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FAQs about Red Algae/Rhodophyte Identification
7
Related Articles: Red
Algae in General, Coralline Marine
Algae, Avoiding Algae
Problems in Marine System, Algae Control, Marine Maintenance,
Marine Scavengers, Snails, Hermit
Crabs, Mithrax/Emerald
Green Crabs, Sea Urchins, Blennies, Algae
Filters, Ctenochaetus/Bristle Mouth
Tangs, Zebrasoma/Sailfin Tangs,
Skimmers, Skimmer Selection, Marine Algae, Coralline Algae, Green Algae, Brown
Algae, Blue-Green
"Algae"/(Cyanobacteria), Diatoms, Brown
Algae, Algae as
Food,
Related FAQs: Red Algae
ID 1, Red Algae ID 2, Red Algae ID 3, Red
Algae ID 4, Red Algae ID5,
Red Algae ID 6, Red Algae ID 8, & Red Algae 1, Red
Algae 2, Red Algae 3, Red Algae in General, Red Algae 2, Red Algae 3, Red
Algae Behavior, Red Algae
Compatibility, Red Algae
Selection, Red Algae Systems,
Red Algae Nutrition, Red Algae Disease, Red Algae Reproduction/Propagation,
Coralline
Algae, Marine Macro-Algae, Use
in Aquariums, Algae as Food,
Marine Algae ID 1, Marine Algae ID 2, Marine Algae Control FAQs II, Marine Algaecide Use, Nutrient Limitation, Marine Algae Eaters, Culturing Macro-Algae; Controlling: BGA/Cyano, Red/Encrusting Algae, Green Algae, Brown/Diatom Algae,
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Marine Aquarium Algae Control
by Robert (Bob) Fenner
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Yet another red algae ID 3/2/11
Hello again crew and a thousand thanks for the seemingly endless
font of invaluable information you folks provide!!
<Welcome Ron>
Am attaching a picture of a recently acquired piece of macroalgae I
obtained from one of my LFS's. After diligently perusing the
complete algae identification pages here, I think I'm stumped
and submit to your
expertise!
Thanks!
<Unfortunately, well not to much so, am down in Cozumel diving;
hoping someone else at WWM would look at, pick this up... away from
reference works. My best guess is this is a Galaxaura species...
maybe G. marginata. Bob Fenner> |
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?coral? -- 02/02/10
Thanks in advance for your time you've helped me in the
past...have another mystery in my tank - grown over 6 month
period. Is this ok? Or is it invasive? Thanks again! :)
<This looks like macro algae to me... maybe Rhodophyte sp....
probably a good thing. Whatever it is, it looks healthy, and
producing a lot of CO2 bubbles. :-)>
(ps: also sent instant message with two pics... But not sure if
you get instant messages )
<we do not>
<Cheers,
Sara M.>
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 Agreed! RMF |
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26/01/2010. Safely Increase Calcium & Alkalinity,
now algae I.D.
Simon,
<Beth>
I'm so glad to hear from you again!! All my coral are doing
great, Thanks to You!
<That's great news!>
Well almost great. My live rock which has the hidden cup coral,
also had a couple of striped mushrooms on it and the mushrooms
are looking wilted. These are in the 20g tank. I haven't had
time to test/retest the water yet but I did have a quick question
about some algae.<Ok>
Feel free to rename and move this post to the appropriate
place.
<Will indeed do!>
Pictured below is my red grape algae that grew out of some live
rock I purchased this past spring. I thought the color was
absolutely beautiful and let it grow <It is a nice looking
algae>. I really haven't had any problems with it, other
than finding pieces floating around occasionally. Last night when
I was testing the water, I found that an entire stalk had been
cut off, a clean diagonal cut and an additional three inch piece
was sitting in the back of the tank. I went to retrieve that
piece this morning and it was gone. It is now sticking inside a
rock, inside of a little rock cave.
My first question, is the algae Caulerpa?
<Well, Beth, it does look like Caulerpa, except that it is red
not green! Unless I am (very) mistaken this is a Rhodophyta
algae, possibly Botryocladia skottsbergii. Try here & Related
FAQs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm and here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php>.
Second question, do I have a crab decorating his home?
<Is a possibility, but impossible to tell>
On a side note, I never did find a Mantis nor a Pistol Shrimp. I
removed all of the rock and found nothing.
<I think you might have something in there somewhere>
Gotta take the dogs to the vet. I will test/retest the 20g tank
when I return. Thank You.
