Bubble algae or ameba ?

[CanDo]

Hello friends. I was gifted some rock. I noticed red spots on the rock as I was transporting. Since being placed in tank, the red spots have grown over the past 3 days. There are 3 photos, 1 from each day. It appears to be covering this small piece of rock rather quickly. The rock is placed on a shelf and in good light. Someone had said it may be bubble algae or possibly an ameba? I would just like to confirm that info or is it possible that this is something else? Something I want to keep or remove from my tank? And, do you have any recommendations on how to handle it? Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[glb]

It’s hard to tell from the pics but I’d guess that it’s some kind of soft coral. It doesn’t look like bubble algae to me.

 

[CanDo]

It’s hard to tell from the pics but I’d guess that it’s some kind of soft coral. It doesn’t look like bubble algae to me.

Thanks for looking. Im gunna leave it on the shelf and see what comes of it

 

[glb]

Thanks for looking. Im gunna leave it on the shelf and see what comes of it

It is pretty. Soft corals don’t usually grow that fast so I’m not totally sure. Maybe someone knows exactly what it is.

 

[CanDo]

It is pretty. Soft corals don’t usually grow that fast so I’m not totally sure. Maybe someone knows exactly what it is.

I hope so! I'd rather pull it than create a time bomb.

 

[reddevilant]

Tbh I don't know a thing about corals, I'm more of a macro algae guy, but it kind of looks like a bunch of tiny mushroom corals. I really don't think it's red bubble algae. If you look up "meredithia algae" there's a purple algae that kind of looks like what you have. If that's not something you're interested in keeping, I'll gladly take it off your hands I have a 90g filled with all types of macro algae that I've been collecting.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Looks like mushrooms. They do grow quick and have seen them take over tanks. I normally remove these.

 

[glb]

I agree that it looks like mushrooms.

 

[sixty_reefer]

That is a macro algae, I personally like it and is very difficult to find. Personally I would keep it and possibly trade it at a later stage.

 

[CanDo]

Awesome , thanks everyone. I'm going to leave it in the tank and hope it's not gunna be a headache.