Green leafy ID please. Friend or foe?

SanguinesDream · #1 02-09-2013, 08:42 PM

It is only on one, small piece of liverock that my flowerpot came attached to.

A closeup shot.

Any suggestions or ideas on its identification would be greatly appreciated.

monocus · #2 02-09-2013, 10:25 PM

looks like caupillera

Madreefer · #3 02-09-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monocus

looks like caupillera

Which IMO in a display tank is foe. Pick it off.

SanguinesDream · #4 02-09-2013, 11:10 PM

But wouldn't it be a nutrient sink?

11purewater · #5 02-09-2013, 11:32 PM

It would be a nutrient sink but if it suddenly dies all those nutrients a released back into the water.So i would keep it well trimmed.

reefwars · #6 02-09-2013, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanguinesDream

But wouldn't it be a nutrient sink?

so is aiptasia:P

11purewater · #7 02-10-2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefwars

so is aiptasia:P

and pulsing xenia!

asylumdown · #8 02-10-2013, 07:55 PM

are those leaf blades connected to each other via a long rhizome like stem? If not, it's probably not caulerpa. It looks almost like baby blades of Ulva lettuce algae, but there's probably a half dozen other species it could be.

Zoaelite · #9 02-10-2013, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asylumdown

are those leaf blades connected to each other via a long rhizome like stem? If not, it's probably not caulerpa. It looks almost like baby blades of Ulva lettuce algae, but there's probably a half dozen other species it could be.

Well said, I was going to respond with yup its algae

.

Macro algae is a tough subject in reef tanks, generally they are kept in the refugium as they can grow rampant and over take most of your coral. I personally remove anything that's leafy and green, tweezers or a H2O2 dip will work very well.

SanguinesDream · #10 02-11-2013, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefwars

so is aiptasia:P

Quote:

Originally Posted by asylumdown

are those leaf blades connected to each other via a long rhizome like stem? If not, it's probably not caulerpa. It looks almost like baby blades of Ulva lettuce algae, but there's probably a half dozen other species it could be.

Yup, and they have a root like structure on the bottom of that rock that goes into the sand. It just started growing this past week, so I'm not sure if it has released spores yet. I best get on it before it spreads.

The difficulty is that my flowerpot grows out of this rock and is very finicky about being touched. I don't know how well it would take to a dip, besides I don't think a dip would get all the rhizomes. Maybe an injection of lemon juice or vinegar?