ID please

[jkeithh1969]

I will apologize in advance for the horrible pictures as I had to cut down the quality so that they would not exceed the file size.

Was wondering what this item is. It has a hardness about like a rgp (rigid gas permeable) contact lens in that it is hard but still flexible. It just started growing on my live rock and now I have several areas of it.

[greenbean36191]

Looks like Lobophora, a type of algae.

[Reefland]

Like most algae, it can grow into plague porportions. Does it looks like this:

[jkeithh1969]

That is exactly what it looks like. It is sprouting everywhere.

[jkeithh1969]

Hopefully better pictures

[returnofsid]

Bubble Algae. DON'T pop them. It'll make them spread. You can manually remove them by gently twisting them back and forth until they break off, without popping. There's a few critters that are supposed to be good at eating them. I believe Emerald Crabs are one of them. Do a forum search for Bubble Algae to look for other possible solutions.

[Ninong]

Bubble Algae. DON'T pop them. It'll make them spread. You can manually remove them by gently twisting them back and forth until they break off, without popping. There's a few critters that are supposed to be good at eating them. I believe Emerald Crabs are one of them. Do a forum search for Bubble Algae to look for other possible solutions.

The bubble algae that you're looking at is NOT in the topic starter's pictures. His pictures show only Lobophora variegata. The picture with the bubble algae was posted by Reefland and he knows what it is. He just posted that picture because it contains some Lobophora.

I don't want jkeithj1969 to think your comments are addressed to him.

[returnofsid]

Ahhh, thank you for clearing that one up!! I'd have to have misled him based on looking at the wrong pic.

[jkeithh1969]

Thanks for all the info. Should I start removing some of it before it spreads even more or just wait and see? Is it going to harm anything in the tank?

[Reefland]

That's a tough one. Removing it is difficult, not removing it may allow it to spread rapidly. On a good note it isn't nearly as bad as having hair algae or another nuisance algae growing in the tank.

[jkeithh1969]

I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find out it was a type of algae, but it just looks really cool so I may leave it for the time being and see what happens. It is in my nano cube that I have set up holding stuff while I get the new 90 gallon up and running and cycled.

[Reefland]

It does look really cool, until it is on everything. ;) Just keep a close eye on it and act quickly if/when needed.

[jkeithh1969]

I am going to assume there isn't anything that will eat it??

[Reefland]

We had a lot of different fish in that tank and never seen anyone touch it.

[zhenya]

We had a lot of different fish in that tank and never seen anyone touch it.

When I researched Lobophora variegata, I came across an abstract from an article that mentiones certain sea urchin, Diadema antillarium, and it's preference for this particular brown algae. So, I think it is possible to control this alagae's growth if push comes to shove. Not the best possible means but it is possible.
CJO - Abstract

[jkeithh1969]

Thanks for the info on the urchin. I hope it doesn't come to that...at least not in the nano tank.