Need help to identify these growths on LR

[Brad2157]

I need help to I.D. these two growths in my nano tank. It is an established (4 years) tank that I bought about 3 weeks ago. The red vein looking things are all over the one piece of LR. The other thing looks like it could be some type of coral growing? I’m not sure. Both other types growing on the same little piece of LR look like they may have been fragged at some point (missing center sections), but I’m not sure. I would appreciate any help and to know if they are good/bad. I’ve added pictures of each one (two different ones).

 

[Nburg's Reef]

looks like gelidium algae (red turf algae). I think there are several types of algae labeled red turf algae. Question: is it really tough to pull off the rocks and is it hard to pull apart? If so, its the red turf algae you don't want; urchins, peroxide work and mexican turbos may help, but not significantly in my experience. If its easier to pull off, Mexican turbos will eat it quick.

For me, it grew very thick like grass and almost impossible to pull off the rock. It all died when I broke my tank down for a move, changed lighting to LEDs in a smaller tank and nitrates went way up. Not sure what caused it to die, but happy it did. So far, it hasn't came back post move in my big tank.

FWIW, mine never grew that tall, so you might be in luck with it not being a huge problem.

 

[Brad2157]

looks like gelidium algae (red turf algae). I think there are several types of algae labeled red turf algae. Question: is it really tough to pull off the rocks and is it hard to pull apart? If so, its the red turf algae you don't want; urchins, peroxide work and mexican turbos may help, but not significantly in my experience. If its easier to pull off, Mexican turbos will eat it quick.

For me, it grew very thick like grass and almost impossible to pull off the rock. It all died when I broke my tank down for a move, changed lighting to LEDs in a smaller tank and nitrates went way up. Not sure what caused it to die, but happy it did. So far, it hasn't came back post move in my big tank.

FWIW, mine never grew that tall, so you might be in luck with it not being a huge problem.

Thanks for the reply. It is tough to pull off the rock. It’s almost like individual strands that are red. It really makes me think of veins or something. The 2nd picture with the red outline is something different though. It may be a type of coral? I’m really not sure. I didn’t notice it at first when I got the tank set up, but the previous owner had it all torn down right before I got there to pick it up to make it go quicker. I need to get better pictures of both when the lighting is brighter. I have it on a scheduled timer that ramps up and back down during the afternoon/night. When I snapped the picture this morning, it was just the moon/night lights on.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Sounds like Gelidium. I think it’s the same thing as the 1st. It will grow runners like roots (1st pic) then once established, it will grow stalks with leafy like structures. If it were me, I’d pull out the rocks if possible and hit them with hydrogen peroxide. They’ll turn bright orange and die. Do so before it over runs your tank.
It may go away on its own, or may not grow at all... but you don’t want to take the chance that it takes over your live rock.
It grows quick, likes high light but usually doesn’t bother corals.

 

[Brad2157]

Sounds like Gelidium. I think it’s the same thing as the 1st. It will grow runners like roots (1st pic) then once established, it will grow stalks with leafy like structures. If it were me, I’d pull out the rocks if possible and hit them with hydrogen peroxide. They’ll turn bright orange and die. Do so before it over runs your tank.
It may go away on its own, or may not grow at all... but you don’t want to take the chance that it takes over your live rock.
It grows quick, likes high light but usually doesn’t bother corals.

Thank you so much for your help! I greatly appreciate it very much!

 

[Brad2157]

Here is a little better picture of the red vein type ones. I still can’t get a good picture of the other.