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FAQs on Marine Algae Identification
5
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: FAQ ID Visual
Guide, Marine
Algae ID 1, Marine Algae ID 2,
Marine Algae ID 3, Marine Algae ID 4, 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 17, 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 ID, 25, Marine Algae ID, 25, SW Algae ID 26, SW Algae ID 27, SW Algae ID 29, SW Algae ID 30, SW Algae ID 31, SW Algae ID 32, SW Algae ID 33, SW Algae ID 34, SW Algae ID 35, SW
Algae ID 36, SW Algae ID 37, SW
Algae ID 38, SW Algae ID 39, & 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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New Print and
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Marine Aquarium Algae Control
by Robert (Bob) Fenner
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| Algae identification For the past few months, I have had
a rather obnoxious algae bloom in my tank that I have a few ideas
as to its origin (poor maintenance, overfeeding, loss of previous
macro algae colony due to Rabbitfish)... <All possible
influences> Anyhow, I am looking for a possible identification
of this rather irritating algae so I can combat it properly and
quickly. Attached is a picture of the algae in question.
<Very likely some sort or mix of blue-greens... likely feel
slimy to the touch> This algae is primarily growing
on my LR and the back glass of the aquarium, as well as the
overflow and output tubes. It generally stays off the
substrate. If easily identified, is there any particular
creature that may see this as a bountiful garden in which he can
graze happily in? <Not likely... other means to control
exist> As for tank parameters, I have a 135gal reef setup where
the "normal" tests come up clean; ammonia = 0, Nitrate =
0, Nitrite = 0, Calcium is a little low due to the poor maintenance
issue stated above - around 380ish, Phosphate = 0 (test kit may
need to be replaced due to age), PH = 8.2, salinity 1.022 (ish -
hard to tell with exact accuracy with my hydrometer). I run a red
sea Berlin protein skimmer in my 39 gal fuge / sump. As
for livestock, I have a rather large green carpet Anemone, 3 Clarki
clowns, 1 royal Gramma, 1 sailfin tang, 1 yellow Rabbitfish (that
ate my previous macro algae colony almost overnight), 1 flame
angel, 1 scooter dragonet, about 40 or so Astrea snails, 20 or so
narcissus snails, <Heee! Are they in love with themselves
>;> 40 or so various hermit crabs, and a small variety of
hard and soft corals (mostly mushrooms, button polyps, and a good
sized encrusting Montipora. The love rock weighs in
about 100 - 150lbs (possibly more, I forgot). Overall, the tank has
been up for almost 4 years. The algae appeared here and
there in small patches, but nothing that was really worrisome until
about 2 months ago at which time I added the Rabbitfish to the tank
in hopes he would take a liking to the algae. Instead he
munched the good stuff that I wanted to keep. <Wouldn't
you?> Also around that time I added an automatic
feeder that feeds twice daily. This I know is adding a
larger amount of nutrients to the tank due to the fact that it
provides quite a bit more food than I was
previously. (my belief is that this is the root of the
problem). I have hence cut back on the amount of food
delivered by the feeder, though I have not seen any immediate
result (this was a few days ago that I did this).
Any insight as to this particular algae would be most appreciated.
Thanks Andy <Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm
and the related archives (linked, in blue, at top) where you lead
yourself. Bob Fenner> |
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Where Did That Ogo Go-Go? (Mystery Gracilaria ID)
Hi, <Hi there! Scott F. at your service!> We received a type of
Red Gracilaria that differed from the branchy type in that it was
rather flattish, somewhat transparent and
"slimy." Our tangs loved it and it seemed to grow
better than the thin branchy type. I found a picture at one
time that indicated the species was from Japan. The Caulerpa
smothered it out and of course I can't find the picture/type now.
Any idea what the name of it was or where it could be obtained? Thanks,
Doug <Well, Doug- I believe that I have encountered this species
before, myself. I think that it may be G. salicornia, but you may need
to do some internet searches to be sure. University of Hawai'i
maintains a nice database on macroalgae with links that may be of
interest...I highly recommend checking it out. Best of luck on your
search! Regards, Scott F.>
Macroalgae ID Question Dear Crew, <Hello, Ryan with
you today> I REALLY appreciate all the efforts that you all put
into this website. I have learned a lot from your collective
insights. <Wonderful to hear> The two attached photos are
from my nano reef. Both growths sprouted from my live rock. I would
appreciate somebody positively identifying what they are. I have
researched both. I think the green worm looking things are Neomeris
annulata. I have not come up with a definitive answer especially
for the reddish algae. <The green algae in your attached photo
is most certainly Neomeris annulata. Harmless, calcium
loving macroalgae. For the red algae, I'm at a
loss. I have seen it before, but have never heard the
name. I'd pick up Airlie books, "Marine Plants
of the Caribbean" for further info.> The green worm looking
things are growing in length but do not seem to be spreading. Are
they any threat to grow out of control or should I just continue to
enjoy them and leave them alone. <The
latter. They'll be a good indicator for calcium
levels.> The unnamed reddish algae is spreading like wildfire
and I need to know how, or even if it is possible, to control it.
