ID Help Please, Red Ogo Gracilaria ?

[Spdstr280Z]

Would appreciate some eyes on this for identification. I have had it in my tank for years, and it grows out well when I let the nutrients get a little high, so that means I usually have it. I'm setting up a new tank, and thinking that I will move it to my new refugium area. It doesn't seem to spread a lot or overwhelm anything. The only damage it seems to have ever caused is by shadowing. It is a great red / burgundy color, and the tips will turn very bright when damaged. Closest I can match it by pictures is red ogo gracilaria, but the growth form seems a little different.

Thoughts ? Thanks !

Jason

 

[cristata.reef]

Growth pattern reminds me of Laurencia. Some what similar to Ganonema and Pterocladiella. We could also through in Hypnea (not the blue one) and Gelidiella. I think the subclass Florideae is as far as I can narrow it down to (which also includes gracilaria). Sorry if that doesn't help

 

[Spdstr280Z]

Thanks, I appreciate the help. Looking at each of those, they do look similar "from a distance", especially Pterocladiella, but up close they all seem to have much better definition to the branching pattern, with a much more defined "trunk". Is there much variation in algae form depending on the characteristics of the water is is growing in ? Flow for example....

Thanks again,

Jason

 

[cristata.reef]

Not too sure about the whole growth thing but I assume the environment has at least some impact. Somewhat related, I had a huge clump of hitchhiker red macro that got eaten to the ground my by dolabella sea hare. I moved it to a different area and when it regrew, it looked completely different. Before it was branches profusely with almost feather-like fronds. Now it has several wiry runners and has almost no fronds whatsoever.

 

[Spdstr280Z]

Not too sure about the whole growth thing but I assume the environment has at least some impact. Somewhat related, I had a huge clump of hitchhiker red macro that got eaten to the ground my by dolabella sea hare. I moved it to a different area and when it regrew, it looked completely different. Before it was branches profusely with almost feather-like fronds. Now it has several wiry runners and has almost no fronds whatsoever.

Interesting, so the differences I am seeing vs pictures are entirely possible. You can see in the pictures that this one exhibits different growth patterns even in the same "clump".

Thanks,

Jason