ID Please, this macro is weird.

[Roboson]

I got this old barnacle rock really cheap, but has some macro algae growing on it. I didn't have any in my nano, but I opted to keep it. However now it's disappearing in some spots and one section is turning white(ish). Other kinds of macro started showing up too. Please someone tell me what's going on.

The photo quality isn't great, sorry about that.

 

[cloak]

That algae with the bubbles looks like Caulerpa racemosa. That other stuff might be Caulerpa verticillata. I'm not sure why the algae is behaving like that though. Sometimes when they turn white they're reproducing, (going sexual) but dying back could be attributed to not enough light or perhaps your parameters are just out of whack. GL.

http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsesectiongroups.php?SectionID=14.

 

[Roboson]

I don't think it's my parameters. Now I believe something is eating the algae in the night. Anyone know of any nocturnal herbivores that are really good at hiding? I'm thinking its a hitchhiker in this rock somewhere.

 

[cloak]

Maybe a Nudibranch? (Elysia)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

 

[Fin]

I don't know what it is (that fern looking stuff resembles Bryopsis to me), but I always cringe when I see people purposely putting macro algae in their display. Yeah, it looks cool for a while, until it starts growing and gets out of control. It is highly invasive and will cause you nothing but trouble when it starts covering up your corals and destroys them. If you want to keep macro algae, it is best done in a refugium, away from the display. If it were me, I would remove that rock.

 

[Salty1962]

I would remove the barnacles and acid soak them so that stuff doesn't come back. As mentioned, it will Take Over your Tank!! When it gets it's roots in your rock, you'll never be rid of it. JMO

 

[Roboson]

It's only a 10 gallon, with no sump or refugium. Just regular water changes, live rock, and macro keeps everything mostly in check.

Right now I have more problems keeping the macro than it taking over, but in this 10g, it's not hard to weed if the need ever comes about.

Could hermits or bristle worms be eating it in the night?

 

[Salty1962]

Don't think so, not their regular diet.

 

[Roboson]

Ok so the algae definitely went sexual. I saw a bunch of smoke coming off of it. Does macro die after going sexual?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That is caulerpa verticillata.... nasty nasty NASTY stuff.

Yes, this stuff dies after. Get out all you can, change some water, make sure there's enough oxygen and I always recommend carbon.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Sorry Cloak, I missed where you said C. verticillata.

 

[Roboson]

What's so bad about it exactly? Sorry, macro is not something I know much about.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

It's invasive. Easy to spread and hard to get out. It's illegal to have any in California, due to the potential to cause grave issues.