<Control nutrients, increase water flow in the
area. I'd manually remove it with gloves, and throw
it in the garbage. Try and get all of it!> Thanks
again for your collective wisdom. <Anytime! Good
luck, Ryan>
Mark |
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| Black growth on live rock Hi, I have a question
regarding a black growth on my live rock. I have included pictures
for it. The black growth seems to be spreading rather fast. It has
a velvety feel to it, and every time I scrub it off, it seems to
return. <Is it slimy at all? Likely a blue-green algae... though
could be a green... Have to look under a microscope to discern even
to Division> I have checked out all of my params and they seem
to be normal. I have had this live rock for over a year, in my 72
gal. tank. Inhabitants include just one blackbird wrasse. I am
using a remora pro skimmer and a HOB refugium, doing Bi-weekly
water changes. The wrasse seems to be acting normal, so I do not
think that it is affecting her. Do you have any suggestions as to
what this could be? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time. <Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
and where the Related Articles and FAQs (linked, in blue, at top),
lead you. There are a few simple ways to direct or limit pest algal
growths... as you will see. Bob Fenner> |
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Algae ID? 11/21/04 I have an 80 gal fish only with live rock
that has been up for about 9 or 10 months. Occupants
are a couple of emerald crabs, snails, a royal Gramma and an ocellaris
clown. I have lots of algae! Am running an Aqua C
remora pro skimmer, carbon and poly filter in the wet and dry which
also has those ceramic thingies in it. Tank is not drilled
so no sump. Placed on of those SEIO power heads about a week
ago. In addition to stuff I can identify like Halimeda and
Valonia and I think a species of Caulerpa, I have hair algae and the
green stuff that forms a carpet on the bottom that traps gases and
starts to float above the sand bed (deep sand bed). <a
BGA or dinoflagellate perhaps> I have recently started to get what
closely resemble those fungi bracts that one sees growing on tree
branches and such in the forest. These form at the edges of
the live rock and grow quite large and mushroom like. Any
thoughts as to what they are would be quite helpful <this latter
algae sounds very much like Lobophora... do search for pics
with this name on Google/WWM, etc> as would thoughts on the green
carpet like micro algae. Nitrates consistently test
0. Have plenty of happy purple coralline in the
tank. Don't have a test kit for
phosphate. The fish are fed pellet food sparingly, lighting
is NO, 105 watts total. Thanks! <do focus on making that
skimmer produce coffee-dark, near daily cups of skimmate and you will
starve the algae into submission in 3 weeks or less, I assure you. No
worries :) Anthony>
IDing macrophytes, marine plants > Hi Ryan,
< Hi Bill, MacL here with you today, Ryan must be busy.> Thank
you for your advice and answer to my questions. <We try!> I think
you're right about the blue tang 12 inch full grown would be rather
big for a 75gal. <Definitely so you'll need to make future plans
for the guy now.> Anyway just wanted to let you know I am lucky
enough to have copepods in my system some on glass and a lot more
swimming at top of water. <Wonderful!!> My damsels
seem to like them too. The plant in my fuge is not a mangrove tuber it
has flat foliage long and kind of jagged edges and is all under water.
<Sounds like feather Caulerpa to me.> Any info on this
plant or macro algae would be appreciated. Do you know of any site
about identifying marine plants. <www.algaebase.org is an amazing
site for algae identification, you might look there MacL> Thanks
again for your help, <Good luck Bill> Bill Seaweed ID?
This one might be kinda odd. Many years ago I dated a woman who was
working on her masters in something marine biology related. It was
great fun to go to aquariums because she'd always point out and
name the things in the tanks that didn't have signs and give a
little info about them and why they were used. Now, I don't know
why this random thing has popped into my head, or why it's haunting
me now, but her favorite seaweed (algae?) was something called
analipos. I think. I really don't think I remember the
name correctly because nothing comes up when I Google it, but I'm
very certain it was something close to this. I think it was brown and
hair-like, but again, I could be wrong. Got any ideas? Does it ring a
bell? This is driving me nuts. <Mmm, nothing comes to mind with this
name but do take a look through our photos, descriptions of the algae
most often used/encountered in the ornamental marine aquarium interest.
These are divided into groups (largely identifiable by color): The
index is here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marinvind1.htm Good
luck, Bob Fenner>
Need an Algae ID Adam, You asked that I send more pics
as this algae grew. It is doing wonderfully, pushing
6" in diameter now. As it was on Atlantic rock,
I'm thinking it's Rosenvingea (I finally found a drawing of
Rosenvingea, and it's pretty much dead on). Do I
have that right or is Scanaia more likely? << I'll say
Rosenvingea sanctae-crucis. Looks awesome!
>> 'Course, it doesn't really matter as
it's a really nice surprise whatever it is. << That's
the truth. >> Only problem now is how to propagate it.
<< Well you can propagate it by hand, but the best thing to
do is to let it grow onto other rocks, then pull them apart.
>> I have several friends that would like some of it too, but
I'm afraid if I cut on it I'll kill it. << Yah,
I'd wait until it has really stabilized and is growing well.
>> Thanks, << Thanks for the update, I love algae.
>> Tom
<< Blundell >> |
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New Print and
eBook on Amazon
Marine Aquarium Algae Control
by Robert (Bob) Fenner
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