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FAQs on Marine Algae Identification 19
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 5,
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 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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Red / Purple/ Maroon Hair Algae? Nutrient Control 11/15/2007
Hi WWM crew.
<Hello Jurgen, Mich with you tonight.>
I've been
reading and your site for a while now, and has given me tons of
information when I was setting up my first reef tank.
<Glad you
have benefited.>
It's been almost a year now, and it seems to be
doing great.
<Happy to hear!>
But now, I need some expert
help and guidance myself.
<OK.>
I've got this annoying algae
growing in a few spots. It started to appear in some very high flow
areas at first (sump return area, on the rocks in front of my closed
loop outlets)
but in the last couple of weeks I see it appear in
some other random spots on my rocks. It's not growing very fast, but
it is slowly but surely growing.
<Happens.>
so far, nothing
seems to make it go away.
<Nutrient control is usually the key.
Some suggestions here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/scottsh2ochgart.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/watchgantart.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm >
my water parameters
seem to be all right.
<Vague.>
- 90-gallon tank, with 29g
sump.
- EV180 skimmer
- plenty of random water movement using
an oceans motions device and some small MaxiJet placed inside the
tank.
- 8 x 54W T5 lighting; 4 bulbs (two actinic, one aquablue,
one actinic+) on for 8 hours a day, all 8 (two more aquablue and two
more actinic+) on for 5 hours)
- do a "reasonable" water change
every weekend, sometimes (depending on my schedule) every other
weekend.
- only use RO/DI water that tests at 0
- nitrates
tested <5 mg/L (Hagen Nutrafin kit)
- phosphates tested
undetectable (Salifert kit)
- SG is 1.025
- temp is steady at
78F 24/7
All my corals (LPS, SPS, zoas, mushrooms) seem to be
doing just great.
<Good.>
I barely have any hair algae at all
(lawnmower blenny starved to death unfortunately)
<Very sad. I'm
sorry for you both.>
The only algae that I seem to be able to
grow is this nasty purple stuff, and some bubble algae, which my
emerald crabs won't eat either, but that is not as annoying right
now.
<Keep on top of the Valonia, it can become problematic.>
none of my herbivores seem to even look at it either;
<Not
surprising.>
I have a few scarlet hermits, a few blue-legged
hermits, Cerith and Astraea snails (I believe one of the Astraea had
this red hair on the shell when I got them, getting it into my tank
that way)
<Many possibilities.>
emerald crabs don't look at
it, Tomini tang doesn't look at it...
<OK.>
I don't feed very
much, and not very often. three to four times a week, one cube of
frozen food (nicely rinsed first) and some live brine every now and
then.
<The brine have little to no nutritional value.>
some
pellet food every now and then, but more as a snack, nothing to fill
them up with.
<OK.>
I'm attaching two images, I hope you can
help me out and point me in the right direction to get rid of this
stuff, before it takes over the tank.
<Looks like red hair algae,
possibly Polysiphonia.>
PS: yesterday, I threw two things in my
sump,
<Hmm, hopefully they were things that belonged there!>
just in case it might help, as I don't think that it will hurt at
this point.
- a bag of Kent Phosphate sponge (the ceramic type
media) will replace that one tonight with a new batch.
- a 100ml
bag of Purigen (will leave that one in there until it starts to
discolor)
Best regards,
Jurgen.
<Please next time use
proper capitalization, i.e. "I" not "I"
Cheers,
Mich> |  
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Maybe Aiptasia And Something Else… Maybe Better Pics And Maybe Valonia
11/13/07
Hello again...
<Hi Jason, Mich here.>
What a
great website this is. I have found a great deal of useful information.
<Wonderful to hear!>
You have answered several of my questions with a
speedy response, thank you.
<Glad you have been pleased.>
Ok, now
down to business. I have just "set up" a saltwater 75G with 75# cured LR
4 days ago. All is well with the readings, to my surprise. Seems to be
going smoothly through the "cycling" process right now. I have some
experience with saltwater systems and am familiar with all the natural
things happening in my tank, but two things are puzzling me. I attached
some pics for you to see. 001 pic is of what I think is Aiptasia,
<Could be... but is really hard to tell... did you have your lights on
when you took the pic?>
two or three of these guys on the rock in
the foreground, could this be?
<Could be, or could be a yarn
octopus, like my grandmother used to make, sitting on your LR! Really,
need a better quality image to give any sort of opinion other than
perhaps...>
If so, what should I combat them with, or do I even need
to?
<Here are some links if this is indeed what you have:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/Cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm
I also found 2 interesting culprits. They are 2 small round, black pearl
looking objects growing from another piece of rock. 002 pic in the
center where the rock meets the sand,
<I can't tell what this is. I'm
sorry, but the picture is just not detailed enough.>
and the other is
dead center of the rock in 003 pic.
<This looks like Valonia... I
would remove, and try not to rupture this cell or reproductive juices
may be spread.>
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
http://www.thesea.org/reef_aquarium/pests/pests_valonia.php
Can you
identify them for me, and what should I do to combat these things?
<If you can get better pics I will gladly take another look for you
Jason.>
Thanks again....
<Welcome! Mich>
Jason
Re: Maybe Aiptasia And Something Else… Maybe Better Pics And Valonia
11/14/2007
I will turn my lights off and attempt to take better
pics tomorrow.
<No, Jason wait! You need the lights ON!!! The pics
were too dark and not clear/detailed enough. Please check and see if
your camera has a Macro setting (Often looks like a flower) this may
help you get a more focused shot.>
I just went to the links that you
gave me to look at, and I'm sure its Valonia growing on the rock. It is
the "black pearl" type.
