Please ID this algae

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 7:46 pm

I have a newly setup 14g tropical aquarium. It has a couple of plants and a betta. The tank has been up for about 10 days now.

I have just discovered a filamentous algae growing between the leaves of some of the plants. Here is a photo of the algae as can be seen with the naked eye:

Almost life size, the thin strands is visible between the leaves of this plant.

Strands, 20x objective, DIC.

Single strand, 40x objective, DIC

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:11 pm

It is a cyanobacteria. Looks like one in the genus Oscillatoria. As to the exact species...?

curt0909 · Post by **curt0909** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:57 pm

I agree with Charles. http://www.plingfactory.de/Science/Atla ... cipes.html

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:25 pm

Thanks Charles, Curt.

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:48 am

It is an Oscillatoria species. Didn't they glide? They locomote in a gliding fashion. It is a magic sight.

Wim

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:11 am

Wim van Egmond wrote:It is an Oscillatoria species. Didn't they glide? They locomote in a gliding fashion. It is a magic sight.

Wim

They did, albeit very slowly