Hurricane Irma Algae - ID Please

[dbl]

This stuff has appeared over the last 3 weeks or so, since being down due to Irma, hence the name. Growing really quickly over rock and actually over an SPS colony that i was hoping would recover from the storm. Anyway, I have no idea what it is. It does sway with the flow but it's growth is very close to the rock it's going on.

I've been very lucky with this tank and the only nuisance algae I've had to deal with were the initial diatoms and a very brief, small bought with cyano. I guess my luck ran out.

System is very stable as follows:

Salinity 1.026
Alk 7.8
Calcium 450
Mag 1350
NO3 5
PO4 .08 (a little high I know)
pH 8.3
Temp 78.5 to 90 (I'm in Florida...it's always hot)
The temps did hit 89 at the high point post storm

Any help in ID and method of removal would be appreciated.

 

[DSC reef]

Any pics of the algae?

 

[dbl]

Any pics of the algae?

They are posted now. Forgot to attach them initially.

 

[DSC reef]

Almost looks like clove polyps instead of algae.

 

[dbl]

Almost looks like clove polyps instead of algae.

That was my first thought too, and you may be correct. I did bring in some blue clove polyps once by accident, but I was pretty sure I had gotten rid of them. When they were present, they were very blue. I know it's hard to tell in the pictures, but this is either brown or I guess it could be a very, very dark purple.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I agree.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There are a lot of clove polyp colors.

 

[dbl]

I agree.

Well then, I guess my first instincts were correct afterall.

 

[KJ]

Clove polyps.

 

[DSC reef]

Since you had them before I'm willing to bet it's the polyps from what you had. A lot of factors could be at play with there current color with all your tank has been through.

 

[dbl]

Thanks for the help. Looks like I'll be removing rock - again!!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Totally weird that the population boomed under the stress.

 

[dbl]

Totally weird that the population boomed under the stress.

I agree, which is why I was thinking it might be something else. Oh well, even with this added to the few losses, I'm still very fortunate.