manini

Got some interesting algae growing in one of my tanks that is actually amazing. They are bright green and solid all the way into the core. Not too sure what they are but I sent some specimens out to our university to see what they can tell me about it. Maybe someone already knows about them. Here are some photos.

doubleott05

they are growing off teh wood like mushrooms...

spypet

it's very interesting, sort of like marimo ball algae
that forms a colony that mostly sticks to each other,
rather than spreading and sticking to every surface.

I wonder how it got introduced to your tank.
try to record colony growth and migration rates.
where does it prefer to migrate to? wood, rocks,
substrate, plants, glass, plastic, or any lit surface.

keep us posted with anything you learn.
try to take a tripod closeup for more detail,
and hopefully you can sell some for others
here to experiment with. - good luck

manini

Algae is not evasive at all. Texture is very smooth. Nothing like marimo balls. It does not have any preference to what it wants to adhere its self to. What I notice though is that they are all under the full light. There are none in the shade.

PeterE

That's sweet! They look fluorescent! I'm very interested to see what exactly they are. I think the algae that turns up in healthy tanks like your green globes can be really interesting sometimes. I once had a really nice looking marimo-like algae that covered just the top of a little clay pot for about a year. It made it look really nice.

SueNH

I kinda like it

drongo12

They are cool looking, are they just growing on wood or rock as well. If the former then maybe they are a type of fungus?

david

manini

Both rocks and wood. I also see some growing on my intake on my filter.

Thierry26

It's similar to a sponge that I found in the river near my home.

It's very beautifull, if you send some specimen, I'm interested.

spypet

manani - should you ever decide to share you find for others to experiment with,
here is a cheap way to do it. buy tiny zip lock bags used for portioning out pills.
put a bit of algae in tank water dampened paper towel, then zip it into the bag,
gently squeezing out any extra water as you close it up. you can then drop it in
a regular envelope and mail it for low 44¢ first class postage within the USA.
to Canada is 75¢ as long as you use an envelope and keep it under one ounce.

I used to ROAK moss samples this way years ago.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FVG5QQ
you can find these in most major drug store chains.
don't get the light thin mil type used by jewelers,
you want these thicker mil water tight pill bags.

please let us all know the moment you notice
it start growing on any other PLANT matter.