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FAQs about Green Macro-Algae Identification 5
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 4, &
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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algae identification... Reading
-- 10/21/2009
Howdy Crew...
<Carter>
I've seen my share of algae come and go in my tank, and most recently
killed off a good bit of Bryopsis by elevating my alkalinity. Now there
is just one little tuft of what I suppose is just hair algae (though no
crabs,
snails, tangs or coral beauty will eat it), and some really funky stuff
that I haven't seen a picture of anywhere. I tried to take a picture
with my phone, but as you can see, the picture is almost worthless. I'll
do my best
to describe...
<Need a better camera, pic...>
First, this stuff is very slow growing. The "flesh" is very
tough...almost reminds me of a cactus. There are no leaves or stems
anywhere. There are little knobby protrusions all over this mound, that
is about the size of a ping pong ball (there are a few other small
colonies starting to grow elsewhere in the tank...hence the question).
There also seems to be some white, almost cottony stuff attached to the
mound, which you can sort of make out in the picture.
Would you guys be able to venture a guess as to what I have on my hands
and what the recommended course of action would be? Thanks so much for
your time and effort, it is truly appreciated.
Carter
<Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/maintenance/maintindex.htm
Scroll down to the tray on Marine Algae... see the sections re
Green/Chlorophyte Algae ID, Control. Bob Fenner>
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Me neither.
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Re: algae identification
10/21/09
Mr. Fenner,
<Carter-san>
Thanks so much for the reply and for pointing me in the right direction.
I did find a picture of the algae in question.
<Ahh!>
You had suggested either Bryopsis or Derbesia, but this is definitely
not the case. This stuff is not leafy or filamentous. I have included
the picture I just found, and the original post below.
<I see this>
Other than that small tuft of hair algae I mentioned previously, and
coralline, there is no other visible algae growth in the tank, and I am
running both Purigen and Phosguard.
The description below seems pretty accurate to me. I'm sorry to take up
your valuable time by pressing this issue, but thought some more info
might shed some more light on the situation.
<Good>
Here is what the previous submission said...
"*Saltwater Question, grn alg. ID 4/8/07
*Hey Wet Web Crew,
<Kristin>
I have a question regarding something that has just "popped up" in our
tank. We have a 125 gallon saltwater tank, and this green algae looking
plant started growing at an enormous rate. It has a round structure with
"blebs" that branch out, kind of reminds me of melted wax. Currently
there are two on the same rock, one is about the size of an egg and the
other the size of a golf ball. I have looked all over, but have not
found anything that looks like this. Is this something that we should
take out or leave alone?
<Likely want to address... along with the evident BGA (the red mat.)...
as very likely a matter of excess nutrient... secondarily a lack of
competition, predation...>
I have embedded the image so you do not have to download,
<Better to attach...>
however if that does not work, there is an attached file as well.
Thanks!
Kristin
<Do take a look on the Net re the genera Derbesia and Bryopsis... and
onto WWM re Marine Algae, Control... can be controlled indirectly... as
you will see. http://wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
and the linked files above...
Bob Fenner> "
Again, thanks so much for all you do Mr. Fenner!
Carter
<And you for sharing. BobF>
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Re: algae identification
10/21/09
Mr. Fenner,
After finding that picture, I got on the right track and have determined
this to be a species of Codium. I've now read that this is a fairly rare and
prized macro algae? Is there anything special I should do / not do
with this stuff?
Thanks again so much for your help!
Carter
<Perhaps culture it, offer it for sale, sell it to/through the Net, your
LFS... B> |
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Mystery Algae/Algae ID 9/5/09
Hi,
<Hello>
Well, I do not thing this is Turtleweed or maidens hair (not straight
enough) Any thoughts? it is very stiff and likes to attach to rocks and
does not grow to terribly fast.
Just curious and thanks!
<Yes, what you have is a specie of Chaetomorpha, Spaghetti Algae, a good
algae for refugiums,
but can be problematic if left in the main display, spreads quickly and
can overtake your live rock.
James (Salty Dog)>
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I don't know... RMF |
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Re Mystery Algae/Algae ID 9/6/09
Hi
<Hello Carrie>
I have 2 species of Chaeto, and this is not at all curly but stiffer and
the "blades," if you will, are straight and split at the top.
<OK>
And like I said it does not grow fast at all. Macro algaes grow fast and
this does not, making me think it is more plant like. Any other
thoughts? I can send a more detailed picture if you need it. :).
<Mr. Fenner also had his doubts that this may not be Chaeto. Problem
here in indentifying is that there are literally hundreds of species of
algae.
<<About thirty thousand>>
Years ago I had a very similar clump of algae that my LFS identified as
Chaeto. Perhaps a more detailed photo (and do increase the brightness)
may lead to a more positive ID of the species.>
Thanks for your help. :)
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Sent from my iPod
<Sent from my outdated laptop.>
<<RMF thinks this may be a species of Derbesia>>
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Algae ID Query
– 09/08/09
Bob,
<James>
Received a couple more pics from the querior and it sure looks like
green Gracilaria to me.
