Brown Algea??What is it...

[SsSarahsS]

I am just wondering if anyone knows what this brown algea is that is growing on my rock. It is only this spot on the live rock, and it is not attatched to the live rock at the bottom (it looks as though it is lifting up at the edges. Just wondering ...

 

[Fluff]

Is it slimy? Or is it growing like a plant? Maybe dinoflagellates.

 

[steve-s]

Not dino's, might be a species of Ulva though.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Fluff]

Dang, I was gonna suggest that too. lol

 

[SsSarahsS]

Ya it seems like a plant, and my hermit crab never touched it when he cleared off the rock. So is it a bad or a good thing?

 

[steve-s]

You might have to wait until it gets a bit larger to be sure of what it is. Right now it would seem, it merely "resembles" certain algaes. Filamented algaes are usually the larger concern in regards to spreading fast. Larger leafy algaes are less a concern so you can play "wait and see" if you like. The safest thing to do is remove it. While many types of alga are harmless, they can grow quite quickly in the right conditions. Up to you either way.

Cheers
Steve