ID help please...

[Buzz_Hog]

Not sure where requests like this belong, but figured I'd post here first and risk the butt chewing...

I've got a piece of LR and need some stuff ID'd....



Section 1 is sort of a rubbery mass... I can't say if it has grown or not. I don't have any high power lighting. Right now it's sitting under a 48 inch 2x55 PC running daylight bulbs...

Section 2 are bright red masses. I've started to notice this same red starting to form on base rock I've had in the tank with it for the past three months... The new stuff is starting like brown diatom, but in bright red color...

Section 3 is a deep brownish maroon...

[Buzz_Hog]

I also have some turquiose alge type of growth on this rock...

[icebear]

some sort of sponge and maybe a few different shades of coralline algae...?

[Buzz_Hog]

Those bright red clumps grow out and get branchy... On various pieces of rock, there are prob about 50 decent size clumps...

[BahamaMomma]

We must have the same rock! I would also like to know what the turquoise color on the rock is. I think the red branchy stuff is foraminiferans (closely related to amoebas). They feed on bacteria and fine detritus and are a good sign that the eco system is deverse and healthy. If you have The Reef Aquarium Volume 2 by Sprung & Delbeek you can check out the forams on page 435 to see if that is what yours looks like.

[Buzz_Hog]

Here's some info I found on foraminiferans

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0819130.html

http://www.esu.edu/~milewski/intro_b...aminifera.html

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/zoolab/Table...miniferans.htm

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/foram/foram.html

http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~ee...abs/tests.html

[Buddha]

1) Sponge (I have one)
2) Coraline algae
3) cyanobacteria

[MontanaRocknReefer]

On the first pic I believe it is a sponge as well! Here is a pic of mine: