Strange algae growing on my astrea snail

[Vinnygnanoreefing]

So my astrea snail likes collecting all kinds of algae on his shell... but this one is by far the coolest I've ever seen. This thing started out as a long tendril that was mostly green with a white tip, and then about a week later this really strange little flower thing sprouted out the top of it. Theres a green cup with a bunch of silky white fronds coming out of it. Tomorrow if it's still there I'm going to bring it up close and get a shot with a macro lens. So, does anyone know the species for this? I'm absolutely fascinated by this... and by how it made its way into my tank and found that shell. I've had this snail for almost a year now.

 

[Vinnygnanoreefing]

The second picture is the little fuzzy tendrils getting blown around by the flow. The cup seems to be rather solid.

 

[Anthony Kochevar]

Reminds me of Acetabularia(Mermaids Wineglass algae).

 

[Katrina71]

Very cool!

 

[Vinnygnanoreefing]

I looked up acetabularia and it does look pretty similar. Here's some closer shots of it. I'm really curious about those almost translucent branches coming out of it.

 

[Aiptaisia anemone]

Woahh so cool wonder what it is

 

[BadPanda]

Looks cool. It's like an underwater dandelion. Hoping that it wont turn into a pest.

 

[acbaldwin]

I'm about 90% sure that's Acetabularia, some variant at least. Super cool, somewhat uncommon, and I think it looks cool, but I've heard enough reports of it growing *everywhere* that I'd consider removing it if you don't have a macro heavy tank that can compete with it.

 

[Vinnygnanoreefing]

I'm about 90% sure that's Acetabularia, some variant at least. Super cool, somewhat uncommon, and I think it looks cool, but I've heard enough reports of it growing *everywhere* that I'd consider removing it if you don't have a macro heavy tank that can compete with it.

I’m gonna spend some time researching acetabularia and see if I can find an exact species although it’s probably unlikely. Think I’ll remove just in case because last thing I want is another outbreak of anything. Dinos were bad enough to make me take every extra precaution to make sure any potential pest species are removed ASAP! Never again dinos. I’ve gotten enough pictures and vids to remember it by. Always really cool when something I’ve never seen before pops up! Anyways, thanks for helping me ID this!