Calcareous algae

[technomex]

I am starting to get quite a bit of green calcareous algae/plants growing in my tank. Should I keep it or ditch it? What do y'all do?

[caferacermike]

Those tube ones? I've heard they are really tough to grow out. Even if they quit they'll leave neat sculptures.

[technomex]

I have lots of those tube ones. I think having them pop up means your tank conditions are pretty good....but those I can live with. I'm talking more about the flat leafy kind.

[JimD]

This?

[MissT]

That's Halimeda. Totally harmless, and can grow really quickly. It will use some of the calcium in your tank, so you might want to keep an eye on your levels, especially if you have SPS and clams. I've got some in my tank that came on a piece of coral as one little segment, and it grows extremely fast. I trim it around every 3 weeks. Make sure if you trim it, you do it right at one of the segments because if you cut through the middle of one of them it releases some slime.

[edawgm]

This?

My tangs loved that stuff. I had gotten a little from some one and it did not last long

[technomex]

Yep that's it.

[brewercm]

I have a nice bunch growing in my tank that came on one rock. Small pieces bleach out every so often but it's doing fine. BTW, this stuff usually sells for a pretty penny as LFS's.