Can Someone id this algae for me?

[Trefaca]

Hello guys, I'm new to saltwater tanks this is my first attempt. Everything in the tank is bought from the same LFS all rocks are mature, the tank is tuning now for two months and for the last two weeks these red guys been popping up I just wanted to know if it's a good or bad algae?

 

[sgdnycct]

Welcome to reefing!

Looks like a red macro algae. If so, it’s a good thing to have growing. Just watch for any die off as your tank matures. You don’t want it too much breaking down in the tank. Hopefully this will bump for you and get more opinions.

 

[Trefaca]

Thank you for your answer, but would you know which one just out of curiosity? I tried to look before for red macro algae but can't find similar looking ones

 

[sgdnycct]

Maybe red ulva macro algae

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would certainly like that macro in my tank, but bear in mind that a clean up crew may clean it up (eat it). Mine would.

 

[Trefaca]

I would certainly like that macro in my tank, but bear in mind that a clean up crew may clean it up (eat it). Mine would.

None of my guys seems to care about them. I just wonder if I should let it grown or try to get rid of it because it's in another 4 places that I can see atleast

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd personally leave it. I've never heard of anyone getting pest levels of a macro like that.

 

[Subsea]

Hello guys, I'm new to saltwater tanks this is my first attempt. Everything in the tank is bought from the same LFS all rocks are mature, the tank is tuning now for two months and for the last two weeks these red guys been popping up I just wanted to know if it's a good or bad algae?

If it is a Halymenia species, it will feel slippery to the touch. And it is readily eaten by herbivores.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

“Like all species of Halymenia it's gelatinous and smooth in texture and is easily torn. This particular species stays rather compact and its blades are rounded and irregular similar to species of Ulva.”

 

[Trefaca]

If it is a Halymenia species, it will feel slippery to the touch. And it is readily eaten by herbivores.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

“Like all species of Halymenia it's gelatinous and smooth in texture and is easily torn. This particular species stays rather compact and its blades are rounded and irregular similar to species of Ulva.”

I tried taking few growths of they come of very easily. Now that I checked today there's even more of them all over aquarium way smaller than in the picture but still growing. What herbivores would you recommend for the small tank? Since I wasn't really landing to put more fish in it for a good while

 

[Subsea]

I tried taking few growths of they come of very easily. Now that I checked today there's even more of them all over aquarium way smaller than in the picture but still growing. What herbivores would you recommend for the small tank? Since I wasn't really landing to put more fish in it for a good while

You did not answer the question to identify the algae! Is it gelatinous or slippery?

If it is Halymenia, any hermit or emerald crab will eat it. If you want to sacrifice your coralline algae, then get an urchin.

Here in the states, it’s called Dragons Breath and has a high market value in the hobby.

 

[Trefaca]

You did not answer the question to identify the algae! Is it gelatinous or slippery?

If it is Halymenia, any hermit or emerald crab will eat it. If you want to sacrifice your coralline algae, then get an urchin.

Here in the states, it’s called Dragons Breath and has a high market value in the hobby.

Sorry I thought I wrote about that. For me it feels more gelatinous it held a solid form even after taken out from the tank with a bit mucus covering my fingers.

 

[Subsea]

Considering your location, you should talk with your LFS to ask for their input, especially since you got it from them.

If it’s geleteous and slippery to the touch then I suspect it is a species of Halamenia.

However, google Irish seaweed:

Seaweed descriptions and pictures

Red algae (Dulse, Carrageen Moss, etc​

Seaweed descriptions and pictures

Overview

Dulse (Palmaria palmata) is a highly nutritious, edible species of red seaweed (or red algae) that grows on the rocky coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Known for its salty, smoky flavor—often called "vegan bacon" when fried—it is packed with protein, iodine, potassium, and vitamins, and is frequently used in salads, soups, and as a snack.

WebMD +4
Key Details About Dulse Seaweed:

 

[Trefaca]

Considering your location, you should talk with your LFS to ask for their input, especially since you got it from them.

If it’s geleteous and slippery to the touch then I suspect it is a species of Halamenia.

However, google Irish seaweed:

Seaweed descriptions and pictures

Red algae (Dulse, Carrageen Moss, etc​

Seaweed descriptions and pictures

Overview

Dulse (Palmaria palmata) is a highly nutritious, edible species of red seaweed (or red algae) that grows on the rocky coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Known for its salty, smoky flavor—often called "vegan bacon" when fried—it is packed with protein, iodine, potassium, and vitamins, and is frequently used in salads, soups, and as a snack.

