Red Macro ID?

[Ocypode sinensis]

I got this from my local LFS free of charge, it was growing like crazy on some of their rock but gets removed pretty easily. I promised them that I will call them once I get an ID on the algae, anywhere here's the pic.

 

[Subsea]

Botryocladia occidentalis​

Botryocladia is a truly beautiful specimen that does very well in the marine aquarium. It features stiff, lightly calcified branches with fluid filled air bladders to stay upright. It resembles a cluster of grapes and so is sometimes referred to as Red Grape Caulerpa, although its not related. It's found in different forms worldwide but the dominant species here in Florida is Botryocladia occidentalis. The algae can grow quite large in its natural environment to about 12" in diameter. The plant is anchored by a single holdfast to hard bottom, ledges and on artificial reefs and is found to depths of about 65'. It can be a sensitive algae to keep in the aquarium and requires a stable alkalinity, good flow and overall excellent water quality to survive. The plant is highly palatable to fish.​

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

Botryocladia occidentalis​

Botryocladia is a truly beautiful specimen that does very well in the marine aquarium. It features stiff, lightly calcified branches with fluid filled air bladders to stay upright. It resembles a cluster of grapes and so is sometimes referred to as Red Grape Caulerpa, although its not related. It's found in different forms worldwide but the dominant species here in Florida is Botryocladia occidentalis. The algae can grow quite large in its natural environment to about 12" in diameter. The plant is anchored by a single holdfast to hard bottom, ledges and on artificial reefs and is found to depths of about 65'. It can be a sensitive algae to keep in the aquarium and requires a stable alkalinity, good flow and overall excellent water quality to survive. The plant is highly palatable to fish.​

That was my first thought, but all the Botryocladia occidentalis I've had have a rigid stem and tends to grow into a tree like shape?? This algae however is soft and bushy, no more than a inch tall on my LFS's rock. It almost feel gelatinous when I was picking out the GHA attached (I gave up).

 

[Subsea]

If it is slippery and feels gelatinous then it is a type of Halymenia. (Dragons Breath).

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

If it is slippery and feels gelatinous then it is a type of Halymenia. (Dragons Breath).

i'll look more into that, the guide on GCE's website doesn't seem to include this algae.

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

If it is slippery and feels gelatinous then it is a type of Halymenia. (Dragons Breath).

What about Coelarthrum sp. ? looks much alike to the string of pearl algae

 

[Subsea]

What about Coelarthrum sp. ? looks much alike to the string of pearl algae

I am not familiar with that. Try this browser

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=1461532

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

I am not familiar with that. Try this browser

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=1461532

Cool stuff, I went to Algae Base further and I decided it's probably a Scinaia sp.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

i'll look more into that, the guide on GCE's website doesn't seem to include this algae.

This is what is sometimes called dragons breath:

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