Weird purple goo mat.

[GHsaltie]

A few days ago I had this mat thing pop up on one of my rocks and it disappeared after a couple days. It was kind of hard to the touch but still had a springy give and softness to it, if that makes sense o_O. Anybody have a clue as to what it might have been?


Some random critter pictures from a sample put under the scope.


Can't remember the name but I do remember reading about these in biology studies and so stinking cool to see alive and in person!




And also a couple bad videos I took of the sample.

 

[ebushrow]

Ok
1 - cyano
2 - isopod
3&4 - diatoms

 

[GHsaltie]

Duh..... for some reason I didn't connect that diatoms look like that :oops:. I think I would benefit from taking that biology class again.
I didn't know that cyano displayed like that, I've got some on my sandbed but it looks completely different from what was on the rock. That's interesting to see cyano and diatoms together.

Can you tell I don't spend too much time in the algae threads?:p