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FAQs on Marine Algae Identification 10
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
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 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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Mysterious Algae Question 12/24/06
Hi Ladies and
Gentleman.
<"John">
A semi brief question.
<Like chocolate?>
I have a brown fuzzy type of algae that grows on just about anything
except my corals and substrate. It is maybe 3mm in length and you have
to get up close to see it. From across the room you would never see it,
and it only grows where there is very very strong flow. It is not
aggressive, just annoying. The fuzz stops where a coral or clam starts,
or decreased flow. I keep SPS (Acropora, Montipora) and they are all
doing great so it is not hindering anything. My tang and snails like
it.
I have tested all parameters for a possible fuel for this
nuisance and everything tests good, nitrate 0, phosphate 0 etc. I run
RO/DI, (no silicates) keep my alk at 12 ,calcium at 420 and ph at 8.4
and all stable. I run AC for the first 3 days of each month and started
running Phosar 24x7 for the last two weeks thinking perhaps it is
excessive PO4. I have a skimmer rated for twice my tanks needs and do
my 20% water changes bi-weekly. I do have a fuge with a DSB and
Chaeto. Nothing seems to help.
Other then this brown fuzz I have
zero (0) algae in my tank or sump.
I am out of ideas. Any insight
you can provide would be helpful.
<Mmm, would need/take microscopic
examination, but this is highly likely a Cyanobacteria... taking
advantage of conditions only it can...>
If you need more detailed
information I will be happy to provide it.
Wet Web Media
Rocks.
John
<Thanks. Bob Fenner> Re: Mysterious Algae
Question 12/25/06
Bob,
<John>
Thanks for
replying.
<Welcome>
I found exactly what I am dealing with on
WWM site at the following link, last entry so you can get an idea:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/maralgidfaq7.htm
Salty Dog said that
algae is difficult to get rid of. Just what I wanted to hear. So I am
open to any ideas you can think of.
Thanks Bob.
John
<Read
my friend... limiting nutrient availability, competition, predation...
many roads... Gone over and over again... on WWM. Bob Fenner>
Dictyosphaeria colony, big green thing 2/13/06
Gentleman,
Can you identify this hunk of green algae growing at the base of my
reef ? Should I remove it ? Thanks for your help. Tom.
<Likely a
Dictyosphaeria colony: See here
http://wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
Up to you to keep or
(carefully vacuum, remove rock, scrub... to prevent spreading) not.
Bob Fenner> | .jpg)
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Algae ID help 02/12/06
I read all 10 pages of your algae ID's
and still have questions.
<Okay>
The one I'm most curious
about is one that looks like that crinkly plastic Easter basket
grass. It is full
of both water and bubbles for buoyancy. Also, I
have some that is probably plain hair algae (it is growing
on the
glass, too). Any chance it is Chlorodesmis instead?
<Doesn't look
like this to me>
Finally, confirmation that this is plain bubble
algae. Does it grow on short stalks?
<No>
Tank is 3 weeks old
and these Algaes appeared after diatom bloom. Any Latin names would be
appreciated. Thanks.
<... wish I could... don't know from these pix.
I suspect these will cycle out soon. Bob Fenner> |  
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It's Green and Growing Fast...Algae? - 02/06/2006
Gentleman,
<Let's not forget the ladies;)>
At the base of my reef there is
growing a 3" diameter chunk of some kind of algae. Its dark green and
somewhat hard. I have seen my Scopas Tang chewing on it. What the heck
is it?
<Can't say without a pic. Most likely some new algae growth
though.>
Leave it there or remove it?
<If the Tang likes it, I'd
leave it.>
Thanks, Tom
<You're welcome. - Josh>
Algae identification and removal 02-05-06
Hi,
<Hello>
I have a large amount of what appears to be Caulerpa growing in my
tank. Today while fumbling through your archives I read that some
Caulerpa can give off toxins, which surprised me.
<All algae can
actually>
So I looked through all your algae identification
pages, and I found nothing.
<Surprising>
A close match is
Caulerpa racemosa, but I don't think that is it.
