Gulf Macroalgae Identification

Casket_Case · Jul 22, 2020

Hello! I collected these, anyone know what they are?

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

wire algae?

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Webslinger said:
wire algae?

I don’t think so, it’s some kind of pro algae. I got it at the beach and it’s got all these little hairs I’m guessing for picking out stuff in the water. I know most of this stuff won’t hurt anything I’m just curious as to the species

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

pro algae? looks kind of amateur to me

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Webslinger said:
pro algae?

Y’know what I mean, it’s not bad. It’s good. It’s got pros. Haha

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

Frigus Reef said:
Y’know what I mean, it’s not bad. It’s good. It’s got pros. Haha

I wouldn't want it in my tank. Looks like it will take over.

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Webslinger said:
I wouldn't want it in my tank. Looks like it will take over.

I got it because I have a lot of nutrients in my aquarium and I’m tired of the hair algae so it’ll compete with it. Also this stuff is pretty thick so it’s good for pods to live in.

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

get a sump if you want pods. use vibrant and get all that ugly IMO algae out

Brokereefer603 · Jul 23, 2020

Based off the first picture it looks like Galaxaura to me

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Webslinger said:
get a sump if you want pods. use vibrant and get all that ugly IMO algae out

I tried a sump, my tank isn’t drilled, I loved the benefits of a sump but the sump itself was a nightmare. Constantly losing the vacuum, water level was always an issue, Skimmer never worked 100% because of the water level, I’d wake up at 2 in the morning to hear slurping through a straw noises and I’d have to go over to the tank and start the siphon over again. I am NOT doing that again. Plus I like the look of it. That’s why I put it in there. I love the Gulf, and I want it to look like the Gulf.

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Brokereefer603 said:
Based off the first picture it looks like Galaxaura to me

Yeah that’s it!! Thanks so much

Brokereefer603 · Jul 23, 2020

Frigus Reef said:
Yeah that’s it!! Thanks so much

No problem ..... Its a calcified algae so its soaks up a lot of calcium. loves phosphate. low light and medium flow is best placement for it. it also changes color from red to pink... pretty cool. It grows painfully slow and it will take a form of a ball shape overtime. Great piece that is quite rare..

Mikedawg · Jul 23, 2020

Frigus Reef said:
Yeah that’s it!! Thanks so much

And some G. species conduct chemical warfare against corals and are very fast growing. If you want a species less harmful to take over your tank try caulapera.

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

Frigus Reef said:
I tried a sump, my tank isn’t drilled, I loved the benefits of a sump but the sump itself was a nightmare. Constantly losing the vacuum, water level was always an issue, Skimmer never worked 100% because of the water level, I’d wake up at 2 in the morning to hear slurping through a straw noises and I’d have to go over to the tank and start the siphon over again. I am NOT doing that again. Plus I like the look of it. That’s why I put it in there. I love the Gulf, and I want it to look like the Gulf.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Get some Gracilaria parvispora to add some color

Casket_Case · Jul 23, 2020

Brokereefer603 said:
No problem ..... Its a calcified algae so its soaks up a lot of calcium. loves phosphate. low light and medium flow is best placement for it. it also changes color from red to pink... pretty cool. It grows painfully slow and it will take a form of a ball shape overtime. Great piece that is quite rare..

Thanks for the information! I’ll move it to lower light so it’s more comfortable. I’ve got a few more little pieces of it so maybe I’ll try and get a few frags going

Webslinger · Jul 23, 2020

Mikedawg said:
And some G. species conduct chemical warfare against corals and are very fast growing. If you want a species less harmful to take over your tank try caulapera.

caulapera is fun until it goes asexual