See attachment photo of green Gracilaria.
James
<Maybe. B>
Re Mystery Algae/Algae ID 9/8/09
LOL! I like your "sent from my outdated laptop!" that was good!
hehe. I agree with Bob, since one characteristic of this, lets say "plant,"
is that is that Chaeto does not seem to ROOT to rock, at least none of mine
did.
Okay, are more pics. I hope it helps. :)
<I've did some searching/comparing, and I'm guessing this is a species of
green Gracilaria algae. See attached photo I compared to. James (Salty Dog)>
Re Mystery Algae/Algae ID 9/8/09
HI,
<Hello Carrie>
I saw that picture on your web site, but it was so faded and blurry I didn't
really assume that was it. I sent several more pictures. You are WELCOME to
use any of them to replace the picture you have if you wish. :)
<Will pass on to Bob, thank you.>
Thanks and I will wait to get a confirmation on that. I have found this
grows fine in MANY different lighting levels. I have t-5s and it grows at
the top and bottom. It is hardy and I think MUCH more attractive than Chaeto
and doesn't get all stuck up in the pumps like Chaeto.
Maybe I should aquaculture and sell this stuff! lol! My Coral Beauty Angel
does not touch it, though it has slowly eaten all the actual Chaeto in the
system. Funny, i didn't want a tang to eat all my macro algae.... so I got a
dwarf angel.... DERR!! lol! I never had one before, so I didn't even THINK
about it eating that! It also does not seem to eat the Caulerpa I have.....
the kind that looks like a saw that has blades on each side.
Thanks again!
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Carrie :)
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Re Mystery Algae/Algae ID 9/8/09
Hi
<Hello Carrie>
No this definitely NOT it.
<OK>
Mine is a stiff and like I said before, straight rooting bush like plant.
Gracilaria is soft to the touch and
curly. I have had ago and many others in the past as well. This stuff is
stiff and does not like to bend. Plus in my close up that I wonder if you
got, notice that the shaft is not continuous or smooth from the top down but
more like that like that stiff wild grass you find in fields.
<Did get the photos.>
I am thinking more that it is a grass of some sort. Plus Gracilaria does not
tend to root quickly like this one does. It is much hardier that Gracilaria
too IMO. And again if the angel is not eating it (if it was Gracilaria it
would) I would also say it may not be an algae at all.
Again the closest I came to was that Derby stuff you mentioned. I have had
possibly every other macro algae at one time or another so I know what the
popular ones are. I am not a newbie :)
<It is obvious you are not.>
so this question may not be so simple. I guess this remains a mystery.
Maybe show my recent pictures to Mr Fenner.
<Mr. Fenner looks at every query/pic before posting and will inject his
thoughts if necessary.>
<<Tis so. RMF>>
My daughter has an underwater camera I may try.
<Additional photos will not help.>
Also I will send a piece if you give me an address.
I GOTSTA KNOW!!! LOL
<Carrie, we just do not have the time to do in depth identification queries
that would require much more time than we can devote on a daily basis, as
each crew members time spent is likely no more than an hour per day. I would
suggest that you post this question on one or more of the marine bulletin
boards. You may also want to search this site by going here.
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/
And tons of Derbesia photos here for comparison.
http://images.google.com/images?q=derbesia+photos&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-Sea
rchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=SvujSoemN47OM_7
m6NUP&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1
Hoping this helps you out. James (Salty Dog)> |
small green algae in newer tank,
SW, ID sans pix – 04/12/09
Thanks in advance for the help, and the site in general. It has been a
huge resource to me as I am starting up my first reef tank.
<Ah, good>
The tank has been up and running for about a month now. Thanks to your
site, I found that I first
experienced diatom algae, then had a small bout of Cyanobacteria and now
that is fading and I am starting to see a small green type of algae
growing on the glass.
<Succession>
It is not a slime or a hair, but looks more like a bunch of little green
"y"s reaching towards the inside of the tank. I apologize for not
supplying a picture, but I couldn't get mine to focus that close. Just
wondering if you had an idea of what specific kind of algae it is and
how much it should concern me. I couldn't find an ID that matched this
.. I did try!
<Mmm, not able to tell with your description here. Please keep reading,
and do send along some well-resolved images when you can. Bob Fenner>
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Green Macro Algae ID: Likely Bryopsis – 4/11/09
Hello,
<Hello there>
I tried looking through your algae files and didn't see anything similar to
this.
<Mmmm, that looks a lot like Bryopsis – possibly Bryopsis hypnoides. Please
see the photos at the following links for comparison:
http://algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=44
http://www.guiamarina.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=38624 >
This is growing in the back corner of my 65 gallon reef tank. I have 2
peppermint and 1 skunk shrimp, and a bunch of snails. Should I let this be
or try and remove it?