<Is what this
looks like to me>
I will be attaching a picture of it. Just in
case it did not go through, which it may very well not, I will give
a quick description. As all Caulerpa it is based on a vine. On the
vine "bubbles" shoot out along the vine. Unlike Caulerpa racemosa,
there are two bubbles on opposite sides of the vine, then go up
1/2cm the vine and there are two more "bubbles" on opposite sides of
the vine and this continues. So my questions are what is this? And
is it a danger to my tank?
<In large (relative) quantity,
possibly>
By the way my yellow tang will not touch it, this
leads to my theory of it being undesirable. If I need to remove it
what is the best way to do it. Remove it all at once?
<If you
want>
Or remove it over the period of a few days due to the
possibility of releasing excessive toxins into the water?
<Oh!
If you want to remove it entirely, try to take it out all in one
go... along with a water change, use of carbon...>
Sorry for the
lengthy question?
<No worries. Bob Fenner>
Thanks much,
Jed | 
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Help unknown algae - 1/30/2006
Hello Crew,
Thanks
for the great site! I have a question regarding 100+ sprouts of an
unknown macro algae that growing all over my 3 week old "Fiji Premium
Live Rock". I have 90 lbs of it in my 50 gallon new reef tank. I guess
I want to know if it is a problem, and if it is a problem what should I
do to remove?
<Mmm, might be Derbesia:
http://www.google.com/search?q=derbesia+identification>
I do not
have a sump to place competing favorable Algaes. I do have a Magnum
canister filter and an Aqua-C Remora.
Thanks in advance for your
help.
<Need more info... or to direct you to the articles, FAQs
files on WWM re Algae Control... Bob Fenner> | 
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Re: Help unknown algae 1/31/06
Bob,
<Tom>
Thank you for your response. What more information do you need (I have
included 2 more photos)? I reviewed your links and they did not seem to
help me understand what I am up against.
<Really? A bit wider search
will show this genus is hard to control once established... most "algae
eaters" find it unpalatable...>
I have a yellow tang, scarlet
hermits, Mithrax crab, astrea, cerith, and Nassarius snails and none of
them will eat it.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Tom Hobson
<Umm, go back young man... to WWM. Read re Green Algae, Control... Bob
Fenner>
Re: Help unknown algae 1/31/06
Bob,
<Tom!>
I'm sorry but I must be a little too dim...
<Mmm, nope... gauging from below you're at least in the Metal Halide
class of intensity>
but I do not see the light. I have read the
algae control section. I have restricted food for the fish
(nutrients). I have added, "tang heaven red and green" from IPSF.com to
compete.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Ph 8.3
alk 300+
<Mmm, the last is likely calcium
concentration in ppm?>
I have not tried an urchin, or Elysia. The
only other things I think of is to pull the rock out and try to razor
blade the plants off or throw it away and start over.
<Not yet...>
Is there some little tidbit that I am missing that will prevent me
from tossing the live rock?
<Yes... I'd try the Kalkwasser trick
here once or twice. Mix up a batch and add some till the pH reaches
about 8.6... should precipitate soluble phosphate and really shake the
Green. We'll "escalate" (Shades of "Nam", and soon the Middle East) what
you might do here next if this doesn't do the trick. BobF>
Tom
Hobson
Re: Help unknown algae 1/31/06
Bob,
<Tom>
I guess I need to cut the chase here. If this rock is going
to be a continual problem, I want to throw it out and start over with a
new batch of live rock.
<Mmm... not really a good, practical
approach. The new rock (or even no rock at all!) can/will develop the
same algae/problem from spores left about, and prevailing conditions...
Best to take a sort of long haul, steering a large boat with a small
rudder attitude here... create competition for nutrient, reduced
nutrients period, and allelopathy means of control...>
As costly as
this may be, I would rather spend the money than beat my head against a
wall. This tank was supposed to be an enjoyable hobby right now it is
pain.
<Believe you me, I understand... as stated, categorically I'd
launch a blitzkrieg with the three avenues above. Bob Fenner>
Tom
Hobson |
Algae? - 1/30/2006
Hi Crew,
I am new to the reef
hobby (less than 1 year). I have found your web site & Anthony's
and Bob's books tremendously helpful.
I've not been able to find
a similar photo on wet web media of this. Can you tell me if this
looks like some type of red algae?
