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FAQs about Green Macro-Algae Identification 4 Related Articles:
Embracing Biodiversity, Green
Algae By Mark E. Evans, Green Algae, Green
Algae 2, Avoiding
Algae Problems in Marine System,
Algae Control, Marine
Maintenance, Nutrient Control and Export,
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,
Related FAQs: Green
Macro-Algae ID 1, Green
Macro-Algae ID 2, Green Macro-Algae ID 3,
Green Macro-Algae ID 5, &
Caulerpas, Green
Macro-Algae 1, Green
Macro-Algae 2, Green Macro-Algae 3, Green
Macro-Algae 4, Chlorophyte Behavior,
Chlorophyte Compatibility/Control,
Chlorophyte Selection,
Chlorophyte Systems,
Chlorophyte Nutrition,
Chlorophyte
Disease, Chlorophyte Reproduction/Propagation,
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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A little identification help
please – 10/13/08
Hello crew,
<Greg>
I've had this
algae/plant growing in my 150 reef tank for quite a while. Very pleasant
looking but starting to spread more than I'd like.
<Mmm, yes>
Neither my tang, blennies, hermits or snails seem to munch on it.
<Not very palatable... to much of anybody>
Could you help identify it
<Mmm, likely a species of Derbesia>
for me and suggest a way to
lessen the spreading.
<See WWM, the Net re this name... and likely
Bryopsis... both "treated" about the same... best by competition, denial
of nutrients... a few approaches to these...>
(I have multiple corals
so limiting the lighting would probably have to be minimal). I'm running
the PhosBan reactor so there's not a phosphate problem.
<Okay...>
Also, I've worked with you (Bob) before so my water quality is "up to
snuff." Over the past few months I've replaced all lights, drained water
from frozen food and done weekly water changes to keep nitrates very
limited.
Thank you,
Greg Esposito
<If there's room, you might
try other predator groups... maybe a Siganid... S. stellatus if you can
find one... BobF>
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Unidentified algae
8/14//08
Hi!
<Cath>
Here is a question from a fellow reefer of my area. He have an
unidentified algae in is tank who look very invasive. (see attached pic)
We want to know what kind of algae it is and who to get rid of it.
<... read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm
and the linked files above... part. ID, comp./control...>
He only have a 35gal, is there any fish or invert that can be helpful in
a such small volume? Regards.
Cath
<Reading. Bob Fenner>Unidentified
algae... another try
Hi!
<Cath>
Here is a question from a fellow reefer of my area. He have an
unidentified algae in is tank who look very invasive. (see attached pic)
We want to know what kind of algae it is and who to get rid of it. He
only have a 35gal, is there any fish or invert that can be helpful in a
such small volume? Regards.
Cath
<Got mixed up with other pix/algae... Read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
and the linked files above... This is likely Bryopsis or Derbesia...
BobF> |
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ID for a Green, Stationary, Segmented
tube worm growing in my tank
Green, Stationary, Segmented tube worm growing in my tank, Algae
Actually 6/30/08
Hello,
<Hi>
Hope you all are well, and thanks so much for providing the wealth of
information and insight that has made this hobby even more rewarding!
This email is a bit lengthy, but I think that it is always helpful to
give a complete history, especially in the case of a tank crash.
<Fire away>
I have a 55G long, Indo-Pacific reef tank that has spent the last six
months recovering from a 4 day power loss in PA in the middle of
December. Prior to the crash, this tank was populated with 6 different
color/types of Zoanthids, yellow polyps, green star polyps, white clove
polyps, red mushroom corals, and assorted crabs/snails, two huge batches
of Halimeda and 3 fish (coral beauty, false percula and blue damsel).
After the crash, this tank was populated with really smelly mud. I was
breaking down the tank and noticed that, in fact, there were a handful
of crabs and snails that actually survived 4 days at 40 degrees.
