Brown Algae ID pls

[EyesClosed]

Hoping someone could help me ID this brown algae. Soft, thin brown leaves, extremely fast growing. Trying to figure out whether i should leave it in my fuge as nutrient export. :?:

Leaves feel like wet tissue paper, very thin with not veins/branches. Almost feels like soft lettuce.

 

[John_Brandt]

That looks like a red algae. It's difficult to identify it specifically. At this point it resembles a Halymenia. Maybe you could provide another photo later as it gets larger.

It does make a good exporter of nutrients as these tend to grow quickly. You could also try feeding it to any herbivores in your tank. That's another form of nutrient export (or rather, relocation to animal tissue and energy fuel).

 

[wade1]

young Sargassum perhaps?

Wade

 

[John_Brandt]

young Sargassum perhaps?

To me it just looks too red to be a brown algae. Additionally, Sargassum would have already begun to form the distinct blades that look like "little leaves".

 

[EyesClosed]

Thanks guys, but i've looked up both those suggessions, and nither seem to match.

It actually is brown, not red, admittedly the pic makes it look more red, i've adjusted the colours to make it look more realistic.

Does Halymenia = Halimeda?

 

[DaisyPolyp]

Hey guys, what about a species of Dictyota? Dictyota bartayresii perhaps?


...would be helpful to know where your LR came from.

 

[EyesClosed]

Hey guys, what about a species of Dictyota? Dictyota bartayresii perhaps?

Thanks

LR is from Australia (west coast, not Great Barrier Reef).

not Dictyota bartayresii either, but i think that it may be a Dictyota. Had a look around, and it most closely resembles Dictyota pulchella. Mine is more brown while the pulchella looks more yellow, however some of the other features are similar, ie leaves look same thinkness/texture, the 'root' bits at the bottom look similar too.

Still havent found a positive match, but will keep looking.

Main question tho: should i keep it in my fuge for nutrient export?

Source: http://www.gettysburg.edu/~rcavalie/bda_i/105.html

 

[EyesClosed]

another qu: i have some small Halymenia growing in the fuge too, is that good for nutrient export? Any pro's/con's?

 

[John_Brandt]

Color is not always the best indication when trying to identify algae. Red algae may appear brown, rusty or yellowish.

This algae does not appear to be typical for Dictyota. That genus has a form mostly composed of flat strands terminating with Y-branches. The D. pulchella illustration shows the common appearance. If I'm not mistaken the algae in question has wide convoluted sheets. Maybe better photos could be posted. Possibly removing some and photographing on a white paper sheet would help. I haven't yet ditched the possibility of it being Halymenia :wink:

I do suggest you keep this and any other macroalgae in your refugia for nutrient export. Consider my suggestion to feed it to herbivorous fishes and invertebrates (urchins, etc).

 

[Anonymous]

Halimeda opuntia.

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/STUDENTS/jharney/algae.html

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[John_Brandt]

Halimeda opuntia.

Stacked green discs?

Halimeda opuntia

 

[Anonymous]

Crappy pic try this one:

http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/algae_page/halimeda.htm

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[DaisyPolyp]

hmm, I don't think so. This is a calcerous species that has fairly "meaty" leaves... EyesClosed described the leaves as "feel like wet tissue paper, very thin"

 

[DaisyPolyp]

ok, posting that quote sparked my memory:

Ulva lactuca - this has good indian ocean distribution, and has thin papery leaves.

(c'mon JB give me the thumbs up on this one :wink: )

 

[John_Brandt]

Ulva lactuca - this has good indian ocean distribution, and has thin papery leaves.

(c'mon JB give me the thumbs up on this one :wink: )

I was waiting for someone else to tell you that it doesn't look anything like Ulva :wink:

 

[EyesClosed]

finally got a chance to take a close up pic, hopefully this can help:

 

[John_Brandt]

That might be a Dictyota. It is creating the typical Y-branchings that is seen in that genera. I do now see the brown coloration. That's a good photo and our only burden now is to try to find a similar-looking algae by drawing or photo. Nice job.

Are you able to feed it to any fish ?