Live Rock (Plant??) ID Help & Bubble Algae

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 06:00 PM

I'm pretty sure I spotted what is bubble algae starting on my live rock. Live rock has been in the tank for 2 weeks now and cycling with no fish. Did I read that bubble algae is bad? How should I get rid of it before it gets going too strong. I've only spotted one "bubble" so far.

Also, can anyone tell me what this "plant" is that is growing on my live rock. The one pictured is about an inch tall, but it appears to be sprouting up on several pieces of live rock.

TIA, Jim

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 06:02 PM

Oh, and just to maybe help with the ID, this is on Fiji Live Rock.

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 06:12 PM

In regards to the bubble algae...after reading some more and seeing a photo it seems that bubble algae is green or black. The bubble I saw was clear, so maybe it's not bubble algae. It's also gone now, so who knows.

bertoni · 03/17/2006, 06:14 PM

I'd need a sharper picture to say much. The second one is a great size, if you could get a sharper version.

graveyardworm · 03/17/2006, 07:01 PM

I'm going to guess either gracillaria or botryocladia, Its hard to tell from the pics with the other algae growing on it.

Here's a species of gracillaria which is similar in appearance,

and a species of botryocladia.

and an article about Bubble algae

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 09:10 PM

I'm not sure what I have is either one of the photos you suggest. This is sort of like a miniature tree, with a "trunk" so to speak, and then the branches, etc.

graveyardworm · 03/17/2006, 09:51 PM

It's hard to see from the first pic, but the growth consists of many individual sprouts. I have drawing of the individual growth form.

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 10:08 PM

David, the drawing is much more represenative of what it is, than either of the photos.

graveyardworm · 03/17/2006, 10:18 PM

That is the growth form of the algae in my first pic its very bushy and hard to see in the pic.

JusJim · 03/17/2006, 11:26 PM

So if it is the gracillaria, is that good or bad?

stewie24 · 03/17/2006, 11:31 PM

gracillaria is very good. Anything like tangs or other algae loving fish will go nuts for this stuff. If you plan on having algae eating fish and have a fuge, grow it in there, and make it live fish food for your fish.
Stewie

bertoni · 03/18/2006, 02:26 PM

It might be a foraminiferan. A search should turn up some pictures. It's a rather large one, if so.

03/17/2006, 06:00 PM	#1
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	Live Rock (Plant??) ID Help & Bubble Algae I'm pretty sure I spotted what is bubble algae starting on my live rock. Live rock has been in the tank for 2 weeks now and cycling with no fish. Did I read that bubble algae is bad? How should I get rid of it before it gets going too strong. I've only spotted one "bubble" so far. Also, can anyone tell me what this "plant" is that is growing on my live rock. The one pictured is about an inch tall, but it appears to be sprouting up on several pieces of live rock. TIA, Jim

03/17/2006, 06:14 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd need a sharper picture to say much. The second one is a great size, if you could get a sharper version. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/17/2006, 07:01 PM	#5
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	I'm going to guess either gracillaria or botryocladia, Its hard to tell from the pics with the other algae growing on it. Here's a species of gracillaria which is similar in appearance, and a species of botryocladia. and an article about Bubble algae __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

03/17/2006, 09:51 PM	#7
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	It's hard to see from the first pic, but the growth consists of many individual sprouts. I have drawing of the individual growth form. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

03/17/2006, 10:18 PM	#9
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	That is the growth form of the algae in my first pic its very bushy and hard to see in the pic. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

03/17/2006, 06:02 PM	#2
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	Oh, and just to maybe help with the ID, this is on Fiji Live Rock.

03/17/2006, 06:12 PM	#3
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	In regards to the bubble algae...after reading some more and seeing a photo it seems that bubble algae is green or black. The bubble I saw was clear, so maybe it's not bubble algae. It's also gone now, so who knows.

03/17/2006, 09:10 PM	#6
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	I'm not sure what I have is either one of the photos you suggest. This is sort of like a miniature tree, with a "trunk" so to speak, and then the branches, etc.

03/17/2006, 10:08 PM	#8
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	David, the drawing is much more represenative of what it is, than either of the photos.

03/17/2006, 11:26 PM	#10
JusJim Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 142	So if it is the gracillaria, is that good or bad?

03/17/2006, 11:31 PM	#11
stewie24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northwestern PA Posts: 824	gracillaria is very good. Anything like tangs or other algae loving fish will go nuts for this stuff. If you plan on having algae eating fish and have a fuge, grow it in there, and make it live fish food for your fish. Stewie

03/18/2006, 02:26 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	It might be a foraminiferan. A search should turn up some pictures. It's a rather large one, if so. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni