What algae is this ? please help

mkutsch · Dec 20, 2016

Might look cool in some places. Maybe for target--elimination, aiptasia stuff might work... but I would just get an urchin.

Trueblue17 · Dec 20, 2016

it crushes? maybe something like a bubble algea with spores inside, could be why its spreading fast

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 20, 2016

Trueblue17 said:
it crushes? maybe something like a bubble algea with spores inside, could be why its spreading fast

yes, its calcareous.
@Tahoe61 any Ideas?

Flyingbulldog · Dec 20, 2016

http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5859fdc889d8f/20161201191310_IMG_0201.JPG

This is what we have in our tank. Its a plating macro algae. I don't know it its the same as yours. It doesn't grow on the sand just on the rocks with high flow and high light.

Trueblue17 · Dec 20, 2016

Vacuum as much as possible out and do a 3 day black out maybe? see if that does anything , but it looks pretty established and in difficult spots.

Tahoe61 · Dec 21, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yes, its calcareous.
@Tahoe61 any Ideas?

Looks like Foraminiferans, pretty cool.

Hans-Werner · Dec 21, 2016

I am sure it are foraminiferans. It are "giant" unicellular protists that live in symbiosis with zooxanthellae which makes the giant growth possible. I had foraminferans in my tanks several times. Other genera are globular with some mm diameter and are so frequent in some places that they form sand.

Hans-Werner · Dec 21, 2016

The species could be Heterostegina depressa (and here) from the array of the chambers. Its symbionts are diatoms.

mkutsch · Dec 21, 2016

Am I the only one on the east coast, or do you all stay up really late [so lonely!]..?

Tahoe61 · Dec 21, 2016

^ I was up in the middle of the night.

Trueblue17 · Dec 21, 2016

I found this it might help identify http://www.foraminifera.eu/heterostegina.php

themcnertney · Dec 21, 2016

Please send some my way.

mkutsch · Dec 21, 2016

Problem is, you think they're shells--I mean, obviously, but--the rate they grow is the problem. If what your friend says is true, well, calcification of shells just can't go that fast. I mean, yeah, box snails and stuff, but the size and intricacies of the shell. I mean, it's possible, but another thing is the actual thickness. I'm just not so convinced. It looks a lot like a flattened shell, but at that rate, I'm not sure it's possible...