what's this creature?

[BeachVacationer]

It's been growing for 4 to 5 months on a stalk of my torch in my 5 gallon tank. It's getting to be decent size with multiple bubbles. Just curious if I should take the torch out and scrape this thing off?





What is this? Thanks.

 

[AlSimmons]

Botryocladia skottsbergii.

Just place the coral in a small bowl of water and use a wire brush or something similar to remove it.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/

 

[BeachVacationer]

Wow, didn't think it was algae! Thanks. Cool looking algae though.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Maybe this will make it even cooler. Each bubble is a single cell. If I remember correctly, bubble algae is the biggest single cell living thing. I think most people get green bubble algae, but the purple color isn't completely uncommon.

I'd pull the coral out if you can. Carefully pry or peel it off the coral trying not to break the bubbles. If they break, remove the tissue left behind with a tooth brush and then rinse it in a small amount of saltwater from your tank. Then put it back in the tank.