<No problem>
Beth
<Simon><<Well done Simon. B>>
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Re: 26/01/2010. Safely Increase Calcium
& Alkalinity, now algae I.D. -- 1/28/10
Hi Simon,
<Hi Beth>
Thank you for the response. <No problem> It does make me
feel a lot better knowing I didn't have Caulerpa in my tank.
The algae I pictured was one stalk and the one that got cut off.
Kills me, because I watched that thing grow for almost 6 months,
it was such a bright spot in my live rock tank.. Do you think
that there is any way to reattach it to a rock and live?
<Should re-attach given time>
Just hasn't been my month. Killed a wrasse yesterday, by
mistake, I was searching for him and pushed the powerhead back
against the tank wall and there he was in between the plastic
parts. I smooshed him. I'm currently in mourning and the
viewing will be today, Burial at Sea (toilet) tomorrow. Wear your
Navy Whites and bring your toilet bowl brush.
<Oh dear>
Still haven't tested the 20g water, have to leave town for
the day to visit beloved Mother-in Law.
Thanks again,
Beth
<Simon>
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Red macroalgae 8/31/09
Can you tell me the actual and or common name and care needs for
this macroalgae?
Thank you,
Catherine Kresge
red macroalgae. phylum- Rhodophyta. family- Gelidiaceae. From the
Indo Pacific
<Mmm, looks like Gelidium serrulatum to me; not from Indo...
use the name on the Net to look up its husbandry per your
setting/system.
Bob Fenner>
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Green Star / Gorgonia ID please? 7/8/09
Hi there crew! My first time writing in! :)
I have attached a photo of some "Green Star Polyps"
that I bought several years ago. I bought it because I have never
seen GSP quite like this type, nor have I seen it again. It is
indeed ULTRA neon. I have hunted around to try to find a specie
name, but I have yet to be able to even figure out the genus.
Could you please possibly shed some light?
<Is a beauty... likely a Pachyclavularia violacea species...
they occur in different colours>
Oh, it is encrusting, and grows in fingers along the surface. I
also attached a photo of it's growth pattern (as seen from
the back side of the glass).
Thank you so much!
Mindy
<Mmm, your second image is a Rhodophyte (red algae) in a
reproductive phase... the bumpy bits at the top. Bob
Fenner>
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[1].JPG) [1].JPG) |
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Re: Green Star / Gorgonia ID please?
7/8/09
Hi Bob,
<Mindy!>
Thank you so much for your reply!! So, it's just
"basic" GSP, but a different color? How boring. Hahaha!
I'm kidding. Here I thought it was different since the shape
of the stars is so much different.
That second photo is actually of the GSP growing on the glass.
I'm pretty sure there is no algae growing with it. The photo
is taken from the underside of the GSP mat. When it first starts
growing the mat isn't very purple, but purples up as it ages.
If you look real closely you can see the green stars peeking out
from the other side. I can take photos from a different angle if
you would like. :)
Cheers!
Mindy
<Geez, I've got to wake up a bit more before responding to
queries... My eyes are getting "sunburned" down here in
Key Largo. Cheers, BobF>
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Algae ID: 4/2/2009
Hello guys,
<Hi Adam>
Looking to identify a miscellaneous algae that has been in one of
my fuge's for a very long time. The fuge is connected into my
120 gallon reef and I am slowly closing the 120 down and placing
its inhabitants in my new 800 gallon system.
<Nice setup!>
I wanted to identify this algae to avoid potential problems as I
think it may be Dictyota?
<Hmm... No>
The only algaes purposely placed in this fuge were Chaeto, a
small fragment (from a previously set up fuge) of what was sold
to me as Gracilaria, and some Ochtodes. I have moved some of the
Chaeto over to the big tank already and screened it for anything
other than pods, worms etc. . and hope I have done a good job at
keeping anything un wanted out. Any help on an ID for this algae
would be much appreciated.
