Actually, I am making a LED light fixture. To make a fixture that discourage algae growth, i am looking to learn about algae photosynthesis, so scientific names are needed. Below I tried to compile the list of common algae names + scientific names + descriptions. Will you please check and correct this list. It will be greatly appreciated.
I took the general organization of the list from
http://maksimov.com.ua/vodorosli-v-akvariume/vidy-vodoroslej-v-akvariume
and did changes and corrections, so just giving the credit to this Ukrainian site.
1. Coatings of dust or mucus
1.1. Diatoms = Bacillariophyceae, Bacilariophyta. Do NOT belong to Brown Algae
Dense coating of brown or brown-black dust on soil, plant leaves, glass, is easily shaken off by fingers or a toothbrush.
1.2. Blue-green algae, BGA = Cyanobacteria = Oscillitoria splendens, Lyngbya, Anabaena? Aphanizomenon?
Coating is similar to a thin film that may completely cover leaves or soil. It is separated as a whole mucus-like layer, with a specific unpleasant odor. Color from light green to black with a purple tint.
1.3. Green spot algae = Xenococcus kerneri sp., Cyanobacteria; Coleochaete orbicularis sp., Charophyta
Very strongly attached, round, light or dark green spots on the glass, leaves of slowly growing plants, and decorations.
1.4. Green dust algae = Chlamydomonas Genus, Chlorophyta; Protococcus Genus, Chlorophyta
Green, thick, slippery to the touch dust coating on the walls of the aquarium. Initially appears close to the lamps or aeration. Leaves of plants mostly remain clean. Easily removed by a scraper.
2. Long (over 5 cm) thread-like algae
2.1. Silk algae, Water silk = Spirogyra Genus, Charophyta
Long, non-branching, light green, very thin, filaments that can extend from the tops of plants through the entire aquarium. It expands quickly, forming dense cotton-like bundles that feel slippery and slimy to the touch. Outside the water, they appear as a continuous homogeneous mass, easily crushed by fingers.
2.2. Horse hair algae = Pithophora Genus, Chlorophyta
Very long, coarse, dark-green, brownish-yellow or brownish-green threads, solitary, or as a bundle with a texture of steel wool. Each thread is attached at one end, the threads seem to be growing from a single point. Easily removed on pulling. On the longest threads, there are noticeable single thickenings ("beads"). Outside the water you can see individual threads that are very hard.
3. Short non-branching filaments
3.1. Hair algae = Oedogonium Genus, Chlorophyta
Thin, short, green threads covering plants, stones or driftwood and giving them a special fluffy appearance. Each thread is attached separately, but overall it looks like a rug.
3.2. Fuzz algae = Rhizoclonium Genus, Chlorophyta
Short, very soft, slippery to the touch, light green to brown filaments bunched into bundles that resemble cotton wool. Outside the water they become a homogeneous mass. First appear on the ground or on ground cover plants.May look similar to Spirogyra, but the threads are shorter.
4. Short branching filaments
4.1. Black beard, Black brush, BBA = Audeuinella Genus, Rhodophyta
Branching, sufficiently large, very fast growing, gray-green or black filaments first appear along the edge of the leaf from a single origin, then spread along the entire leaf blade, and quickly hit new leaves and substrate in the aquarium. Rarely on glass.
4.2.Staghorn algae = Compsopogon caeruleus sp., Compsopogon iyengarii sp., Rhodophyta
Black or very dark-green, 0.5-2 cm relatively thick and hard semi-transparent strands, growing as bundles from a single origin, first along the edges of the leaves, then rapidly assemble and form a solid black mat. Rhizoids grow into cells of plants damaging them.
4.3. Blanket weed = Cladophora Genus, Chlorophyta; C. glomerata sp.?
Threads branch strongly and visibly, bushy growth resembling moss. Usually grows on the substrate and wood, can form free-floating mats, may attach to slowly growing plants. Outside the water, the structure is quite stiff, rough, has a specific smell.
5. Floating algae
5.1. Green water = Microcystis Genus, unicellular cyanobacteria, and green Euglenophyta
The water in the aquarium becomes green, while plants and soil often remain clean, but may develop a touch of green and feel slippery to the touch.