Help noob with ID

Jason K · Dec 10, 2022

I swear I researched to try to identify, but I’m not sure what it is. I see a handful of these brownish individual “plants” popping up on the rockwork in my 2 month old tank. I think it probably came from ARCReef coralline in a bottle. I could not scrub off with a brush. Needed to pinch off with my fingers. Probably 1/4 to 1/2 inch in this pic before I removed. I do have gracilaria hayi macro algae in the tank, but I don’t believe it can ‘travel’.

Any help greatly appreciated!

MrGisonni · Dec 10, 2022

Algae can spread by fragmentation. Maybe some of your gracilaria that broke away and hasn't colored up yet.

Jason K · Dec 17, 2022

This is definitely not fragments of my gracilaria. They do appear as individual plants that have a main stem. Now also noticeable on my substrate. There’s not too much of it right now, and it’s not terribly difficult to remove, so I’m not too concerned…but what is it? Anyone else have an idea?

MrGisonni · Dec 17, 2022

The algae on the rocks looks like some sort of brown macro algae the algae on the sand looks like dinoflagellates to me

Jason K · Dec 18, 2022

Thanks. I’m really hoping it’s not dino. It’s not at all slimy or snotty, and it’s fairly sparse.

MrGisonni · Dec 18, 2022

Some pics. If it starts developing those bubbles... Some get a microscope to look at the algae cells. Others will chime in and help with the ID I am sure. I would siphon in out though.