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FAQs on Marine Algae Identification 17
Related Articles: 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:
Marine Algae ID 1, Marine Algae ID 2,
Marine Algae ID 3,
Marine Algae ID 4, Marine
Algae ID 5,
Marine Algae ID 6, Marine
Algae ID 7, Marine Algae ID 8,
Marine Algae ID 9, Marine Algae ID
10, Marine Algae ID 11,
Marine Algae ID 12, Marine Algae ID
13, Marine Algae ID 14,
Marine Algae ID 15, Marine Algae ID 16,
Marine Algae ID 18, Marine Algae ID 19,
Marine Algae ID 20, Marine Algae ID 21,
Marine Algae ID 22, Marine Algae ID 23,
Marine Algae ID 24, Marine Algae ID,
25, & Marine Algae Control FAQs 2,
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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Diatoms?: how to proceed 8/23/07
Dear Crew,
<Mark>
I
know the information is on your web page; I just can't seem to put it
all together.
Tank parameters:
90gal set up for 3 years. Have
always seemed to have an algae problem of one kind or another since
automatic fish feeder fell in the tank while I was at work 1.5 years
ago.
Water flow is approximately 1500 gph
Filtration: sand and
protein skimmer
pH 8.2-8.4
NH3=0
NH2=0
Alk=9dKH
NO3=undetectable with Aquarium Pharm.
PO3=undetectable with Aquarium
Pharm.
Calcium=400ppm
5 gallon water changes weekly
Livestock:
4" yellow tang
3" flame angel
2" cleaner shrimp
2 species of
Montipora
3 species of Acropora
2 species of star polyps
1
frogspawn colony
Three weeks ago I added Kalkwasser to replace
evaporation since my calcium levels were a little low (350ppm vs. the
400ppm as present). Two days after I added the Kalkwasser I noticed my
BGA was replaced by what I believe to be diatoms (I looked at them with
a microscope and found they were too large to be BGA, but did not appear
as symmetrical as I would expect from diatoms.
<Bacillariophyceans
are distinctive... as you state>
Cells were oval shaped with only one
plane of symmetry).
<Not diatoms. Were organelles, nuclei apparent?>
Also, many of them float to the water's surface during the day; less or
not at all at night.
The SPS don't seem to be affected but the
frogspawn and star polyps don't look very good (stay closed most of the
day).
<Yikes...>
In an effort to rid my tank of this bloom I
replaced my DIY protein skimmer with a Tunze DOC 9005, added an inch of
1-3mm aragonite sand (it was down to 2.5), and switched from tap water
to RO that I buy from the LFS. I also added a small clump of Chaetophora
to my tank.
<Really? Am assuming you mean/t the genus Chaetomorpha>
What should my next step be? Keep up with the water changes and wait it
out?
<Yes, I would... unless the Stony Corals continue to "look
bad"... in which case I'd effect another, larger water change and use
carbon in your filter flow path>
Buy some new live rock and/or order
live sand activator to recharge my system with small detritivores?
<Also a good move>
Was this caused by the CaOH precipitating PO3 thus
killing the BGA and leading to a diatom bloom?
<Possibly... but not
diatoms... some other Protista>
Thanks for a wonderful website,
Mark
<Do send along pix if you can. Bob Fenner>
Re: Diatoms?: how to proceed 8/24/07
Hi Bob,
<Mark>
Thanks for your quick reply. I forgot to mention that I also
stopped adding Kalkwasser a few days ago. As a result the pH in my tank
reverted to pre-Kalkwasser readings: 7.8 in the morning and 8.2 in the
afternoon. Also my calcium increased to 420ppm. This could be due to
experimental error (difference in reading of only one drop) or due to
increase calcium solubility in the lower pH.
<Better to look into
bolstering alkalinity slowly through your water changes over time
here...>
The corals do look a little better today, but I am concerned
about this Protist bloom. I looked at a sample I took from the bottom of
the tank (first time was from top/dead) and found that when alive they
are very mobile.
<NOT Diatoms...>
It looks like they use cilia
for locomotion. Also they seem to contain brown chloroplasts and a
nucleus. Enclosed is a Word document with a picture pasted onto it. Are
there any good herbivores for this?
<I see... more likely
Dinoflagellates...>
I am afraid to buy fresh live rock at this point
because I think it would become smothered.
<Mmmm>
Thanks,
Mark
P.S. I did mean Chaetomorpha (not Chaetophora)
<Ah, good. Bob Fenner>
Re: Diatoms?: how to proceed... Maybe Euglenoids
7/25/07
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to thank you for your help. I did
some searching and it looks like these are Euglenoids from the genus
Trachelomonas
(though from what I've seen on the internet this is
mostly a freshwater genus). The following link convinced me; especially
the movement.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/Pics/Other%2520Algae/Other_jpegs/Trachelomonas1.jpg&imgrefurl=
http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/LucidKeys/Carolina_Key/html/
Trachelomonas_Main.html&h=235&w=288&sz=38&hl=en&start=27&tbnid=H0z0lEYVy3pntM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=115
&prev=/images%3Fq%3DEuglenoids%26start%3D20%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
<Okay>
So eventually the alkalinity will improve with water changes?
<Mmm, yes... should... with higher alkalinity in the new water...>
I've had low pH (7.8-8.2) for at least 1.5 years with weekly water
changes. Of course the addition of the Tunze skimmer may take some
pressure off the buffers in the saltwater mix (Instant Ocean).
Thanks
again,
Mark
<I would look into supplemental bolstering of your
alkalinity here... Bob Fenner>
Algae ID Please... Better Photo Please – 8/19/07
Hey guys,
<Hi there, Mich here, barely.>
I have had this alga for the past
2 years and can’t get rid of it.
