Yellow algae?

I am in the process of starting over my 180. The majority of the rocks I scrubbed clean but a few I put in a large container with the fish and corals. As I am checking each piece for aiptasia and white sponge, those 2 in particular had just taken over, I am finding a yellow encrusting algae. Well, I have to guess it is an algae. When touching it, it feels rough and bristly, I would liken the feel of it to Velcro, rough. I have found this on a rock that is covered in palys. While I hate to lose my palys, I do not want to start with something that is not good.

Am I correct, is this an algae? Any guesses anyone. I tried to get pictures but they came out terrible, so did not post.

 

Pictures really help when trying to ID things... even if they are really crappy at least it gives us a sense of what you are looking at

Could be Peyssonnelia flavescens (yellow deep water algae), but I don't know how common that is in the aquarium trade...

Also, it may actually be an encrusting sponge. I have a bunch of yellow ones in my tank.

Either way, I don't think you will really need to worry about it being harmful unless it starts to overgrow desirable inhabitants (aka those Palys)

 

Thanks for the reply, am at lunch now, but will try again for a picture and get it uploaded this evening.

 

it sounds like a type of sponge is my guess. did you get a picture?

 

like to see a pic myself, enjoy lunch

 

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Unfortunately, I believe anyway, I have found it on a number of rocks that I did not clean because of corals being attached. Now I am really leery to put it in my tank.

 

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