<They are survivors.>
I didn't have the heart to chuck them down the driveway with the stinky
water, so I pulled out all that I could find, scrubbed down the rock in
a batch of RO/DI salted water and re-established the tank. (The insult
to injury in all of this was the fact that I had a 20,000 watt home
generator installed that I thought would allow me to avert such a
crisis, but, unfortunately, it wasn't installed correctly and we could
never get it to come on and give power.)
<Ouch>
Flash forward six months later and I once again have 3 fish (all new):
a coral beauty, a false percula, and a yellow Coris wrasse. Believe it
or not, I've gotten about 50-60 yellow polyps that have come back, a
bunch of purple coralline algae encrusting the rock again and I random
worms/feather dusters that have crept out of the rock that I'd never
seen prior to the crash.
<They have no competition for the moment.>
This brings me to my question. I've attached some JPG files of some
stationary tube worms that seem to be growing out my rock. I've searched
your site and across the web, but have found not a single picture or
description that matches these critters. They have a white, calcareous
base that starts narrow and gets wider to a rounded tip. They extend
about 1.5 - 2 inches up from the rock. They almost look like elongated
thumbs. As you progress up the tube, there are rings of fine, green
"feathers" that get larger as the tube widens, then taper towards the
tip. They appear to be segmented.
<Not worms actually, algae, Neomeris annulata.>
NOTE: The only thing new in this tank is a rock with some blue-green
Zoanthids on it, but it was placed in the tank after these guys showed
up. The rest is all indo-pacific rock from about 8 years ago.
Any help that you can give me in identifying these worms would be
greatly appreciated!
Deb
<Neomeris annulata is harmless, calcium loving algae. Fairly common in
tanks, although it seems to fade over time. Enjoy it while its there.>
<Chris>
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Algae ID... and more misc.
6/5/08
Dear Crew,
<Eric>
I'm hoping you can help me with an algae identification ( photos
attached).
I went through all 17 pages of Algae ID on your website but couldn't
make a match. They appeared pretty much over night a couple of days ago
and so far are only on the glass, not the rocks or sand. The largest
ones are about 1 cm. in diameter but most are 1-5 mm.
<Mmm, looks like Bryopsis to me>
I included an email sent a few months ago describing the tank. Since
then it has been set up with 50 lbs of Marco dry rock, seeded with
another 30-40 live rock ( mostly into the sump ), 4-6" sand bed ( varies
according to the flow ), cycled, and stocked with an assortment of
snails, hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp feather dusters, and
orange-lipped ( or mantled - I forget ) conch, as well as some small
frags - GSP, toadstool, finger leather (probably wrong name ), candy
cane, mushroom, campenela and Kenya tree corals. There is also a couple
of large clumps of Chaeto in the sump. I also have two PJ Cardinals in
quarantine right now. I know you always like water parameters but I
don't have any current ones ( plan on doing tests tomorrow ). I am
running a reactor with carbon and once I get a manifold put together I
will might add a PhosBan reactor which is laying around anyways.
My most recent test results were:
Temp - 80 C
SG - 1.024
pH - 8.0
NO3 - 25 ppm ( best estimate as the shades of pink are the chart are
very hard to distinguish when you are comparing two adjacent ones )
Amm - 0 ppm
NO2 - 0 ppm
Ca - 300 or 200
<Too low...>
Alk - 12.2/4.34 or 8.6/3.09
Mg - 1200 or 840
<Relatively too high>
The SG is currently 1.025 and temp fluctuates between 82-86 (when the
MH's are on). There is fan directed across the sump which helps a but
hood fan has to be replaced as it doesn't work. I imagine that will help
lower the temp a little more. I also have an ATO waiting to be hooked
up. I realized that my last three parameters are low and have thought to
use pickling lime to bring the Ca up and baking powder for the Alk or
one of the DIY additives I've read about that address all three. What do
you think?
<Mmm... I'd go with a calcium reactor...>
Lastly, I'd like advice regarding my stocking list. It is similar to my
original one but others have made suggestions. I want a trio of PJ's but
the third in the LFS tank didn't look good and refused food so I'll have
to get a third another time.