<OK.>
What it is small
clusters of very short red hair algae , it is not slimy and its
taking over my rocks, even covering my Maxijet 1200 intake sponge.
<I can't really tell anything from the photo you sent, is very
blurry, but the blurs sort of resemble hydroids to me, but need
better sot to really help you out here. You need to look for the
Macro setting on your camera (The symbol usually looks like a daisy
or flower of some sort. This will allow you to take better close up
shots.>
I have tried red & blue-legged hermits and sea bunnies
but can't get rid of it. Only extremely low ph seems to work , but
do not want to kill my BTA. Any Ideas?
<A better photo might
help.>
thanks guys
<Sorry I can't help you more.>
here is
the link for the picture:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1696/hpim0219dm2.jpg
<You did
look at this photo, right? I mean, I know I'm tired, and a bit
bleary eyed, but dang! Mich> | 
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Could You Try and ID This Algae? 8/8/07
This started out as a
tiny paddle looking thing growing out of a mushroom rock. Now it is a
bunch about 4 to 5 inches across. The “leaves” are very crinkled on the
edges and it looks brown with light speckles throughout. I can’t even
see down to the rock where it is attached to tell how it is attached. It
looks really nice in my tank and moves with water flow. My tangs
occasionally nip at it but mostly leave it alone. 2 photos are attached
<We just had someone else send in a remarkable similar photo and now I
can't
seem to find it here on WWM. Bob where'd ya put it? I believe
this is a Rhodophyte, a red alga. Enjoy it! It's a beauty!>
Thanks,
<Welcome! Mich>
Agnes
<Should be w/ the Reds, or alg. in
general... poss. LR hitchhikers... Is a red. B> | 
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Macroalgae ID
7/13/07
Greetings,
Hey Crew!
I have a couple of pictures
of an unknown Algae that I was hoping you might be able to ID.
<Actually, I think you have hydroids (most likely of the genus
Myrionema). Not all hydroids are bad, but these ones are. And believe it
or not, they're actually closer to jelly fish than algae.>
This stuff
is incredibly prolific and comes right back after harvesting from the
rock. I'm afraid I would have to scrub the rock to get it off and as
almost every rock has some other important denizen, I'd rather not.
Harvesting is not a problem but I was hoping with an ID, I might find a
critter who would benefit from harvesting it for it's own nutritional
needs.
<I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these things get
really annoying. You're not likely to find something that eats them.
They sting and kill things. Basically, they're like Aiptasia. For more
info, please see: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hyzoancompfaq.htm.>
Thank you,
<De nada,
Sara M.>
EL
Re: Macroalgae ID, hydrozoan control
7/13/07
Sara,
I looked through what available literature there
was on this species that I could readily find as well as cruising
through the WWW forums. From what I read, short of removing the rocks
and scrubbing them off, I am basically going to be in a situation of
just constantly harvesting them out and trying to keep them from growing
near any corals.
<Pretty much, yes. Controlling excess nutrients with
protein skimming, water changes, macro algae harvesting, etc. will also
help.>
However, I noticed that in a previous post Anthony mentioned
that some limpets eat them. I was wondering if there was a way we could
get his attention and find out a suggested suitable species that I could
add to the system to enjoy a wonderful Hydroid snack!?!
<I'll cc dear
Anthony here. He's extremely busy so I don't know how long it might take
him to respond. Also keep in mind that knowing the kind of limpet that
eats these is one thing, finding them is quite another.>
Again, thank
you so very much for all your wonderful help!
<Happy to help. Good
luck.
Sara M.>
-EL |  
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Plant id (Acetabularia spp.) AKA Mermaid's Wineglass or Mermaid's
Winecups 7/12/07
Hello Everyone,
<Hi there! Mich here.>
If I missed this somewhere I'm sorry
<No worries...Is on the site.
You can see it here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/maralgae.htm
but
what is this growing
<Is an alga, (Acetabularia spp.) AKA Mermaid's
Wineglass or Mermaid's Winecups>
and is it good
<Is good.>
and
how do I get more to grow
<Keep doing what your doing is the best I
can tell you.>
it is pretty.
<Certainly is! Enjoy them! Mich> |
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Algae Confusion... Coralline vs. Cyanobacteria aka Red Slime aka BGA aka
Blue/Green Algae 7/10/07
<Hi Kristie, Mich here.>
I have
searched the Internet for pix & info on my question & can't seem to find
the right answers. We have a 120-gallon marine fish only & 75-gallon
reef tank. But I am unclear which is coralline algae vs. the red slime
or other unwanted algae.
<Really, well, hopefully we can fix that.>
It seems that the large tank without the "excellent" lighting has the
coralline algae & the smaller reef tank with better lighting is starting
to develop red slime (& now bubbles building up).
<Is possible, and
coralline algae does not produce bubbles. Coralline algae are generally
hard and encrusting, similar to an eggshell on a hardboiled egg in that
it firmly encapsulates. Red slime on the other hand is very soft, often
produces bubbles, may grow on your sandbed, can be easily blown off the
rocks and sand and has more of a consistency of a raw egg.>
I look
online for pics, but am not sure what is what.
<We'll help you
here.>
thanks for you help.
<You're welcome!>
I can attach
pics of mine if you like, or if you have a reference to pics of each
online or your website...
<I will refer you here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm This article goes into ways
of controlling BGA.
And do a Google image search... for more using
the terms coralline. Cyanobacteria or Blue/green algae doesn’t give the
best results, use the WWM link provided above for a more accurate photo
representation.>
Thanks.
Kristie
<Welcome! Mich>
ps. We took
a huge green brittle starfish out of the reef tank & put it in the 120
gallon. Could this be why I'm starting to develop this algae?
<Is a
scavenger but it is unlikely that this is the cause. Please read the
article re control.>
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