Help, I don't know what this is and what to do to get rid of it.

[fast93lightning]

Hello,
I am fairly new to the reef tank hobby and have recently in encountered this in my tank. I have attached a picture of my tank, and am looking for some assistance in figuring out what it is and what I can do to get rid of it.
It is red bubble like alage. I have some crabs in my tank that eat it a little but not enough to keep up with the amount that it grows.
If anyone can give me some insight into this problem that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[smallreef]

so there is red bubble algae growing on your caluerpa?

 

[flower]

It's called botryocladia, I paid $10.00 for a pint of it. It's a macro algae. As it grows and you remove it, you remove nitrates and phosphates from your tank, just like any macro algae. I think the red macros are beautiful. If you don't want it, gently pluck it and remove it.

 

[saxman]

That's not Botryocladia...it looks like red "Valonia", altho I forget the generic name of the red variety.
It's considered a nuisance algae...just peel it off, but try not to pop it.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/390089/help-i-dont-know-what-this-is-and-what-to-do-to-get-rid-of-it#post_3452583
That's not Botryocladia...it looks like red "Valonia", altho I forget the generic name of the red variety.
It's considered a nuisance algae...just peel it off, but try not to pop it.
I was under the impression that the two were related and the same. Just like there are different kinds of caulerpa. At any rate that's why I said to pluck it off gently...so you don't burst the bubble and spread it.
Here is what I found when I googled it...
Also showing up in the trade sometimes is Botryocladia, a red bubble or grape algae that is quite stunning. Beautiful would be an understatement, but I found it also difficult to maintain long-term.
Finally, the red bubble algae Botryocladia skottsbergii is the most devastating form of bubble alga I've ever seen.

 

[saxman]

I stand corrected Flower...I thought skottsbergii had more of a "stem", but I just looked at some pix.