What is this plant?

[Reef Breeders]

I found an interesting red plant growing in the back of my tank. I only noticed it because I forgot to feed my cc seastar so he was munching on it. I moved it and another piece of the same kind of plant to the middle of my tank.

My cells cam isnt really good under t5's, so that is just the basic shape. It is a light crimson color throughout the entire plant, including the roots.

 

[skinz78]

It is too hard to tell from the pic, can you get a clearer one?

 

[Reef Breeders]

Ok Ill try with the tank lights off.

Any better?

 

[Reef Breeders]

Found it online. Its a type of algae known as red gracillaria. Here it is in bulk, Im going to do a little more research.
http://www.aquacon.com/images/RedOgoGracilaria1.jpg
And heres what a colony looks like.

 

[Paul_N]

What fish do you have? I grew that in my sump in the past and fed it to my tangs and fox face. They love it.

 

[skinz78]

Just so you know Aquacon = very bad business and is just that a con!

 

[Reef Breeders]

Ya I heard about aquacon. And the research I did said that this plant can kill fish that eat it in the long run. I don't know if this is true since the guy also said they were single celled organisms. He also said they reproduce sexually, which would be impossible if they were single celled. I think I will find another source.

 

[Paul_N]

I got my info off of wet web media. It was stated that it does NOT go sexual and is NOT noxious.

Here is a page with some info. Basically has same requirements as Cheato.

RedAlgFAQs

 

[Paul_N]

Here is some other info in general for gracilaria:
Gracilaria culture in China

Seems that it like a lower SG than what we keep our tanks.