Friend or Foe

[rtk]

First I rather admired the little wine-colored growths shelved on my
powerheads and heaters, but now I've begun to cast a suspicious eye on
something that grows so readily, believing that maybe nothing good
should be that easy. They are not ugly and so far have not been
aggressive or encroaching on the space of my very many corals. But
still! They are always horizontal and will even sprout on the hot
surface of the heater. They seem to prefer corners, but don't shy away
from a hard current. Anyone recognize them from my description? Should
I get rid of them? Are they performing some valuable chemical service,
maybe?

rtk

[[email protected]]

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:00:49 -0500, rtk > wrote:

>First I rather admired the little wine-colored growths shelved on my
>powerheads and heaters, but now I've begun to cast a suspicious eye on
>something that grows so readily, believing that maybe nothing good
>should be that easy. They are not ugly and so far have not been
>aggressive or encroaching on the space of my very many corals. But
>still! They are always horizontal and will even sprout on the hot
>surface of the heater. They seem to prefer corners, but don't shy away
>from a hard current. Anyone recognize them from my description? Should
>I get rid of them? Are they performing some valuable chemical service,
>maybe?
>
>rtk

Are the growths soft and slimy, or very hard ?

Regards, Fishnut.

[rtk]

wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:00:49 -0500, rtk > wrote:
>
>
>>First I rather admired the little wine-colored growths shelved on my
>>powerheads and heaters, but now I've begun to cast a suspicious eye on
>>something that grows so readily, believing that maybe nothing good
>>should be that easy. They are not ugly and so far have not been
>>aggressive or encroaching on the space of my very many corals. But
>>still! They are always horizontal and will even sprout on the hot
>>surface of the heater. They seem to prefer corners, but don't shy away
>
>>from a hard current. Anyone recognize them from my description? Should
>
>>I get rid of them? Are they performing some valuable chemical service,
>>maybe?
>>
>>rtk
>
>
> Are the growths soft and slimy, or very hard ?
>
> Regards, Fishnut.

I'd say a little bit tough, like thick leaves. If you're familiar with
the tree fungus called polyporous sulferus, aka chicken mushroom, it
grows like that, in little layers.

rtk

[Wayne Sallee]

I think I know what your talking about, most looks like
the 4th picture at
http://www.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&q=+%22polyporus+sulphureus%22&spell=1
?

It's an algae, Can't remember the name off hand, other
reefers should recongnize it when they look at that
picture. It's not one that will overtake your tank, and
will probalby disapear later. I'd leave it.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



rtk wrote on 11/19/2005 4:50 PM:
> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:00:49 -0500, rtk > wrote:
>>
>>
>>> First I rather admired the little wine-colored growths shelved on my
>>> powerheads and heaters, but now I've begun to cast a suspicious eye
>>> on something that grows so readily, believing that maybe nothing good
>>> should be that easy. They are not ugly and so far have not been
>>> aggressive or encroaching on the space of my very many corals. But
>>> still! They are always horizontal and will even sprout on the hot
>>> surface of the heater. They seem to prefer corners, but don't shy away
>>
>>
>>> from a hard current. Anyone recognize them from my description? Should
>>
>>
>>> I get rid of them? Are they performing some valuable chemical
>>> service, maybe?
>>>
>>> rtk
>>
>>
>>
>> Are the growths soft and slimy, or very hard ?
>>
>> Regards, Fishnut.
>
>
> I'd say a little bit tough, like thick leaves. If you're familiar with
> the tree fungus called polyporous sulferus, aka chicken mushroom, it
> grows like that, in little layers.
>
> rtk

[Boomer]

LOL that is a nice analogy I never would have thought of that. I just ID the same thing on
another forum a few days ago


Look at this, Mesophyllum mesomorphum
http://www.gettysburg.edu/~rcavalie/bda_i/images/16.6.jpg


--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
http://www.coralrealm.com



"rtk" > wrote in message ...
: wrote:
: > On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:00:49 -0500, rtk > wrote:
: >
: >
: >>First I rather admired the little wine-colored growths shelved on my
: >>powerheads and heaters, but now I've begun to cast a suspicious eye on
: >>something that grows so readily, believing that maybe nothing good
: >>should be that easy. They are not ugly and so far have not been
: >>aggressive or encroaching on the space of my very many corals. But
: >>still! They are always horizontal and will even sprout on the hot
: >>surface of the heater. They seem to prefer corners, but don't shy away
: >
: >>from a hard current. Anyone recognize them from my description? Should
: >
: >>I get rid of them? Are they performing some valuable chemical service,
: >>maybe?
: >>
: >>rtk
: >
: >
: > Are the growths soft and slimy, or very hard ?
: >
: > Regards, Fishnut.
:
: I'd say a little bit tough, like thick leaves. If you're familiar with
: the tree fungus called polyporous sulferus, aka chicken mushroom, it
: grows like that, in little layers.
:
: rtk

[rtk]

Thank you, Fishnut, Wayne, and Boomer. That's reassuring. I have been
enjoying the little growths, but did wonder if I were developing an
attachment to a serial killer. It's a pretty little growth and stays
pretty much tucked away in corners. That polyporus, by the way, is an
edible mushroom. The growth pattern is very similar to the little algae.

Now, back to the Penn State game. Too bad, Michigan State.

rtk

[[email protected]]

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:58:04 -0600, "Boomer"
> wrote:

>LOL that is a nice analogy I never would have thought of that. I just ID the same thing on
>another forum a few days ago
>
>
> Look at this, Mesophyllum mesomorphum
>http://www.gettysburg.edu/~rcavalie/bda_i/images/16.6.jpg


Boomer,

Isn't this a type of coralline algae ? I have some similar growths in
my display-tank, but they are very brittle and break off if you knock
them when you are using scrapers etc.

Regards, Fishnut.

[rtk]

>>
>>Look at this, Mesophyllum mesomorphum
>>http://www.gettysburg.edu/~rcavalie/bda_i/images/16.6.jpg

Mine have a curlier edge. Tomorrow I'll take pics of them and put them
on my site.

rtk

[Wayne Sallee]

No it's not a coraline algae, but it does have high levels
of calcium in it.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 11/19/2005 7:08 PM:
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:58:04 -0600, "Boomer"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>LOL that is a nice analogy I never would have thought of that. I just ID the same thing on
>>another forum a few days ago
>>
>>
>>Look at this, Mesophyllum mesomorphum
>>http://www.gettysburg.edu/~rcavalie/bda_i/images/16.6.jpg
>
>
>
> Boomer,
>
> Isn't this a type of coralline algae ? I have some similar growths in
> my display-tank, but they are very brittle and break off if you knock
> them when you are using scrapers etc.
>
> Regards, Fishnut.
>