<I'd just stick with the two...>
The other must haves are a pair of CB true percula or ocellaris if I
can't get the former. (Are captive bred and tank raised the same thing?
).
<Yes, synonymous meaning>
I'd also like a pair of shrimp gobies and/or Jawfish. Can I get both in
my tank ?
<... how big is this system? Is there room?>
If not, which do you suggest?
<Reading>
I'd like a flame angel or coral beauty but if its too big a risk, I'd
consider alternating with a flasher wrasses. Can you recommend a showy
species that wont break the bank ? Should I get a trio or a single male?
I like the clown gobies but was warned that they can harm corals by
their constant resting on them. What do you think ? Lastly I'd like a
pair of purple Firefish. So what do you think ? Any changes, additions,
etc?
Thanks for taking the time to read and answer this email.
Sincerely,
Eric
<More specific questions please... and reading... Bob Fenner>
Re: Algae ID... and more misc.
06/06/2008
Dear Bob,
Thanks for replying so quickly. Is the Bryopsis a normal part of the
algae cycle or is symptomatic of poor husbandry?
<Is an opportunistic misc. recruit... at times difficult to control...
best aggressively removed manually...>
As there are no fish in the DT yet, feeding consists of one feeding
every 2 or 3 days from one of the following: flake, shrimp pellets,
freeze dried Tubifex ( have them for my FW fish ) and thawed frozen
cubes. As for your suggestion about a calcium reactor, I'd like to stay
away from buying any more ( expensive ) equipment and since I don't plan
on stocking SPS I was hoping that one of the solutions I mentioned would
work. The DT is 65 gallons ( I thought it was in the first email ) with
the rock being set up as an island in the middle. One side has a
straight drop and the other has a slope allowing for different
micro-environments when it comes to light and flow intensity. Do you
think I can go with a pair each of Yellowhead Jawfish and shrimp goby?
<In this sized tank I'd choose between these>
If not, would a single specimen of each work or should I go with a pair
of one species?
<Better to have either a couple of Opistognathus or just one Shrimp
goby... and an Alpheid shrimp in this limited volume>
If I forgo the dwarf angel in favor of a flasher wrasse species, do they
do well singly or would a pair or trio ( one male, two females ) be
preferable,
and possible in my tank ?
<I would skip on these... the system is just too small>
Have you come across clown gobies irritating corals to the point of
killing them?
<Not often, but can happen in small volumes, w/ little SPS of interest
to the Gobiodon... their sitting on, eating the polyps.>
Thanks,
Eric
<Welcome. BobF> |
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Green Thing -
Coral? Algae? Alien Life Form? Algae: Dictyosphaeria sp.- 4/2/08
<Hi Ben>
This thing...
<Called love?>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fyngyrz/2381193895/
<Pretty!>
...at about 2" across, represents a mystery in our salt water aquarium.
It looks, by color anyway, to be some kind of algae.
<Right you are.>
But none of the many algae-eating invert varieties in the tank will
touch it. None of the crabs, none of the snail types (five)... and none
of the fish will touch it, either. They act with this the way they do
with the pulsing xenia, which is to say, they ignore it.
<That’s pretty common when it comes to the less “leafy” varieties of
alga.>
Plus, it has grown very slowly;
<Good. Your system must not be too nutrient loaded.>
this 2-inch individual is the result of almost a year of growth. No
spreading out, just slowly enlarging. No other individuals like this
anywhere else in the tank. We assume the progenitor came in on the live
rock, of which there is about 75 lbs in the tank.
It's not bothering anything, and frankly, I think it's kind of
attractive
<Me too!>
... so this is far from an emergency, but I would like to know what it
is.
So. Anyone know?
