Blue Macroalgae

Rudimenta · 03/07/2017, 10:16 PM

Hi All,

I have a very fast growing blue marcoalgae now in my tank, it actually doesn't look bad at all, but its annoying to keep removing it.

I would like to know what its natural consumer is, so i hopefully can get some animal to keep it in check.

I have no other algae issues at all which makes it kinda weird anyway please see pictures.

For id purposes:
* A clear, crisp photograph
Hopefully clear enough
* A description of the texture of your algae (is it brittle? soft? fleshy? does it break easily?)
Its very soft and easy to rip off, it has a deep blue colour almost purple, its grassy like but not single strain. It gets a little more green tone out of the water, but pictures dont really make it look right
* A good reference for the size of the algae (try for something in the photograph that shows the scale)
See second picture, with small frag plug
* The location of your live rock or collection spot (Caribbean, South Pacific, Pacific, etc.)
grows on rock but mostly around the overflow water intake, at high flow areas, my rock is from Vietnam and since i had it before, its likely from a local wild coral
* A description of the growth habit of your alga (growing on rock, on/in the sand, in the water column, etc.)
Grows very fast

mzkrista · 03/07/2017, 10:58 PM

Can you take better pictures it's impossible to see what it is.

Spartan · 03/09/2017, 01:36 PM

Tough to tell from your pics... I think I've seen this stuff before - kind of brownish tan at the bases of the "leaves" then more iridescent blue at the ends?
If so I think it's pretty common - in the wild - in tanks we don't see it too much as tangs/herbivores love it.

Rudimenta · 03/10/2017, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan

Tough to tell from your pics... I think I've seen this stuff before - kind of brownish tan at the bases of the "leaves" then more iridescent blue at the ends?
If so I think it's pretty common - in the wild - in tanks we don't see it too much as tangs/herbivores love it.

I have tried to take better pictures but its tough, added a video also:

https://youtu.be/HESOqtglwac

My tangs (Blue and Yellow) and angel (Fire) do not touch it.

My guess is indeed it comes from some wild coral from the Vietnamese waters.

Rudimenta · 03/10/2017, 10:48 PM

One more pic

GoingPostal · 03/11/2017, 07:03 PM

blue ochtodes maybe? No idea what eats it though.

Rudimenta · 03/11/2017, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

blue ochtodes maybe? No idea what eats it though.

Nah its not Blue Ochtodes, those look "birdnest" like, its more a leaf.

kinda like this picture:

Michael Hoaster · 03/12/2017, 12:21 PM

You might try chopping some up and adding it at feeding time, to see if gets someone's attention. If you are confident you know where it came from, you could research to find herbivores in that area that eat macro algae. There's got to be a tang or rabbitfish that eats it.

j_mazzy · 03/12/2017, 12:41 PM

bryopsis?

Rudimenta · 03/12/2017, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_mazzy

bryopsis?

It has a totally different colour, also it doesn't look as grass like as my experience with bryopsis.

I have tried to peel it off and let it float to see if somebody touches it.

j_mazzy · 03/12/2017, 10:07 PM

many different types. I just throwing it out there because of the leaf like appearance

mzkrista · 03/13/2017, 09:57 PM

Looks like Bryopsis plumosa or bryopsidales to me as much as I can see. Shut off the flow and drop some peroxide on it or better yet take your rocks out and pull the algae and then scrub those areas with peroxide

Rudimenta · 03/14/2017, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_mazzy

many different types. I just throwing it out there because of the leaf like appearance

appreciate you thinking along

Rudimenta · 03/14/2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzkrista

Looks like Bryopsis plumosa or bryopsidales to me as much as I can see. Shut off the flow and drop some peroxide on it or better yet take your rocks out and pull the algae and then scrub those areas with peroxide

http://www.niobioinformatics.in/seaw...%20plumosa.htm this indeed is close but the color is different, i removed it from the rock (it only grows on that one piece, besides close to the overflow) and put some putty in there. ill take a look at your suggestion.

MMacro · 03/16/2017, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudimenta

http://www.niobioinformatics.in/seaw...%20plumosa.htm this indeed is close but the color is different, i removed it from the rock (it only grows on that one piece, besides close to the overflow) and put some putty in there. ill take a look at your suggestion.

Looks like plumosa to me. I have seen it in a few different colors including blue.

03/07/2017, 10:16 PM	#1
Rudimenta Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ho Chi Minh Posts: 321	Blue Macroalgae Hi All, I have a very fast growing blue marcoalgae now in my tank, it actually doesn't look bad at all, but its annoying to keep removing it. I would like to know what its natural consumer is, so i hopefully can get some animal to keep it in check. I have no other algae issues at all which makes it kinda weird anyway please see pictures. For id purposes: * A clear, crisp photograph Hopefully clear enough * A description of the texture of your algae (is it brittle? soft? fleshy? does it break easily?) Its very soft and easy to rip off, it has a deep blue colour almost purple, its grassy like but not single strain. It gets a little more green tone out of the water, but pictures dont really make it look right * A good reference for the size of the algae (try for something in the photograph that shows the scale) See second picture, with small frag plug * The location of your live rock or collection spot (Caribbean, South Pacific, Pacific, etc.) grows on rock but mostly around the overflow water intake, at high flow areas, my rock is from Vietnam and since i had it before, its likely from a local wild coral * A description of the growth habit of your alga (growing on rock, on/in the sand, in the water column, etc.) Grows very fast __________________ Not allowed to put your blog here ;) Current Tank Info: 770 Display 205l Sump, 100l Nano

03/09/2017, 01:36 PM	#3
Spartan Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Western New York Posts: 705	Tough to tell from your pics... I think I've seen this stuff before - kind of brownish tan at the bases of the "leaves" then more iridescent blue at the ends? If so I think it's pretty common - in the wild - in tanks we don't see it too much as tangs/herbivores love it. __________________ Reef since 95'. 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge Current Tank Info: 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge

03/10/2017, 10:48 PM	#5
Rudimenta Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ho Chi Minh Posts: 321	One more pic __________________ Not allowed to put your blog here ;) Current Tank Info: 770 Display 205l Sump, 100l Nano

03/11/2017, 07:03 PM	#6
GoingPostal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,517	blue ochtodes maybe? No idea what eats it though. __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer. *Jack Handey

03/12/2017, 12:21 PM	#8
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	You might try chopping some up and adding it at feeding time, to see if gets someone's attention. If you are confident you know where it came from, you could research to find herbivores in that area that eat macro algae. There's got to be a tang or rabbitfish that eats it. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

03/07/2017, 10:58 PM	#2
mzkrista Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 135	Can you take better pictures it's impossible to see what it is.

03/12/2017, 12:41 PM	#9
j_mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: about an hour from charlotte Posts: 622	bryopsis?

03/12/2017, 10:07 PM	#11
j_mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: about an hour from charlotte Posts: 622	many different types. I just throwing it out there because of the leaf like appearance

03/13/2017, 09:57 PM	#12
mzkrista Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 135	Looks like Bryopsis plumosa or bryopsidales to me as much as I can see. Shut off the flow and drop some peroxide on it or better yet take your rocks out and pull the algae and then scrub those areas with peroxide