Hard, red, translucent object on glass

[Chortanator]

Just found this in my refugium today. It looked like cyano on the surface of the water so I tried to take it out, but I realised that it's actually hard. What is it? My sump has pods, 2 hermits, limpet snails and a brittle star if it could be eggs from any of them

 

[blaxsun]

Well now I'm curious...

 

[Chortanator]

Well now I'm curious...

Me too! I really hope someone has the answer, I've never seen anything like this before

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Definitely not eggs. My first guess would red bubble algae.

 

[Chortanator]

Definitely not eggs. My first guess would red bubble algae.

In my experience, bubble algae isn't hard, but I've only dealt with green bubble algae. Is red different in that way?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I've seen one source at least that says it can be firm.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Red Valonia??

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Red Valonia??

Generally red bubble algae is Botryocladia genus.

Edit: can still be invasive, though, and thought to be eaten by emerald crabs too - so similar in that regard.

 

[Chortanator]

Red Valonia??

That's exactly what it is, and this article seems to show that nothing will get rid of it:

Section: Algae (Red): Group: Grape/Bubble Algae: Species: Botryocladia skottsbergii (Red Valonia)

Marine Aquarium Library: Grape/Bubble Algae, Botryocladia, Botryocladia skottsbergii

www.saltcorner.com

Thanks for letting me know, I'll try to remove it immediately

 

[Sean Clark]

When mysterious new lifeforms start to show up you know that it's time to burn everything.

 

[Sean Clark]

Double post

 

[Chortanator]

I lowered the water level in my sump and put a piece of cardboard under it, then used a razor blade to scrape it off the glass. It has the colour and consistency of a pomegranate seed

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Yes best to get scrubbing

Unfortunately this means when first seen, whatever its on must be removed from the aquarium and wiped clean, with the area of removal flushed clean before replacement in the aquarium. And its far better to do this when first seen, as this species tends to spread quite quickly, as I've recently had one aquarium almost ruined in two years because of this alga! And only removal by hand, and continued removal of various items in the aquarium have allowed the system to continue.

This is quoted from above link

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Looks like a small ones growing from stem also (from your photo),
For me I would not risk, I would clean and scrubb, anything in close proximity to reduce any risk

 

[Chortanator]

Looks like a small ones growing from stem also (from your photo),
For me I would not risk, I would clean and scrubb, anything in close proximity to reduce any risk

The article said that they reach maturity when they grow orange spots on them, so I'll keep an eye out but I am curious to know where it came from since my sump only has chaeto that's been in there for 3+ years. I do have 3 emerald crabs in the DT though so they might be managing it without me even noticing

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I'm no expert but any spore can lay dormant for any given period of time until conditions are met to grow
typically one-celled, reproductive unit capable of giving rise to a new individual without sexual fusion, characteristic of lower plants, fungi, and protozoans.

It may if been introduced from day one of your aquarium setup up to 1month ago, I guess it's one of those critters that 'appears' unannounced
Thank you for sharing pictures, I really hope you don't see any further growth

 

[Chortanator]

not the update i wanted to give 8 months later but ,, haha,, im glad it's not in my display but i don't have any way of reaching it as easily as i did the one from back in june