Purple Bubble Algae???

[tenshi]

So this appeared in my tank about two weeks ago! It looks like bubble algae to me, but it's purple. Does anyone know what it is? The bubbles are attached to an empty snail shell. And I'm currently battling regular bubble algae that is green. Both the small type and large type. I forgot the scientific names to those.

 

[Anonymous]

My guess would be a species of Botryocladia, let's call it Botryocladia sp. here's a link:

http://mbari.org/staff/conn/botany/reds/mark/index.htm

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[tenshi]

Hmm! Could be? What do you think I should do? It seems to be staying on the shell and not spreading onto the substrate since I've noticed it. Should I remove it?

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a link this may help you decide. I've had a branching species of it before and it sorta disintegrated over the course of a couple of months.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/

Regards,
David Mohr