<I’d get every little scrap of it out of there. Bryopsis can take off,
especially in a nutrient rich environment, and be a real pain to get rid
of.>
Unfortunately, I don't have anything in my tank that would eat it and could
you recommend something (fish or otherwise) that would?
<Optimally, the first step here would be to confirm that what you have
really is Bryopsis or something else entirely, like Caulerpa, Derbesia, etc.
In the case of Bryopsis hypnoides, unfortunately I don’t know of any animals
that feed exclusively on it, but there are some that might. They include
Diadema savignyi (aka: the Long-Spined urchin), Foxface/Rabbitfish (Siganus
spp.), certain Cowries (such as Cypraea moneta – aka the “Money Cowry”),
Sacoglossan sea slugs, and maybe a Sea Hare. I’m not big on recommending sea
slugs and the like because of their specialized diets. One slug may eat
Bryopsis, but it may not eat the particular species that you want to get rid
of. Beyond that, if it does eat it, once the food source disappears, the
slug starves to death. Personally, I think they’re better left in the wild
unless you’re able to provide for them long term. Same goes for any
potential livestock. Please see the following link for more information
regarding Bryopsis control with sea slugs - and associated problems re:
http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=bryopsis.>
It’s not a problem now which is why I'm asking before it does!
<Good thinking! Right now, I’d recommend manual removal (extract any and all
clumps, strands, etc), limit the algae’s food source (exercise good nutrient
control), and if possible, introduce a favorable macro algae within a
sump/refugium in order to outcompete the less favorable, invasive species.
Bryopsis is a common nuisance algae in marine systems so as you can imagine,
there’s quite a bit of information available on the ‘net regarding its
control. Thankfully, you can start right here at WWM:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BryopsisF.htm
Nutrient control: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
Other links within WWM: http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&cof=&sitesearch=www.WetWebMedia.com&q=bryopsis
>
Thanks for all your great informational assistance.
<You’re very welcome and good luck! LynnZ>
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Hey Crew
Re: Neglected tank, algae run a muck 1/4/09
I have been looking on your web site all day, and found a wealth of
information, however, not quite what I am looking for. I have a 75
gallon reef with a good amount of live rock. It has been set up for
5 or 6 years.
I went through a period when I didn't take care of
it the way I should have and I have an algae problem. I also have a
20 gallon refugium with Caulerpa, and I can't remember what the
other stuff is in there. I think it is Chaeto.
<Most likely
Chaeto if it looks like green spaghetti. Do be careful with the
Caulerpa though. It's one nasty bugger if it goes sexual on you or
gets in your main display. Here's some information to ID if you have
time http://www.sccat.net/#identification-1e86f5>
I have some
hair algae in the refugium also, but that is not may main concern.
In the display tank there is a brush like growth that I think is
Chlorodesmis, based on the pictures I can find.
<A picture would
be best to see here, but I have doubts that you are dealing with
Chlorodesmis aka maidens hair algae.>
I have read that it is a
difficult algae to grow, so I am not sure that is it. It will grow
Large clumps in my display tank. I have tried to manually remove as
much as I can, and have started keeping the tank better, keeping the
water quality up, cleaning, watching the chemistry. But the algae
seems to still grow abundantly. It grows so thick that it traps
solid waste near the rock it grows on and acts like "potting soil".
The only think I am not totally sure about is the phosphate level. I
have trouble distinguishing the color on the test kits. The other
levels test 0 for ammonia nitrate and nitrite. I know from other
articles that there could still be some level in the tank, but it
gets used quickly enough so it doesn't show up on a test.
I am
wondering it there is something I can put in the tank to control
this stuff. I have a candy coral that I had to separate into smaller
pieces to remove some on the algae that was killing a portion of the
coral.
Thanks for any input you can give me.
<Again, without
a picture it is hard to say, but if it looks like maidens hair, I
would think it is probably Bryopsis or hair algae. Bryopsis can look
like ferns or more like hair algae with tiny hairs growing off the
central hair shaft. Its very hard to get rid of. There are a few
things you can do if it is Bryopsis. I've heard of a few things that
work most of the time, and only one that works all of the time. Ruby
lettuce Nudi's will eat it all, but then you must take care that
they don't starve and either return them to the local fish store or
pass them along to someone else in town who has an algae problem.
You must also be careful of powerheads because they will enter them
and get ripped apart. I've also heard that raising magnesium works,
but it is hit or miss. You can find some more information on the
subject here:
Algae control in general
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
Specifics on Bryopsis
http://fish.suite101.com/article.cfm/bryopsis_a_common_pest_in_aquaria
Regards, Jessy>
Kelley |
re: Hey Crew 1/4/09
Here are a couple of
pictures to help with ID.
I don't see anything that looks
remotely like something coming off the main shaft.
Kelley
<Mmm, looks like Bryopsis sp. to me... a tough Green algae to
control...
See the Net, WWM re probable approaches. Bob
Fenner> |  |
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