id help??

[fishjem]

anybody got a clue as to what this is? it is growing in the return pipe from my skimmer in my 125 reef. its not hard cause it moves in the current some.

 

[hunt]

maybe some kind of sponge

 

[fishjem]

thats what my wife said but i've never seen any type of sponge that looked like it.

 

[spanko]

Foraminifera.

 

[fishjem]

i've read that Foraminifera have some type of shell structure, this doesn't appear to have a visable shell of any sort. do you think this could still be a type of Foraminifera?

 

[bang guy]

I would also guess forams.

 

[reefkprz]

its bubble algae. it tends to grow wierd forms in high flow and gets the neon spotting. I gaurantee if you reach in there and knock it loose you can pull it out and see that it is red bubble algae. pop it and slime will come out (just dont pop it in your tank.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3226184
its bubble algae. it tends to grow wierd forms in high flow and gets the neon spotting. I gaurantee if you reach in there and knock it loose you can pull it out and see that it is red bubble algae. pop it and slime will come out (just dont pop it in your tank.
Is it the waterflow distorting the shape?

 

[fishjem]

not sure if the water flow is what is effecting the shape or not. if it is red bubble alge it is the only piece if it i have noticed in the tank.
it really looks kind of cool, temped to leave it and see how it developes

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/3226229
Is it the waterflow distorting the shape?
I dont think its direct flow deformation, but growing in a shap adapted to the flow. I have noticed red bubble algae growing in the shapes of sugaro cactus in high flow areas also have seen them look like inflated rubbergloves as well as in a ridge like form kind of like a miniature montipora cap on edge. the strange forms are always in high flow areas. probably to maximize nutrient absorption and resist flow, that would be my guess.