Help with ID please

[llewella]

Back when I had my seahorse tank in Miami I pulled a rock out of the bay with a green "plant" on it. I thought it was a plant at the time (ignorant) but now that I think about it I believe it was some sort of coral. It was attached to the rock like a coral. It was dark green and felt like a leather. It was soft, smooth, and flexible, but had no noticeable polyps. My seahorses loved it! Do any of you know what this might have been? I would love another piece of it in my tank now, but don't know where to get it other than asking my friend (still in Miami) to send some. It grows a lot there in the shallow water.
Please see the pictures attached. Sorry they aren't very clear or close up. I really wasn't trying to get a good pic of it when I snapped pics of the seahorses.

>http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/vllewella/DSC00750.jpg</a>

>http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/vllewella/DSC00749.jpg</a>

>http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/vllewella/DSC00751.jpg</a>

 

[rolo65]

looks like serrulata.....a type of caulerpa.....but i cant really tell without a closeup

 

[llewella]

I looked up the serrulata caulerpa and the pictures look like it is kinda spikey. The thing I had had rounded blunt ends and was really smooth. Almost looked plastic or rubber... I wish I had better photos..

 

[smoothie]

codium

 

[rolo65]

oh ok......yeah agree smoothie on the codium...i couldnt really see the round tips very well

 

[llewella]

Yes! I looked it up and thats it. So it's actually an algae. Would it be ok to put in my tank? Beneficial? Harmful?
Thanks so much for the ID.

 

[smoothie]

Benefitial to water quality. May get invasive towards coral. Also uses calcium

 

[llewella]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll put some in the sump, you think?

 

[rolo65]

yeah should be fine.....itll help with nitrates and phoshates like any other macroalgae....just keep an eye on it.....ya might end up having more than ya want

 

[llewella]

Awsome. I'll see if my friend will send some after I get the sump installed. If I end up with lots extra maybe I can give it away to members if anyone wants some

 

[smoothie]

Trade it for different macros

 

[purplegorilla]

Looks like Halimeda algae to me. Is the texture hard?

 

[llewella]

I'm pretty sure it is the codium now. It isn't really textured at all, and it is soft and smooth, like a soft plastic or latex.

 

[jennm]

I love Codium - have it in with my seahorses. Nowhere near as invasive as some caulerpa since it doesn't throw out runners that stick to everything. When you want it gone or to prune it, just do it - no unwanted leftovers.

I have some here - it's very popular. Makes for great "hitching posts" for the seahorses.

Jenn

 

[jennm]

I have a little bit available.