What type of algae am I dealing with here?

[wagadodo]

Hi, I’ve recently noticed this type of algae growing on my rock work and sand bed but I’m having issues identifying it. I has am appearance of bryopsis however looking under the microscope it doesn’t appear to look like it, I’ve also ruled out green hair algae as I have dealt with it before and this stuff is more like wire. Any help would be fantastic.

No3- 16ppm
Po4- 0.03

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have photos under white lights?

 

[wagadodo]

Best I could get

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

This algae looks very similar to the algae in this thread, and it seems like their best guess was Cladophora: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/algae-id-derbesia-cladophora.964165/

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Assuming this is Cladophora

From @reefcleaners


Species in this genus, and related ones, cling to the rock, and spread from a runner. The branches do not get tall, and they are often found with hobbyist frags or on live rock.

Manual Removal: Difficult. Macros that have fragile runners and creep along the rock are the hardest to manually remove. Do the best you can. Get a dental pick and get it all the first time and be done with it.

Clean Up Crew: Rock Boring Urchins, Emerald Crabs, Turbos, and Sea Hares occasionally pick on it, but don't seem particularly interested in it.

Starving it out: It seems to be particularly good at adapting to nutrient lulls, and it is unlikely that a small amount of the algae here and there will be starved out of your tank.