<OK.>
What do you recommend to take these
pearls off and out of the tank w/o releasing any spores?
<Sometimes
you can just ever so gently wiggle them loose with out breaking them,
just don't squeeze them very hard. Otherwise try to pop it off as you're
siphoning so if it does rupture hopefully most the fluid will be removed
from the tank. Good luck! Mich>
Re: Maybe Aiptasia And Something Else… Maybe Better Pics And Valonia
11/14/2007
Gotcha gotcha,
<Get it? Got it? Good! Heehee!>
thanks Mich....
<Welcome Jason!>
I will check my camera and adjust
the settings.
<The macro setting will likely be the most helpful.>
I would like to get quality photos like I see on the net.
<Sometimes
easier said than done. Trust me... and the thousands of photos on my
hard drive...>
I believe my camera is capable.
<Yes is usually the
camera operator where the problem lies!>
Once again, thanks for the
information.
<You are welcome as always.>
I have had 75lbs. of LR
in my tank since start-up a week ago,
<Patience and taking things
slow is the key to success.>
would it be ok to add about 10-15 lbs
more w/o disturbing the parameters to greatly?
<Would likely be ok.
But is always best to keep a close watch on your water parameters and do
frequent water changes if numbers begin to go out of range.
Good
luck,
Mich>
Re: Maybe Aiptasia And Something Else… Maybe Better Pics And Valonia
11/18/2007
Hello..
<Hi Jason, Mich back with you, apologizing
for the delay.>
just wanted to follow up with you on my "problems".
<Good!>
I picked those pearl things off my LR. They felt like smooth
acorns almost. They came off pretty easy and intact, anyways there gone.
<All good!>
I got rid of the rock with the anemones on them. Didn't
want them effecting my soon to be habitants, corals.
<OK>
I picked
up 3 more 5lb or less cured LR. That brings my new system to about 85lbs
of LR.
<OK.>
My skimmer is a Pro Clear, fairly large, and I had
it on my 160 gal FOWLER. Any objections or recommendations?
<I am
not familiar with this Skimmer. If it produces a fair amount of nasty
stuff regularly it is likely fine.>
The micro bubbles that I asked
about...
<Mmm, first time you've mentioned actually.>
can you run
the return of the skimmer into the carbon filled filter bag to lessen
the microbubbles entering the sump where my return pump is located?
<Sure.>
Thanks again..
<Welcome! Mich> | 
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Ok, I Give Up-- Macroalgae ID? Lilac macro algae ID – 11/07/2007 Marco's
input
Hello fellow Crew members,
<Hi Sara.>
This is indeed
embarrassing, but after months of scouring the internet, I can't figure
out what this is. It's my all time favorite macro algae. It's beautiful,
non-invasive and fast growing (the perfect refugium/sump algae IMO).
Now, if only I knew what the heck it is! Hopefully, whatever it is, it's
not toxic (though I've had it for years and never had any reason to
think it is). Thanks, Sara M.
<It is sold as Ochtodes sp. by the
marine biologist Dr. Schubert. A Google picture search for Ochtodes
bringing up a picture of the algae will link to his homepage and
consequently e-mail address in case you want to contact him re proper
identification/confirmation. However, I have seen this algae (or a
similar species) also labeled as Hypnea pannosa, but doubt this
identification. Hope that helps, but will leave this e-mail available to
the others, too. I was thinking about getting some of this stuff myself,
looks good. Marco.> Ok, I
Give Up— Macroalgae ID? 11/7/07 Lynn's go 11/07/07
Hello fellow Crew members,
<Hi Sara!>
This is indeed embarrassing,
but after months of scouring the internet, I can't figure out what this
is. <Been there, done that!> It's my all time favorite macro algae. It's
beautiful, <Yes, indeed.> non-invasive and fast growing (the perfect
refugium/sump algae
IMO).
<Wish I had that instead of the wicked
red turf algae I’ve been battling recently!>
Now, if only I knew
what the heck it is! Hopefully, whatever it is, it's not toxic (though
I've had it for years and never had any reason to think it is).
<Well, I’m by no means an expert on this subject, but I found something
that looks very similar, Hypnea pannosa, over at Algaebase.org. What
caught my eye was the fourth photo down at this link:
http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=2719 . As far
as toxicity, if it is indeed Hypnea, it’s safe/edible for people and
fish, and is harvested as a source for carrageenan (used as a food
additive/thickener, etc). I hope I've at least gotten close on the Id,
but if not, let me know!>
Thanks,
Sara M.
<You're very welcome!
Take care -Lynn> | 
A Rhodophyte... am sure. RMF.
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Can you identify this?-Neomeris annulata 10/27/07
This has
been growing in my reef tank on the edge of an empty shell. It has a
bright green hairy tip and it's stem looks as if it made of calcium?
It has grown about 2 inches in 2 months. I have looked all over the
web but cannot identify it. Can you help.
<It looks like Neomeris
annulata. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
Best,
Sara M.> | 
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Algae ID Help... Hair Algae
Dear Wet Web Crew,
<Hi Martin,
Mich with you tonight.>
Your help in identifying the algae as seen in
the attached photo would be most appreciated.
<Is hair algae, a
nuisance for sure!>
I've been unable to find similar looking algae in
a search of your incredible site.
<Not sure which species
specifically, could be Derbesia, Boodlea, Cladophora, Bryopsis to name a
few. Regardless, you'll want to try to get rid of it, likely by stepping
up your maintenance. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/avoidingalgaeproblesm.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/scottsh2ochgart.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/maintenance/marineMaint.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/grnalgcont6.htm
Thank you,
<Welcome!
Mich>
Martin |
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