It's developing in several
areas of my tank.
I like the way it looks but want to make sure
it's okay for my reef tank.
thanks,
Marty
<Likely a Red,
see:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm, but could be a brown
(bleached out), definitely an algae... in both cases desirable. Bob
Fenner> | 
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Red & Pink Algaes 1/27/06
I have these 2 types of algae
growing. I found 2 pictures on WWW.com that look similar, but I'd like
to double check with my pics. Please see attached.
The maroon algae
is gorgeous. I've had Cyano in the past, this looks nothing like that
disgusting slime in shape, but colorwise, please see for yourself. It is
groups of individual feathers, some kind of curly, feathery. Any ideas?
<Pic too blurry to identify, at least on my old fashion CRT.> Or is it
time to start ripping it up? <Wouldn't rip up.> Nothing will eat it,
that's for sure.
The pink/orange stuff, man, I'm clueless. It grows
in roughly the same shape, but never find it in direct light. <To me
this looks like a specie of encrusting sponge, not algae.> It looks like
pinkish orange plastic that they make kids squirt guns out of. Real
weird. Not spreading like crazy. Ideas on this one?
Tell me what I
want to hear! (Undiscovered species of G. Blablabla from previously
unknown island in Pacific Rim. First known subject in captivity).
<Possibly first known species on your block.>
Or not. I am prepared
for either.
Thanks! <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> | 
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What kind of algae is it? Spin the Wheel of Identification!
1/22/06
We have tons of little red colored "dashes" that seem to
be attached at one end to a clear colored almost invisible stuff all
over the sides of the tank. They are almost free floating except for
being anchored at one end. They wave in the current. I can not find out
anything about it, please help. Thank you, Scott & Nancy
<Mmm...
uhh... could be a member of a few phyla... see the Invertebrate ID FAQs
files on WWM, send a pic if you can. My first guess... some sort of
tubiculous polychaete. Bob Fenner>
Little "moose antler" looking red thing 1/7/06
I have not
gotten an answer to this email and assume (the dreaded "word") it
went to email heaven. The entire text is copied below:
<Thanks
for re-sending... don't recall seeing, and I move most all about>
Hey Everyone,
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. A week or
so ago I found
this little "moose antler" looking red thing
growing in my tank on an old
clam shell. I hope the picture
comes through and you can see it.
<Nope. Rats!>
The shell
sits on the bottom of my 75 gal tank. It has grown a good bit since
I first
saw it, not quite doubling in size to what it is now. I
would guess it is
about an inch high now. It looks filmy and
translucent but stands up to the
water flow. I don't have any
flow directly on it but do have good flow
through the tank. I
have 4 power heads as well as the canister filter, 2
power heads
are 400 gph and 2 are about 350 gph. I tried looking on your
site but didn't see anything that looked enough like it for an ID. I
searched on the internet and the only thing that looked similar was
"Nori"
and it was still a little different. What ever it is I'm
really happy to see
it. I am going to have a good time watching
it grow, hope it doesn't turn
out to be some giant type that
grows out of the tank!!
I pasted the picture here and copied it
in the email also; I sure
hope you can see one of them. And
guess what! I figured out what you all
have been talking about
of emails in HTML format so I changed it to Rich
Text, is this
ok?
<The text is yes...>
I had no clue what you were talking
about before so I was
one of the guilty ones. Thanks for all of
the help while I learn how to take
better care of my tank pets.
<Mmm, I suspect this growth is an algae of some sort... second
quess, perhaps a sponge colony... in either/all cases, not likely
harmful... You can try sending the pix to my personal email:
fennerrobert@hotmail.com if you'd like. Cheers, Bob Fenner> |
Professor,
<Nutty perhaps>
I'm sure it is an algae, red,
and good for my tank. I was trying to find out
what kind
because it just showed up and I got excited about that. I have
some other green algae which just started growing on one of my
live rocks
also but have been unable to get a decent picture
of that.
This is my fourth message trying to get the picture
to you. I hope it works.
Agnes Gray
<Do see "it"...
still could be an algae (first guess), sponge (second). Not
harmful at any length. Cheers, Bob Fenner> | 
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