|
| |
|
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: 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 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,
|
 |
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> |
|
  |
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 |
|
  |
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>
|
|
 |
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 >> |
|
 |
| |
|
