Algae and Worm Identification 3/26/04 Hello Anthony! <cheers Thanassis> Could you pls help me identify the algae in the picture? I believed it to be Dictyota, since I saw a photo in your book "Reef invertebrates", where it looks like the Gracilaria. <the photo is not clear, my friend, but it does appear to be like Dictyota> Secondly, I noticed just yesterday the very thin and black striped worms getting a part of their tentacles out of a hole in the LR. Firstly I thought they were the feet of a brittle star, but them I realized they came out from two different holes in the LF. Can you identify it? <alas, no... nothing discernable here> Sorry about the bad quality of photos. Thanks, Thanassis <kind regards, Anthony>

Wacky Pink Algae? Or, Is It Wacky Red Algae?
Hi guys,
<Hey there! Scott F. here today!>
I'm hoping I can get some help identifying an algae that is doing quite well in one of my customers tanks, a 230g reef.   I've had it referred to as "the red stuff" by the owner and from a fellow fish friend who's in the know as "the pink stuff".
<Well, that narrows down the color, at least!>
  It's red/pink, depending on the lighting,  and grows in a fuzzy patch about a 1/2-3/4 inch thick.  It's easy to remove from the rocks but in the process disintegrates and small hair like parts get blown around in the tank only to reattach somewhere else.  So it spreads well.  Also the 'root structure' remains on the rock so when you remove it keeps growing back.  I do the toothbrush on the end of a siphon hose thing to scrape it off and take it out but it only helps to limit the spreading.  I've tried a bunch of ways to get rid of it but it's very tenacious.  And the worst part I can't get anything to eat it.  In this tank there are two hungry tangs, a yellow and
a blue that go to great lengths to eat whatever they can get on the rocks...except the red stuff.  Trochus snails, Astrea snails and hermit crabs don't eat it.  'Pods love it- but for a safe house.  And although I try to keep it looking under control...it isn't, and is just getting worse,  it has been about a year now.  The aquariums water quality is good and is doing really well, no phosphates and nitrates are in the <2 range.  I've recently put in a RDP refugium which will help control this, I hope.  I've placed some of his corals that were being overrun by this in my tank that has a refugium and after a couple of months the red stuff seems to go away.  But in the meantime and so I'm better informed in the future can you identify this and can you suggest some other ways of reducing it.  Hopefully there's a red stuff eater out there somewhere
<Well, without a photo, I'm really just guessing here. It could be Gelidium, which is a typical "nuisance" algae. Or, it could be something more exotic, like Halymenia or Geldiopsis. These kinds of algae are really not favored by many herbivores; you may need to utilize "harsh" grazers, such as urchins. Even they may not do the trick. Often times, manual extraction is the best bet. Happily, these algae are often self-limiting, and tend to decline on their own over time, in the presence of good husbandry habits! If you can get a pic for us, we can give a better shot at ID'ing this algae. Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

Acro Suffering Algae II 3/1/04
Thanks Anthony, I have attached two pictures. I have yet to master this (**^$^% digital camera.
<Hmmm... yes, helpful. The color and apparent texture of the algae remind me of a dinoflagellate infection instead of a diatom algae. Do check you pH and Alkalinity. Dinos like this often show up when the aforementioned are flat (under 9dKH and under 8.3 respectively). Aggressive protein skimming and daily use of Kalkwasser alone can eradicate this pest. DO let us know if it helps! Anthony>