<Looks like a Fauchea sp. or a Gracilaria sp. In either case,
definitely not a nuisance algae, and is quite attractive when
allowed to grow.>
Adam
<Mike>
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Nuisance Algae or Sea Fan?? 2/16/09 Hi Crew:
<Hi Bonnie, Mich here.> Attached is a picture that I hope
you can identify. <Me too!> My reef tank is 3 1/2 years
old. I have a deep 5" sandbed made up of crushed coral. I
know, I know.....it takes a bit more maintenance than a substrate
made of true sand, but I am diligent in stirring up the crushed
coral a couple times a week and vacuuming the bed about every 3rd
week. <Good husbandry can makes all the difference!> I
recently removed about an inch of the top substrate and replaced
it with new crushed coral. <You are wise, this will help your
buffering capacity.> After I did this replacement, about 3
weeks later, I noticed this maroon, feathery growth. <May or
may not be related.> It has continued to grow and is quite
pretty. <I agree!> I thought, originally, it must be some
type of sea fan. <Mmm, no.> However, I just want to make
sure and not have some nuisance algae growing and getting out of
control. <Does look like a Rhodophyte to me, but that
certainly doesn't make it a nuisance! If it was mine, I would
encourage it to grow.> It's very soft and feathery. Can
you tell me what this is? <The photo is not clear enough for
me to tell to much beyond it's a red algae, but it sure is a
beauty!> Thanks for your help! <Welcome!>
Bonnie
<Mich>
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Re: Nuisance Algae or Sea Fan??
2/16/08 Hi Mich, <Hi Bonnie,> Thanks so much for
your response. <Welcome, I'm happy to help.> You are
exactly right in your identification. Once you told me that it
was more than likely a Rhodophyte, I did a search by that name.
Someone had written in on 8/3/06 with a very clear picture of it.
That one is a bit more translucent than mine, but that is what it
is for sure! <Great!> Since it's so pretty, and
you've encouraged me to let it grow, I will see what becomes
of it. <Excellent!> Thanks, again! <You are most
welcome!> Bonnie
<Mich>
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Identification 12/21/08 Hello: You have
always been helpful in the past... <Glad to be> Can anyone
tell me what this is growing on my colony of green polyps. I have
seen a this "plant" before when I first bought my LR 4
years ago, but it never grew like this is growing! Hoping it is
not a bag thing or evil plant... Thanks! <Mmm, is a Red Algae,
a Rhodophyte... not evil... Likely a Fauchea sp. Please see the
Net re or here on WWM: http://wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm
I'd enjoy it... will likely be "discovered" by life
in your system, and consumed... Or some condition, variable
change there... that limits its growth, being. Not likely to
"run amok". Bob Fenner, who on the other hand... is
very likely to do so>
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Animal, vegetable, or mineral? - 12/20/2008
This unusual creature (plant?) below is a hitchhiker on a
Corallimorph colony (which seem to be Rhodactis, you can see in
the pic to the right). Photo links are below, feel free to
download them from the link if you want to post them. I have no
clue what this is. I, and a few other reefers, suspect it's a
form of coralline algae. <From the picture, I concur, although
it is hard to see any diagnostic characters.> So, I browsed
all of your coralline ID and red algae pages and didn't run
across anything similar. It is about 1/2" diameter, and
never moves, extends any form of polyp or sweeper (even night),
or does any other thing similar to a coral. It is rock hard, just
like coralline algae. I can't comment on how fast it grows,
I've only had it two weeks. But it looks so much like a
mushroom Corallimorph that it's just plain weird. It seems to
have an oral disc. Perhaps it's just some strange coincidence
and the algae is conforming to the shape of the rock underneath.
<Sure, to some extend, environment and DNA make it look like
it does.> I have never seen coralline algae that was brick red
like this, with the yellow striations. Very cool looking, I hope
it grows. <Indeed.> So I am at a loss. Coral? Algae?
Bryozoan? Republican? Democrat? Any ideas? <One of the over
600 species of the order Corallinales as shown on
http://www.algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=4621 . > Thanks!
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p460/redfishsc/wood%20pens/mystery_algae2.jpg
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p460/redfishsc/wood%20pens/mystery_algae1.jpg
<Cheers, Marco.>
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Likely Peysonniella sp., a Rhodophyte, Red algae.
RMF.
Re: More re: Animal, vegetable, or
mineral? 12/20/08 Peysonniella squamaria is what I had
suggested to me by a friend on a reefkeeping forum. I did a
Google image search, and I could find examples of this specie
with the right colors (red and yellow), but none of them with
this shape and pattern. <Is highly variable... mostly shallow
concaves, to overlapping sheets> Not that shape/pattern really
means much with a random-growth alga like this. Thanks for the
help! I hope this stuff grows all over the tank, it's very
nice. Matt <Is a beauty... Some of my pix here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm Bob Fenner>
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New Print and
eBook on Amazon
Marine Aquarium Algae Control
by Robert (Bob) Fenner
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