Hair algae type ID

[reeferab]

Hi all,

I've have this massive chunk of hair algae in a relatively small tank (60cm / 120L display). It's very flowy to the point the clown even thinks it's a host and sits inside the mess. I have two sizeable urchins (orange spine urchin, fire urchin) and tomini tang who just flat out refuse to munch on this particular bit of rock to any effect.

I have included images at three scales in case its of any help to understand what species of algae it is. Apologies the microscope image isn't brilliant.

Based on Gemini's image search I'm getting turtle weed (Chlorodesmis species) as the potential species - any weight to this?

Note nitrates always read 0 (Hanna) I think due to the algae being a big sink. Phosphates were through the roof (0.37!) - I've switched to frozen food and using phosguard which is slowly bringing them down (0.22 using Hanna 2 days ago).

There were a few different corals in the tank but many of the sps (birds nest, pocillopora etc) were smothered by the algae. Now have a few zoas which have survived, alongside small candy cane frags, and a "buzz lightyear" frogspawn, and a duncan which are hanging on.

CUC are limited have a few hermits, and larger snails. I need to get more snails but a bit worried as have a yellow wrasse who might pick at them. Previously in other tanks I've had good experience with emerald crabs dealing with all sorts of algae inc bubble algae but I'm worried it will become an expensive snack for the wrasse.

 

[EnterName]

To be honest with you, I'm not sure species level identification is possible with light microscopy. You are probably lucky if you get to genus level but even that could be difficult. The shape of the zoospores, and the zoosporongia could help someone with more knowledge about algae to get closer to an ID but I'm not even sure it's too important to identify it.

From the images it could be a Derbesia species as well as Enteromorpha, and others just based on the lack of visible segments in the filaments.

 

[reeferab]

To be honest with you, I'm not sure species level identification is possible with light microscopy. You are probably lucky if you get to genus level but even that could be difficult. The shape of the zoospores, and the zoosporongia could help someone with more knowledge about algae to get closer to an ID but I'm not even sure it's too important to identify it.

From the images it could be a Derbesia species as well as Enteromorpha, and others just based on the lack of visible segments in the filaments.

Thats very helpful thank you. I’ll try and get better samples and images and repost incase it helpful.

 

[EnterName]

To be honest with you, I'm not sure species level identification is possible with light microscopy. You are probably lucky if you get to genus level but even that could be difficult. The shape of the zoospores, and the zoosporongia could help someone with more knowledge about algae to get closer to an ID but I'm not even sure it's too important to identify it.

From the images it could be a Derbesia species as well as Enteromorpha, and others just based on the lack of visible segments in the filaments.

Thats very helpful thank you. I’ll try and get better samples and images and repost incase it helpful.

I have a very limited amount of macro algae images on my microscopy thread and lack the ID skills for it.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/microscopy-thread.1138845/

I don't know if we have an algae specialist on R2R. @Subsea is the first and only one I can think of right now, maybe he can help.

Do you think the species will matter? It doesn't look extraordinary to me.