MarAlgIDFAQ13

FAQs on Marine Algae Identification 13

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Marine Aquarium Algae Control

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Looks like macroalgae growing out of Xenia... Tis! 2/16/07 <Hi Mike, Mich with you tonight.> Have you ever seen this happen before? <Mmm, actually, yes.> I don't know if this is a disease or a problem but I don't think it is what a Xenia is supposed to do. <Xenia can have a mind of its' own. Tis neither a disease nor a problem.> It is splitting all the way up the base and this green stuff that looks like grass is coming out of it. The green stuff is now almost 1 inch long. <No worries! If it bothers you, you can remove the algae. The Xenia will most likely continue to grow. Fine to just leave it alone too. Entirely up to you.> When I first got the Xenia (3 months ago) there was a very small patch of this stuff coming out of the side of it and now the grass-like stuff has grown to being almost an inch long and the split is about 2 inches up the stalk by over 1 inch wide (split open I mean). I'll include a pic and all my tank parameters. Except for being split wide open and this grass-like stuff coming out of it the coral seems like it is doing just fine (spreading like crazy). <Typical of Xenia. Often grows like a weed.> Ammonia/Nitrite 0 Nitrate;5 pH;8.0 Alk Salinity;1.025 Ca ranges between 400-425 Thanks in advance
Mike

Identify Friendly or Fo ??? Phaeophyte - 02/15/07 I am a reasonably new marine aquarist...my experience with it began last march. I am learning as much on my own as possible, but I don't know whether I should be researching this as a coral a mushroom or what. I id look for quite awhile to no avail. It's a bunch of white flower looking things, with white circles. This is a pic. and thanks for your help in advance! <A Padina sp... See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brnalgae.htm No worries. BobF>

Algae id 1/27/07 I am having difficulty identifying this. Attached is a pic of a maroon algae/Cyano growing on my rocks. <I see it... blurry> It is a deep maroon in color and is "fuzzy" in appearance. My first thoughts were this is a species of Cyano. However, unlike typical Cyano, it is not slimy to the touch. Unfortunately you cannot tell in the picture but under close examination, it is made of up tiny fiber-like branches interwoven into a mat. <Ahh...> So far it doesn't seem to be on any sps but it is quickly overgrowing areas in my 180. Any help on ID'ing it would be appreciated so I can formulate a removal strategy. Jeff <Mmm, might be another algal group... or even an invertebrate animal possibility... Need a better resolved image and/or microscopic examination... Removal is likely best with a good-sized diameter siphon if it's not too strongly attached. Bob Fenner>

Brown Macro ID 1/27/07 Hi Crew, <Tanya> This brownish (sometimes grayish or no color at all) algae is taking over my (reef) tank! It came as a hitchhiker and spread like wildfire. None of the snails or hermits will go near it. It can be pulled out as it tends to grow in mats and tangle with itself, but because it is so brittle and clingy, you can never quite get it all off of the rock. Can you please ID it? And tell me what will eat it? Thanks! Tanya <Likely this is a Blue Green Algae... and not much likely to eat it appreciably... Please read here re control strategies: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cyanocontrolfaqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Purple on My Glass 1/1/07 Hello there, <Hi> I need some info on an issue with my 29 salt. I have some light purple spots on my glass and powerhead and other things in my tank. It won't come off with the algae brush. The LFS said that it was ok, and he called it something but can't remember what he called it. It kinda of crust, it scraps off with my finger nails. Is there something that I can buy or use to get this off at least my glass? Thanks for your info. Cody <Coralline algae, many scrappers available to remove it from the glass. See http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm for more.> <Chris>

Re: water and algae mystery 12/29/06 Thank you for the comments. I did find out what the starfish was thanks to you and the LFS. I have read that in the future it could be a threat to some soft corals. I was hoping you could elaborate on the purple 'buds' that are popping up. <Could be a few things... the "top" guesses w/o pix, further description are sponges, algae...> I have looked at tons of algae on the internet but cant find anything that looks like it. <There are "tons" more that aren't illustrated as yet on the Net> Can you point in the right direction? They are small purple buds popping up on the LR and branch. any help will be appreciated - thank you - Aaron <Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marinvind1.htm The files from the top down. Bob Fenner>

Re: Different Species of Chaetomorpha 12/18/06 I ran Cladophora through Google Image. I have determined that my second species of algae is, without a doubt, Cladophora columbiana. Is this a beneficial species to have in my refugium, along with Chaetomorpha? <Yes it is. Like Chaeto, the Cladophora thrives on nitrogen and phosphorous. James (Salty Dog)>

Soft Coral, worm, algae ID 12/6/06 Dear Crew, I was wondering if you could help me identify my new soft coral. It was sold to me as a Sarcophyton sp., but it looks more like a Sinularia sp. to me. I have attached pictures for reference. <Is not a Sarcophyton for sure... Likely is a Sinularia species... definitely a Alcyoniid> On another note, I was watching my tank the other night and I noticed what I believe are worms, possibly bristle worms, swimming through the tank. They were swimming rather quickly with a cork-screwing motion. <Good description...> I couldn't find any reference to similar behavior, so I was curious about it. I have also attached a picture of one of the worms. (I couldn't get a picture of one swimming, so it is a picture of the worm on the glass.) <Is an errantiate polychaete (there are thousands of species) of some sort> Also, I am having trouble with, but I am not sure what type it is. I can't find anything that looks similar to it. It grows all over my live rock and the glass of the aquarium. I have also attached a picture as a reference. <Are Blue-greens... Cyanobacteria...> My parameters are as follows: 55 gallon tank with 120 watts NO fluorescents Temperature: 79Â° F Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, Copper: 0 ppm pH: 8.2 dKH: 10Â° Calcium: 550ppm <Way too high...> Specific Gravity 1.026 Weekly 10% water changes with RO water. Top-off twice daily with RO water. (About a quart of a water each time.) Thank you for your time, Daniel <Mmm, please do take a read on WWM re the groups, situation mentioned above... Bob Fenner>

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Marine Aquarium Algae Control

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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