WebMD +4
Key Details About Dulse Seaweed:

Thank you for your answer. I was thinking to do that next time I'm going there since my "local" is 1hr drive from where I am based can't go there as often as I would like. I know that biggest of my rocks came from Caribbean sea not sure where's the others from.

 

[Subsea]

If Caribbean then most likely a Halymenia species, often called Dragons Breath.

 

[Trefaca]

So.... I'm in predicament again went to the fish store and I have seen that they have similar algae around few of their tanks and I asked the main guy if he could I id it for me and he told me that he has no clue one day they just started growing everywhere and he tried to look it up and couldn't but he knows it's definitely not a dragons breath because they grow them and and as he showed it to me it looked completely different. Both mistery algae and dragon breath was even in the same tank. All he said that one thing he knows that they're not a bad guy since it didn't damage single tank of theirs and that tangs love them.
Photo for growth reference included.
Thank you for your answers

 

[sgdnycct]

So.... I'm in predicament again went to the fish store and I have seen that they have similar algae around few of their tanks and I asked the main guy if he could I id it for me and he told me that he has no clue one day they just started growing everywhere and he tried to look it up and couldn't but he knows it's definitely not a dragons breath because they grow them and and as he showed it to me it looked completely different. Both mistery algae and dragon breath was even in the same tank. All he said that one thing he knows that they're not a bad guy since it didn't damage single tank of theirs and that tangs love them.
Photo for growth reference included.
Thank you for your answers

Sorry I don’t understand the question/statement.

 

[Subsea]

So.... I'm in predicament again went to the fish store and I have seen that they have similar algae around few of their tanks and I asked the main guy if he could I id it for me and he told me that he has no clue one day they just started growing everywhere and he tried to look it up and couldn't but he knows it's definitely not a dragons breath because they grow them and and as he showed it to me it looked completely different. Both mistery algae and dragon breath was even in the same tank. All he said that one thing he knows that they're not a bad guy since it didn't damage single tank of theirs and that tangs love them.
Photo for growth reference included.
Thank you for your answers

Several of us are confused with this post.

When you said that the algae was gelatinous to the touch and left a mucous (slippery), I said it was Halamenia and called Dragons Breath.

Let’s stop using generaic names as we are doing oranges & apples.

This is Halamenia

Red Sea Lettuce Species

Halymenia spp. – Red Sea Lettuce Species The reef’s red ribbon dancer. What You Get A soft, gelatinous red macroalga with smooth, flowing blades that move like silk in the current. We collect several native Halymenia species from Florida and the Caribbean, including H. floridana and H. floresia...

gulfcoasteco.myshopify.com

Show us your mystery seaweed.

 

[Trefaca]

Sorry about the confusion. That's how it looks like now

 

[Subsea]

Considering that the live rock came from the Caribbean and the red seaweed feels geleteous and is slippery to the touch; Halamenia is most likely.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

Know this: Halymenia species are often called Dragons Breath/Dragons Tongue/Red Sea Lettuce

Perhaps if you took a picture of both red seaweeds in LFS that sold you the rock. Then we might move past generic names.

Who knows, the LFS may have two seperate species of Halymenia.

 

[Subsea]

Here is more information from another seaweed collector in the Gulf of Mexico.

Halymenia

Halymenia is a gorgeous red macro algae that can really brighten up a drab tank, and makes a great centerpiece. It is also known as Dragon's Breath and Red Sea Lettuce. We carry two species of...

www.reefcleaners.org

“Halymenia is a gorgeous red macro algae that can really brighten up a drab tank, and makes a great centerpiece. It is also known as Dragon's Breath and Red Sea Lettuce. We carry two species of Halymenia under this "product", Halymenia floresia and Halymenia pseudofloresia. Both look very similar, and have similar care requirements. At times we also have Halymenia elongata available, but it is found under the "Top Shelf Red Macroalgae" product listing.”

“Halymenia has a fleshy texture, much like Ulva but a little thinner. Branches form from the fleshy centered stalk, and the entire macro is semi-translucent. Both of these Halymenia species can grow fairly large reaching a height of 12 inches, and can grow just as wide. Because its leaves branch out in all directions and it can sprawl over a tank, it should be trimmed from time to time. Trimming will also keep the macro from slumping over.”

“This plant will be eaten by herbivorous fish, and because of its filtering capability, (for a red macro it is excellent at filtering), it should be in your display refugium/sump if you have tangs. This macro does well with moderate to bright lighting. This algae looks best under warm (natural) colored lighting.”

“Halymenia must be treated with care because it is very delicate and can break when handled. It should be attached to a shell or liverock and then placed carefully into your tank.”