manual removal I now find it quite easy to control.
I am not totally sure it is the Cerith snails that eat of the Botryocladia, since I also have Stomatella snails, some small unidentified snails and a couple of hermit crabs.

/Magnus

 

[graveyardworm]

The specimen I have showed up in a relatively unmaintained 10 gal tank where I put things I dont want in my other tanks, like hitchhiker crabs and such, this tank has extremely low light. I moved th rock it was on into my 35 gal refugium where its been continuing to grow, but now I'm beginning to find it on another rock in my fuge. The weird thing is its only appearing towards the underside of the rock where its shaded. So my guess is its a very low light macro.

 

[mastou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7420773#post7420773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
The specimen I have showed up in a relatively unmaintained 10 gal tank where I put things I dont want in my other tanks, like hitchhiker crabs and such, this tank has extremely low light. I moved th rock it was on into my 35 gal refugium where its been continuing to grow, but now I'm beginning to find it on another rock in my fuge. The weird thing is its only appearing towards the underside of the rock where its shaded. So my guess is its a very low light macro.

I have some Botryocladia that grows close to the surface under 150W HQI:

and some that grows on the underside of a rock similar to what you described:

There seems to be a huge difference in the color (the Botryocladia growing in the shadow is dark red, and the other is very pale), but the Botryocladia which grows directly under the 150W HQI seems to grow alot faster than the one in shadow?

/Magnus

 

[Samala]

Ahh.. yes when things dont grow well for me I tend to think, 'maybe it needs more light!' Probably not the best method to propagate this particular species.

However.. china's got a good bit of light over that 75gal. I'm thinking some herbivores would help him out.. Siganus sp. anyone think?

>Sarah

 

[Elite]

I believe Tang will eat them.

 

[mogurnda]

Tangs absolutely love the species of Botryocladia I have. Turbo snails like the "bubbles" as well, but leave the stalks.

 

[chinaman4u]

Friends have suggested a tang would help, but with a tank my size I could only get one, so I need to make sure the tang i get will eat this stuff. Maybe I should take a bunch to a fish store and start feeding their fish to see which tang/fish eats it, heh? I have emerald crabs that take care of the green bubbles, and I tried several types of snails and they do a wonderful job except for this red stuff. Thanks for all your input!