Please help ID...

[is350jonny]

Please help ID the following if its good or bad.. or anything i should be worried about.. Thanks.

1. Noticed about 4 disc 3 weeks ago.. now its multiplied..
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0371.jpghttp://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0372.jpg

2. More and more of these red stick looking things popping up on this one rock.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0374.jpg

3. Just saw this today..
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0373.jpghttp://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0375.jpg

4. Some sort of algea??
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/is350jonny/Saltwater%20Tank/IMG_0376.jpg

[chimmike]

First looks like aiptasia, second, not sure. Third looks like bubble algae.

[89Foxbody]

1st is definitely aiptasia, 2nd looks like vermetid snails. 3rd could be some kind of bubble algae but isn't that usually green? Last pic looks like another kind of macroalgae.

[bella127]

First picture to me looks like protopalys ( Texas trash) not aiptasia . They will spread quickly like weeds.


Nikon D-60 / Tamron 90mm - Camera combo
60 gallon cube - 250w radium ,4x24w T-5
2 mp40W ES , Bubble King 160, tunze.osmolator
Mixed reef

[scuba guy ron]

1 is NOT aiptasia. It is an unwanted protopaly that will reproduce all over your tank if you zont take care of it now. they usually are pretty bland looking like the one you have but sometimes they have flourescent green mouths.

2 is vermatid snails. they are harmless however the release strings to catch foood in the water column and can be rather unsightly. If they are around then it can be a sign of high nutrient levels.

3 looks like a form af bubble algae. if it is dont pop the bubble. it will release spores all over the tank. i would need a better pic.

4 is a type of harmless macro algae.

From the pics of the rocks this looks like a new tank. If it is a young tank, many of these (protopalys excluded) will die off once nutrient levels are lowered.

[89Foxbody]

Good call. Doesn't look as much like aiptasia as I originally thought now that I look over it again. Learn something new every day...That's why I love this place. Haha.

[Impossible]

3 is a red calerpa Algae. found this site on loads of pics on macro algea
http://www.*********.com/forums/general-reef-discussions/48650-macro-algae-index.html
its about halfway down the page...

[Impossible]

Hmm wont let me post the name, the ***** are reef 2 reef without spaces.

[israel.kendall]

My opinions are:

1) Protopaly

2) Vermetid snail

3) Red Grape Caulerpa Macro algae (Botryocladia sp.)

4) Red Titan Macro algae

[is350jonny]

whats the best way to get rid of #1? take the rock out and scrub it? or is there any other ways to get rid of them?

if #3 is the red grape caulerpa macro algae.. is it bad?

and from what i gathered.. #2 and #4 are harmless.

[israel.kendall]

I guess it would be up to you if you want the red grape in your tank or not. I bought a really nice large one to put in my tank actually, I like them. They don't grow too terribly fast, my turbo snail eats it, and some fish eat it as well so I couldn't see it becoming too much of a problem personally.

[israel.kendall]

Here's a pic of the red grape macro I have in my tank. Not the best picture, but at least it gives you an idea of what they can look like. Big red plant on the left behind the torch coral. Sorry, I don't know anything about how to get rid of the Protopaly.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uPWhhZolhSI/TRwCsGncmgI/AAAAAAAAASo/UhIJ7pR1ndM/s800/_MG_6193.jpg

[Salamander]

That's a type of red bubble algae not a calurpa. It's similar to the.green kind although a different genus. IMO it can spread faster than the green valonia.

[is350jonny]

That's a type of red bubble algae not a calurpa. It's similar to the.green kind although a different genus. IMO it can spread faster than the green valonia.

if it is the red bubble algae... how would i know for sure.. and how would i get rid of it and stop it from spreading?

[is350jonny]

also... ive been googling about how to get rid of the pest protopaly.. any other way other than injecting with kalk?

and about #3... so far im getting 2 different answers... how to make sure if its just a macro algae or if its a variation of bubble algae.. anything i can look for to distinguish from the 2?

and to answer scuba guy ron.. yes the this tank setup is relatively new.. about 1.5 months with nothing more than a CUC... ive been taking everything really slow and making sure every precaution is taken before i add any livestock... not trying to rush anything for my first saltwater system...

[israel.kendall]

Here's a good article on "bubble algae":

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php

Salamander may be talking about Botryocladia skottsbergii?? Sorry, I don't know how to tell the difference.

[Sk8r]

Any algae in your tank is a problem, because it overgrows; if it has roots, like caulerpa (and is poisonous if eaten, like caulerpa) it is a royal pita. Caulerpa will survive cycles and rock-cooking (keeping in dark for months). If you can possibly eliminate the caulerpa rock, do.