What is this???

[putemup]

I've had my tank going now for about 5 years with the same rocks sand ect. About 2 months ago I notices this thick grass looking stuff growing out of the middle of my rock. The questions I have are:

1. What is it?
2. How to make it go away.

Although the grass is growing, its not spreading to other areas of the tank. My wife says we need to leave it because it makes the tank look more natural . lol...My clean up crew is a little thin right now but I have places both crabs and snails directly on the stuff and they won't eat it (or at least not yet).


Thanks
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[ringo®]

Pictures would help

 

[ringo®]

Halimeda maybe?

 

[putemup]

It looks very similar to that. So how do I make it go away?

 

[djatl]

I agree. Without a better picture, it looks like Halimeda. I grow this in my fuge. I understand it's not the most appetizing thing, so not sure what eats it. .

 

[ringo®]

If that's all there is....manual removal. Rinse and repeat.

 

[putemup]

Is there anything that naturally grazes on this stuff? Also, should I be concerned about it spreading.

I'm asking myself....How can this rock be in the tank for about 5 years with no issues then this happens....Amazing!

 

[tbub1221]

Looks like halimeda to me as well , I use to grow it and can't recall anything eating it.
I'd just grab the base and pluck it , but its not nesecery as its a kinda slow grower. It's just a macro algae , its not like nuisance hair or bubble algae and it won't start popping up everywhere .

 

[picoreefguy]

i agree with everyone else that it looks like halimeda but its not likely that you will find anything to eat it because it is one of the few types of calcerous algaes which means they have a hard calcium based structure similar to a skeleton which is hard so not many things will eat it.

 

[jennm]

I concur that it's Halimeda. It's a calcareous algae, so nothing really eats it. Should be easy enough to remove, and keep at bay, even if it does grow back. It's not as aggressive as many species of Caulerpa.

Jenn