ID Please...looks like feathers!

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

This creature has the following characteristics:
1. dark blue green in color
2. it has a feathery texture
3. it does not retract when touched
4. it moves in the current
5. appears as layers of feathers
6. fast growing (about 2.5" in 3 weeks)
7. It is touching a turbanaria and neither seem adversely affected
8. growing out of a hole in what was pukani dry rock
9. is located about 10" from the water surface with medium to high flow

The 220 gal aquarium is 5 months old. Temp is 78 degrees, PH 8.15, and is SG 1.026.
Lighting by Ecotech radion LEDs. Thanks for your help.

Lionfish Lair · Apr 3, 2016

It's probably a feather caulerpa, such as Caulerpa mexicana or taxifolia. Is it green or red?

There's also a basket star that looks something like that, but that's not it.

TheEngineer · Apr 3, 2016

Does it move?

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
It's probably a feather caulerpa, such as Caulerpa mexicana or taxifolia. Is it green or red?

There's also a basket star that looks something like that, but that's not it.

Its blue/green

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

icecool2 said:
Does it move?

It is stationary but moves in the current. It does not retract when you touch it. I cannot see its base as it is growing out of a hole in the rock.

greddy1 · Apr 3, 2016

If it suddenly showed up possibly briopsis?

Lionfish Lair · Apr 3, 2016

The white tips look like growing algae. Did you perhaps do a Google image search for Feather caulerpa?

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
The white tips look like growing algae. Did you perhaps do a Google image search for Feather caulerpa?

No white tips must be light reflection in the photo. Doesn't really look like the caulpera I Googled today or caulerpa I have had in my other tanks. Also my blue hippo tang, yellow tang, foxface, lawnmower blenny, hermits and snails are not eating it.

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

greddy1 said:
If it suddenly showed up possibly briopsis?

doesn't look like briopsis...and no algae eaters are eating it

TheEngineer · Apr 3, 2016

I agree with @Lionfish Lair. Reason I asked (and it was a reallllll long shot) was that it looked like a feather starfish on my phone. That and the fact that this was posted in the Invert Forum.

Lionfish Lair · Apr 3, 2016

A feather star! That's what I meant earlier when I said basket star by mistake. I too saw the similarities.

TheEngineer · Apr 3, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
A feather star! That's what I meant earlier when I said basket star by mistake. I too saw the similarities.

We posted at the same time. I didn't see yours. Haha. Great minds think alike!

foxfacelo · Apr 3, 2016

icecool2 said:
I agree with @Lionfish Lair. Reason I asked (and it was a reallllll long shot) was that it looked like a feather starfish on my phone. That and the fact that this was posted in the Invert Forum.

Well I'll be a son of a gun! Based on everyone's comments I decided to pry some "feathers" away from the rock and under room lighting they were green. They look like "mini" ultra delicate caulpera...not like any I have seen before. I still can't believe that my herbevoires didn't devore it! Too bad it didn't turn out to be a feather star...that would have been cool! Thanks to everyone for your help.

Is it going to be a plague in the tank?

Lionfish Lair · Apr 3, 2016

There's a few different species of feather and that one does indeed look different from the other more common varieties. It's like they always look a little "beat up" than the others.

I didn't find this one invasive like the others.... It was like it was almost too niche or something. I actually don't know the extent these can become a problem, they just never went crazy in mine.

Salty1962 · Apr 3, 2016

Inverts and algae eating fish won't touch bryopsis. Still my vote with all of the information you've provided.

Maritimer · Apr 4, 2016

I've got something similar booming in my tank - and I believe that it's a form of Bryopsis algae. Prettier than green hair algae, but pretty darned thick in spots . . .

~Bruce

foxfacelo · Apr 4, 2016

Salty1962 said:
Inverts and algae eating fish won't touch bryopsis. Still my vote with all of the information you've provided.

That would explain why the fish and CUC didn't touch it! Any suggestions on its eradication?

foxfacelo · Apr 4, 2016

Salty1962 said:
Inverts and algae eating fish won't touch bryopsis. Still my vote with all of the information you've provided.

Yep...I just Googled bryopsis and some of the pictures look just like what I pulled out of the tank. Thanks very much!

Maritimer · Apr 4, 2016

Best I've heard for removal is to slowly raise magnesium, using Kent's "Tech-M" product. (It's not the magnesium levels that do the job, supposedly, but something else in the bottle which Bryopsis can't take at that level.) Got a bottle yesterday, and will have a go . . .

~Bruce