any help IDing these things?

[on3ofak1nd]

Ive searched trying to find info on these but have only found stuff about mushroom polyps... these are rather rigid in texture not soft like polyps. They have been multiplying rather quickly (almost doubled in quantity in the last 2 months) and im really just curious what they are. Probably some form of algea i suppose. Any comments appreciated-

and then these, im sorry this picture kinda sucks.... they are tubular looking things mostly translucent with some orange on the tips and base... they appear to have an opening at the top of the tube althogh it doesnt appear to move (open and close) at least not fast enough to visibly see.


thanks again
-wes

[ruhspolostar]

its a small colony of button polyps, they often hitch hike on LR, they are not detrimental, so don't worry, they close up at night and open durring the day

gorgeous if kept in the right conditions, pretty easy care though

the secon idunno, algae?

[rtgordon]

I think they look like black arrows... very odd thing to find in a reef tank

j/k...

i had a clear one... it is gone now, though.

[on3ofak1nd]

lol funny rtgordon...

but seriously polostar, i know the reddish brown things are button polyps but im actually referring to the green growths which look like mushrooms, they dont close up at night, however they do fade to a almost translucent white (as apposed to the green they are in the picture...) unless these are also a form of polyp and you are indeed referring to them also. well let me know what you think.
as far as the second picture, i suppose it could be some type of algea.. i really wish i could get a better picture though as they are definitely tubular and quite interesting looking.
-wes

[ruhspolostar]

oh sorry for the confusion, im lost to, no wonder you put such a big pic, its huge & i still can't tell

[mapster]

In the top pic I cant tell what you are pointing at, but I dont see any button polyps. The green stuff looks like a type of macro algae (Acetabularia maybe). If thats what you are trying to id I can give you a few links.

The bottom pic looks like tunicates. Too blury to be certain, but with that pic and your description, thats what I guess.

[on3ofak1nd]

links would be greatly appreciated, my guess was macro algae as well...

[ruhspolostar]

sorry i couldn't help yah more, colorblind for the most part, can't drive at night

[mapster]

hope these can help you id:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
http://www.algaebase.org/SpSearchResponse.lasso
http://www.algaebase.org/
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/alg...sclassificati/


http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/...g98/tuni2.html
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...S/tunicata.htm

[Jeremy1973]

Now that is a cool macro algae!

[Goofy]

Deffinately a macroalgae. Looks like a form of calerupa to me. I have experimented with one form of calerupa with different light wavelenghts and intensities, and I have found that the algea will construct itself in different forms and look like a different algae altogether, even though from the same strain.

Alan

[icebear]

mmm...thats a macro i have been wanting

there is a pic of it on one of my marine inverts book, but there is no identifier on it....

[BoomerMn]

Mapster is correct

The first pick is on of the Polyphsacid (Polyphsaceae) algae's, known as Mermaid's Cups, Acetabularia sp. These are not Caulerpas. There are about 4 Caribbean and 4 Indo-Pacific species possible that look like yours. There are about 20 species in all.

The second pic is an Ascidian, aka Tunicate or Sea Squirt. The pic is really bad but they look like Polycitorids (Polycitoridae), probably one of the Clavelina sp or Rhopalaea sp. or similar species.

Look here for some good pics. Your algae is here also, listed Green alga, unidentified, looks like an umbrella

http://www.reefimages.com/Sponges/Sponges.htm

Mermaid's CUps

http://images.google.com/images?q=Ac...-8&sa=N&tab=wi


Your Ascidians

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...na&btnG=Search

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ea&btnG=Search

[on3ofak1nd]

thank you all very much for the info!
very helpful... i do like the mermaids cup quite a bit, its interesting the way it grows...

[hitillidie]

Looks like a form of algae, I forgot what it is called but I do know that it is calcium based, and turn white when not getting enough nutrients or calcium.