Algae ID - lily pad like

[malfist]

Hi All,

Any help identifying this algae that is growing around my sponges would be appreciated

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Possibly Caulerpa chemnitzia?

 

[dndlyon]

Just a guess, but maybe Acetabularia?

 

[malfist]

I don't think it's acetabularia, it's not striated, looks very similar to the google images of Caulerpa Chemnitzia.

Any recommendations for removal? Purple tang doesn't seem interested.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I don't think it's acetabularia, it's not striated, looks very similar to the google images of Caulerpa Chemnitzia.

Any recommendations for removal? Purple tang doesn't seem interested.

Other than the standard herbivores (tangs, foxfaces, urchins, etc.), not really no - and if your current tang isn't eating it that's a strike there.

Manual removal is the only other option I can think of at the moment.

 

[malfist]

I don't think my urchin can get into the crevices where most of it is. Maybe the tang will discover it when I try to remove it manually.

I don't think my tank is big enough for a purple tang and a foxface, it's 100 gallons.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Def Caulerpa chemnitzia. Manual removal is your best bet without adding more fish. Rabbitfish are your best bet for fish to eat them. Outside of that, there is one or 2 species of nudibranch that feed exclusively on caulerpa species.

A combo of manual removal in addition to an herbivore that eats it are your best bet.