Strange algae

[boeingn747]

So I have a hang on the back refugium. In it is cheato for macro. Recently I have been seeing this green algae growing inside the fuge, and lately growing on the lip of the return, and along the edge of my tank. It's bright green, it grows in like a circular pattern? It hangs on very tight to what its growing on, so it's hard to pull off. I took some off of my return pump and was able to get a picture. It's just a small piece, but I think you can get the picture. Is it a type of nuisance algae, or a type of macro that snuck in with my cheato? It's just odd that it started growing out of the blue, and only in my fuge.

 

[PokeFish]

looks like ulva aka sealettuce. Its a good macroalgae. Dont get rid of them and they like to grow where flow is.

 

[WheatToast]

looks like ulva aka sealettuce. Its a good macroalgae. Dont get rid of them and they like to grow where flow is.

Other things to note about Ulva:
- Widely distributed in coastal regions, both adrift and attached to rocks
- Grows incredibly quickly (comparable to/sometimes faster than Chaetomorpha)
- Great algae for nutrient export, and is thus becoming quite popular in the aquarium trade
- Delicate, and is easily torn (the algae can thrive without a holdfast)
- Pods and other beneficial micro-invertebrates love to live in its folds
- Relished by herbivorous fish and invertebrates and is quite nutritious (humans can eat this algae too)
- Two main growth forms, Mat-like (Sea lettuce) or stringy (Gutweed, once in the genus, Enteromorpha)
- Like Chaetomorpha, it is ideal to provide trace elements, such as iron

Sea lettuce (Ulva):


Gutweed (Ulva):

 

[boeingn747]

looks like ulva aka sealettuce. Its a good macroalgae. Dont get rid of them and they like to grow where flow is.

Thats what I was thinking too. Glad I was able to get a second opinion. Thank you

 

[boeingn747]

Other things to note about Ulva:
- Widely distributed in coastal regions, both adrift and attached to rocks
- Grows incredibly quickly (comparable to/sometimes faster than Chaetomorpha)
- Great algae for nutrient export, and is thus becoming quite popular in the aquarium trade
- Delicate, and is easily torn (the algae can thrive without a holdfast)
- Pods and other beneficial micro-invertebrates love to live in its folds
- Relished by herbivorous fish and invertebrates and is quite nutritious (humans can eat this algae too)
- Two main growth forms, Mat-like (Sea lettuce) or stringy (Gutweed, once in the genus, Enteromorpha)
- Like Chaetomorpha, it is ideal to provide trace elements, such as iron

Sea lettuce (Ulva):


Gutweed (Ulva):

I had done some research and thought sea lettuce too. I just wasn't for sure. I feel better knowing that others think that's what it is too.
One question tho. . . How did i get it into my tank? Did I just bring spores into my tank or how did does it make its way into the tank?

 

[PokeFish]

I had done some research and thought sea lettuce too. I just wasn't for sure. I feel better knowing that others think that's what it is too.
One question tho. . . How did i get it into my tank? Did I just bring spores into my tank or how did does it make its way into the tank?

prob hitchhiked on something

 

[WheatToast]

I had done some research and thought sea lettuce too. I just wasn't for sure. I feel better knowing that others think that's what it is too.
One question tho. . . How did i get it into my tank? Did I just bring spores into my tank or how did does it make its way into the tank?

Ulva can release spores in addition to hitchhiking into tanks attached to live rock/frags (occasionally) or as free-floating fragments.

 

[boeingn747]

Ulva can release spores in addition to hitchhiking into tanks attached to live rock/frags (occasionally) or as free-floating fragments.

Ok, well that explains it then. Glad I got a decent hitchhiker for once.