What kind of algae is this?

[wartooth1]

So I have an interesting patch of algae growing on some of my rock. Its bright, almost neon green and actually looks like its part of the rock (same texture as the rock its on). The interesting thing about it is that it changes color to match the rock when the lights are off, so in the morning when I first turn the lights on, it looks like nothing is there, but in about 15 minutes or so, the stuff just pops into view.
Also, I've never seen any of my algae eating fish and inverts ever peck at the stuff, so I would be interested to know what this stuff is and if I should try to get rid of it or let it be.
Here's a pic I took this morning:

 

[btldreef]

It almost looks more like sponge.... Interested to see what others say.

 

[spanko]

Can you get a close up picture?

 

[wartooth1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/389250/what-kind-of-algae-is-this#post_3438936
Can you get a close up picture?
I can try later when I get home from work... thing is for some reason on my computer @ work I couldn't expand the pic size like I normally do.

 

[wartooth1]

Hmm funny... On Chrome I couldn't make the pic larger... on Explorer I can... so the pic is bigger now, it should be easier to see.

 

[spanko]

Hard to tell from that picture. It looks like some type of turf algae.

 

[wartooth1]

Well I just got home and now there are little bubbles forming in the patch. Looks like its newly formed bubble algae.

 

[snakeblitz33]

New pics needed!

 

[wartooth1]

Heh well I just picked up my tuxuito urchin and placed him on top of the patch. I bet he's one happy urchin right now

 

[wartooth1]

Well my urchin has been on the patch all night... looks like he's doing a good job cleaning it up too!

NOM NOM NOM!

 

[snakeblitz33]

Might be eating a coral. Lol.

 

[wartooth1]

I don't think its a coral... like I mentioned earlier when I came home last night I noticed bubbles forming inside it... so I figured this patch of green is a young bubble algae.

 

[spanko]

Most likely oxygen bubbles from the algae as a byproduct of growth.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I was kidding.

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/389250/what-kind-of-algae-is-this#post_3439203
Most likely oxygen bubbles from the algae as a byproduct of growth.
Mmmmmmm....... by product.