Unidentifiable Red Turf Algae - 2/28/04
Hey Paul, Sorry but I didn't do a good enough job describing the algae. <No worries> The algae is fuzzy almost like cotton balls not diatoms or slime algae. <Yeah. I know what type of algae you are talking about but I do not have any  species ID yet. We have this algae in our holding and reproduction tanks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I have not taken the time to ID it yet. Will do so soon though.> I did have some green hair algae that appeared about the same time but was able to get rid of that very quickly. <Great.> The tank is 2 years old and had no algae problems except the usual diatoms and Cyano on break in. <Good of you to note. I have been preaching that new tank "break in" has a major algae cycle> This algae was introduced when I got more Caulerpa to add some variety to the sump. I use ro/di and am diligent with filter changes. The algae is brownish red- more red than brown. <Yep. Same as what we have I think> As I mentioned before I am diligent with water changes and have limited all known nutrients. <This is a very hard algae to rid yourself of> I stopped feeding the tank all together for weeks to the point that we lost a couple of Chromis for lack of food and the Caulerpa stopped growing and almost started the dreaded die off. <Yikes. No need to go that extreme> I'm up for suggestions on different husbandry techniques if I am missing the boat somewhere but I feel like I almost went to far. <We just pick it off manually. I do have some info from someone in the trenches.  Check out this link and let me know if this is not only the algae you have but if her suggestions do any good:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/nftt/ > During this period of starving the fish and Caulerpa the fuzzy red stuff kept growing I tried siphoning it off and longer stuff came off easy but grew back quickly. <Oh yeah. Preaching to the choir> The free floating stuff did good at replanting itself elsewhere. I have looked at the articles and nothing described seems to match what I am seeing. <We don't have much on this algae> This stuff is like hair algae but is red not green, it doesn't get long and stringy it stays closer to the rocks like little tufts of cotton. It is out competing the Caulerpa in the sump and choking it out even after cleaning most of it out on several occasions trying to give the Caulerpa a head start. With limiting the nutrients I put into the tank the Caulerpa doesn't grow all that fast and the fuzzy red headed monster just keeps choking it out. <Try some of the suggestions in the link above> I apologize if I have missed the articles on identifying this particular algae but I don't find a match. If it is Bryopsis <It is almost like a Chlorodesmis but not> I thought that species was brown not red. <Bryopsis is more brown and Chlorodesmis is green> I guess I am out of ideas as far as husbandry but am up for suggestions I thought if I could identify the beast I might find something to eat it. <I need to identify it soon. Maybe I will add an article to the site once I have more info and identity> All else coral-wise in the tank seems to be doing great so I am stumped. <Except when the stuff grows on the coral, right? That is the problem we seem to be having> Thanks for your time.  <Thanks for bringing this algae to the forefront. Send pictures. As many as you can to me and I will work on an article and ID. High resolution but small size pictures if you can. Thanks ~Paul>

More on Red Turf Algae - 2/28/04
Here you go Barb: Gelidium pusillum http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/algae_page/redturf.htm
Is this it? (Albeit of juvenile growth)

Red Turf Algae follow-up - 2/29/04
That's the stuff. <Awesome> I'm almost certain by the looks of it and it sounds like it behaves the same too or should I say misbehaves. I can not tell you how thankful I am for your efforts. <No worries. Educational for me too. I have been putting it off at the Aquarium for some time> I will get the snails as soon as possible. Is there a species name or is Mexican Turbo good enough.<I think Mexican Turbo should be enough but maybe try this name: (Turbo fluctuosa)> Sometimes at the LFS a turbo snail is a turbo snail no matter what they look like if you know what I mean. <I do. Take a look at a few online sites that sell the (Turbo fluctuosa) so to get a good idea of what they look like> I don't have a digital camera yet but I can find one to borrow and take pictures it just might be awhile Thanks again. <No worries. ~Paul>

Red Turf Algae ID - 2/29/04
This does not quite look like it <http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/algae_page/redturf.htm> but if you go down to the U of Ohio resource Go to the alga images click Rhodophyta and then Audouinella. <You're right, that does look like it. Will do more research and keep you in the loop. If you don't hear from me by next Monday then send me an email> This looks like it could be it although I realize there might be several that can look similar especially in pics. <Absolutely. There are probably several morphs in the Gelidium alone.> Thanks again for all your help <No problem. ~Paulo>

What is it?  Red algae ID 2/25/04 WWM Crew, I have this probable red algae growing in one of my tanks. Do you know what it is? First picture was taken today. the other picture in Sept. 03. Mitch <Hi Mitch.  I am not sure of the ID of the first algae that sort of looks like a bunch of curlicues.  The second algae that is sort of feathery looking, looks like Gracilaria.  Both are beautiful and nice finds!  Best Regards.  Adam>