Macroalgae identification 1/27/12
Crew,
<Mich>
I am hoping that you can confirm an identification. This macroalgae has been growing in our reef for several years under actinics and metal halides. It's a gorgeous vibrant purple and I find it more appealing than even the corals. I think it's a Padina species (slang name onion ring algae),
<Mmm, perhaps w/ an encrusting Red overgrowing it... but I think more likely this is Peyssonnelia sp. An encrusting Red. Class Rhodophyceae, Subclass Florideophycidae, Order Gigartinales, Family Peyssonneliaceae>
but I have been unable to find a picture with a specimen with a similar color to ours.
Thanks again for the wonderful website!
Michele
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

ID Help, Macro or Bubble? 12/14/11
Hello to the good folk of WWM!
<Hello Rey>
Can you help identify what type of Macro Algae or Bubble Algae I have growing here? Its growing on several different rocks.
They are very small, maybe the size of a small chocolate chip and shaped like a leaf. Very soft to the touch. Anything to worry about or will it run its course?
<Some Rhodophytes have also been dubbed by some as Red Valonia, but your macro algae appears to be a Rhodophyte,
Botryocladia skottsbergii. I'm not sure if they spread like Valonia so I will ask Bob for his input in this regard.> <<Not nearly as robust, invasive as Valonia. RMF>>
Thanks!
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Rey

Algae ID HELP 12/10/11
Hi all,
<Hey there!>
I am hoping you can help me identify the red (?) algae in the attached pictures. I have been trying to identify this for some time with little success. Two of the pictures are actually from your own pages and are the closest that I have seen. However one has the algae as unknown, the other as Galaxaura. If it is Galaxaura what is the most effective means of control/removal?
<Mmm, same ole... predator search, competition, nutrient starvation, physical removal... See WWM re Rhodophyte/Red Algae control>
It is a fragile algae that fragments very easily with loose fragments sticking to, and colonising a new site very easily. The fronds seem to exude a 'gel' that may contain tiny pieces of the algae almost like spores that distribute easily.
<Mmm, yes... alginates... have their many purposes>
It is a nightmare that took over an entire tank and is gaining a foothold in a new tank. It grows between and on soft and hard polyps. I have many snails, hermits, an algae blenny, pencil urchin and hippo tang in the tank but never see any of them browse it. I have seen the blenny pull mouthfuls of it but that seems to aid distribution rather than control it. The tang will eat fragments it finds in the water column but I have never seen it browse.
<Again, peruse WWM, the Net, in-print literature... as you might surmise, there are organisms that eat all organisms... Perhaps a Siganid, if it will go in your system>
Nitrate and phosphate are both zero, I use biopellets, and Chaeto in a reverse lit refugium to control nutrients.
<Mmm... make that Mmmm, I'd be looking for a good predator... likely modifying your water chemistry (gone over on WWM) to severely deny HPO4 to the pest>
I really am desperate to find a solution before it gets out of control again. This is a recently set up tank but this algae growth is not part of the cycling process. Filamentous, Cyano and diatoms have all come and gone and it looks like this is here for the long haul.
<Ugh, no fun>
If it gets to the same proportions as in my previous tank I really think I ill get out of saltwater altogether, it is too sickening to see corals smothered by this as the tank turns into a red/brown mass.
Hoping you can help,
David
<I can... please send along a better (more-resolved image...) even a microscopic one if you can. Don't give up... often some aspect, self-limits such outbreaks... Bob Fenner>