<Yep, it’s a green algae composed of closely arranged cells/bubbles
called Dictyosphaeria, likely either D. cavernosa or D. versluysii. It’s
also commonly called “bubble weed”. At two inches across, it may be too
early to tell which species it is. Apparently, D. cavernosa starts off
rounded and cushiony like yours, but as the mass grows larger the cells
rupture, collapse and form thinner cup-like, convoluted structures. D.
versluysii, on the other hand, stays intact and cushiony. Both can be
that bright grass green color. Of the two species, you’d rather have D.
versluysii in your system because it’s less invasive. Probably has
something to do with D. cavernosa’s collapsing of cells. In bubble
algae, the cells contain reproductive matter than once released can
allow the algae to spread. It’s up to you to decide whether to keep it.
Personally, I think it’s pretty and would be inclined to leave it since
it’s slow growing and not causing problems. If, however, you notice the
cells starting to collapse, I’d get it out of there. Either way, if you
do decide to remove it, just try to pry off the mass without rupturing
the cells. If you can’t remove the rock it’s on from the tank to do
this, I’d have a siphon nearby to vacuum as your removing. For now, I’d
just keep an eye on it and enjoy! Please see the following links for
photos and more information:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/chloro/dictyosphaeria_versluysii.htm
http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/chloro/dictyosphaeria_cavernosa.htm
http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3723
http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3722 >
Thanks to the WWM crew!
--Ben
<You’re welcome! Take care, -Lynn> |
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Grasses...
poor stocking, Chlorophyte issues, sm. SW sys. period 03/11/2008
Hi Crew,
I have been reading your site now for maybe 2 months and found it
invaluable for a newbie starting a new hobby. I have purchased an Orca
TL450 58 litre (12 gal) reef tank and put approx 8-10 kg of live cured
rock in. I also purchased a 400 LPH powerhead and a refractometer..
Ok, here goes (deep breath)
The items I have purchased for my "reef" consists of 2 original
Percula's (clowns!) 1 blue Seastar,
<...>
1 rose anemone (I think),
<... needs more room than this...>
1 cleaner shrimp, 3 red legged hermit crabs and? a few bunches of red
and green bubble Caulerpa and some green "fern" Caulerpa. The tank has
been set up for approx 10-12 weeks and has plenty of life which has come
in on the rock such as 1 small crab, about a dozen shoots of neomeris, 4
bristleworm (1 large), a couple of small striped brittle stars (I think?
cream colour with dark bands), various tube worms that shoot webs to
feed and Featherdusters and many small clusters or polyps (yellow under
the moon lights) and "grass".
This is where my problem lies, the back wall and uppermost regions of
the tank have a? good covering of this grass like growth and due to the
poorly designed skimmer built in to these tanks, when turned?up it
creates many microbubbles which settle on the grass and turn into BGA
over a few days. I have siphoned off the BGA but it still tries to
regrow so I will invest in an extra powerhead to try some more flow in
the top of the tank. I have included a few (low kb!) piccys as I wish to
verify whether the grass is worth keeping or should be toothbrushed away
as a pets. Also if you can identify any of the life I would be grateful.
The top grass and the grass1 and grass2?are also different, the bottom
one seems more wiry.
<... likely Derbesia and Bryopsis species... your photos are too blurry
to make out much more...>
I don't have a full test kit yet and this is my next acquisition, I have
a red sea ph / Alk / buff kit although I don't use the buff,
<I would not do so in this small volume>
I use tropic Marin triple buffer, ocean fish salt (prodac), salinity
1023,
<... too low>
temp 26/78, ph is circa 8.2 to 8.3, Alk normal 1.7 to 2.8 (more like 2)
LFS test confirm Nitrates, nitrite all negligible readings. Every thing
is growing and thriving including pink algae. BTW you are welcome to use
my pics in any way required.
Whew! sorry for the amount of info in there.
<Use the Net, the indices, search tool on WWM (where you found out how
to write us), with the genera names listed above... and further on, re
the set-up and maintenance of small marine systems... You need a bit of
education re. Bob Fenner> |
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