Good or Bad Algae?

[beddru]

It's a leaf like algae that grows at the base of a patch of my Zoas it doesn't seem to be affecting their grown but I'm curious to know if it might be a problem in the future...

 

[iamkl0]

i think thats macro algae. its good for the tank, reduces nitrates.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Looks like Halimeda I believe and it uses up calcium.

 

[beddru]

Maybe...

I thought it might be halimeda as well, but it doesn't get longer than one little fuzzy leaf...the halimeda looks like little cacti petals...

 

[tosiek]

need a clearer picture. but looks safe enough aside from growing everywhere.

 

[Bob 1000]

Looks like nuisance algae to me..

 

[SevTT]

Looks like Halimeda I believe and it uses up calcium.

+1, but it's also a nice-looking and, IIRC, slow-growing macro. If you're worried about it spreading put the rock on the sandbed somewhere so spread can be easily controlled.

 

[Bob 1000]

Are tips of the algae round or featherlike?? It like featherlike from the picture.. Halemeda has more of a thick cactus like leaf.. These don't appear to haveleaves just growing unformly from current..

 

[Mr. Softy]

Looks like nuisance algae to me..

Yep

 

[Mr. Softy]

It looks like Halimeda but the leaves on this algae will only grow to about 3/16"

 

[Dre]

Are tips of the algae round or featherlike?? It like featherlike from the picture.. Halemeda has more of a thick cactus like leaf.. These don't appear to haveleaves just growing unformly from current..

It's definitely not Halemeda .I have some in my tank as well ,don't know what it is either.It look transparent when the lights go off and it can stunt the growth of the zoas if it gets out of control .It grows very very slowly.

 

[vladnyc]

Well i would call any algae other then Coraline Algae "bad" if it was on the rocks in my show tank.

 

[bizarrecorals]

ummm. can you submit a better pic?

 

[basiab]

If you like it then it is a flower. If not it is a weed.
If you leave it and it takes over then it is a weed. I would vote to let it stay.

 

[Mr. Softy]

I spoke with a friend today who had battled this algae for months with know luck. He tried a variety of fish and inverts with know success until he added a Long Spined Urchin and a Foxface. Problem solved. The tank is now spotless. Hope this helps. Good Luck

 

[beddru]

Its a nice green though lol

Its a 12 gallon nano cube...the photo is enlarged so it looks like a nice piece of rock but its smaller than a fist...it hasnt grown fast so I haven't decided to try to clean it up yet...i could prob get most of it if I tried lol

I would need a really small foxface or a tiny sea urchin lol

 

[Mr. Softy]

oy vey

 

[jrobbins]

Without a better pic everybody is just guessing as to what it is. Also, depending on what it is, just putting the rock on the sand might not stop it from spreading around your tank. If its a small tank and a small rock (which it is) you can just pull the rock and pick off the algae with tweezers.

Finally, take a look at the pics of macro algae on wetweb and see if any look familiar.