What is this thing!?!?

[JPloman]

We had this really cool looking thing pop up on our live rock a few months ago... now it is getting really big. Let me describe it to you guys.

It is about this color and looks like the tube that the feather dusters live in. The longer it is in the the taller it becomes. It is growing toward the lights... kinda like a tree or something. I am going to try to take a photo and post it, but until I get that anyone got any ideas?

 

[TCTFish]

I've seen that in tanks before, including my own. It's either a type of algae or a snake polyp. I never really found out which it is between the two, but it's one of the two. Really neat looking and puts a nice dash of bright color in the tank.

 

[Fluff]

Sounds like caterpillar weed. A type of calcarious macro algae.

 

[SoylentGrundy]

got a pic?

 

[JPloman]

Here is a photo. Its the object with the red circle.

Can anyone tell me also if the item circled in green in a sponge?

 

[Fluff]

Yep, that's what it is. As for the red thing, I can't see well enough. Can you get a closer pic?

 

[BDAWG]

Sounds like caterpillar weed. A type of calcarious macro algae.

Cool. I have come of that stuff in my tank too. Now I know what it is.

 

[JPloman]

Here you go Fluff!

 

[JPloman]

I am trying to put on a better photo but its too big. How do you make them smaller?

 

[Fluff]

I'm not sure but to me it looks more like a macro algae than a sponge. Try this link, about halfway down the page there is a red macro called Halymenia sp.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_algae.htm

I use photoshop that came with my cameras software. :? You can also add the photos to your gallery. The limit for there is 250k so you have more room to play with. Then everyone can just be directed to your gallery or you can link the picture to your post.
Here is a link to a sticky thread in the show off forum on resizing photos. HTH.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=4880

 

[JPloman]

Maybe this one will be better. It doesnt look as wiry as the link you posted.

 

[Fluff]

Ok, maybe a Gracilaria sp.

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/GradStud/smith/QUEST/limu-studyguide.htm

toward the bottom of that page is two different species. Although yours is darker, that could be photography. Look more at the structure. And if that isn't right, I'll see what else I can find.

 

[JPloman]

The structure looks the same but it really is bright red like that. It says that it is usually "bright yellow to orange-brown"... does that mean its not the same thing?

 

[Fluff]

That color (brown/yellow) is probably typical for that species. Yours maybe be a different one but still a gracilaria sp. Here is a link with one that is bright red like yours. I don't know if this is what you have, just that this is the closest I could find. Hopefully someone else can give you others opinions. It's cool and I hope it does well for you.


http://www.thepetstop.com/showprofi...ivestock.invertebrates.plants&loc=&listpage=1

 

[Brad]

Macroalgae on both counts. I wasn't able to keep the bright green one alive in my tank. Don't know why...had lots of light and good Ca levels.