Macroalgae

[Slickdonkey]

I'm currently growing chaeto in my fuge and was wondering what (if any) benefits I might get from growing other types of algae as well. I do have a sandbed in the fuge but to be honest I was thinking of removing it.

I hadn't planned to do caulerpa since I've heard it can go all sexual on you.

Also, where is a good source to buy some of this good stuff?

 

[MCary]

If you can get that red algae stuff (Gracilaria parvispora) to grow, it makes great herbavore food. But as far as nutrient export and pod cultivation, Chaeto is more than enough.

 

[Slickdonkey]

Ok, someone toss me a bone here... no one grows anything other than chaeto or caulerpa? I know 50 people will do a reef 50 different ways so someone must have an opinion on this?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I have raised about 10 different strains of Caulurpa. Feather, mexicana, and occationally grape can "go sexual" and die off.
Grass Caulerpa.
Scientific Name: Caulerpa prolifera
and Razor/Saw-tooth Caulerpa.
Scientific Name: Caulerpa serrulata

I currently have/had both in my tank and in my fuge for many years. The fish do not eat the razor, but most LOVE to munch the prolifera. I have never had either of these die off though have lost many other species. I like the look of mexicana best, but have watched it bloom and die souring the tank more than once. I have a little Halimeda which is a thick and light green Calcareous algae and love it. One can buy small mermaid brush and sea fans and they do fine and are slow growers yet attractive in a sand bed. All that be as it may, Chaeto can't be beat in a fuge. OMHO from personal experience.
Regards,
Mike

p.s. attached an old picture when I had prolifera in the fish tank.

 

[DonW]

I'm currently growing chaeto in my fuge and was wondering what (if any) benefits I might get from growing other types of algae as well. I do have a sandbed in the fuge but to be honest I was thinking of removing it.

I hadn't planned to do caulerpa since I've heard it can go all sexual on you.

Also, where is a good source to buy some of this good stuff?

Id ask "is you refugium big enought to really do much of anything other than hold pods and look cool. It takes alot of caulerpa to see result in water quality.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

Interesting, thanks guys.

Well I don't care what my fuge looks like, as it's under my house. It's about 40 gallons but about half of it is filled with a DSB (may remove this) so that leaves about 20 gallons.

I'm not sure what I could gain by growing caulerpa as well, that's kind of the point of this thread.

 

[DonW]

What size display tank?

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

Oh, 240 gallons. Lots o' water.

 

[Brenden]

I have about 8 different kinds including red algae in my fuge. Over time I have been removing the different types and letting the Chaeto take over. It grows good and takes the risk out of it. I say stick with chaeto. I do keep a small section of feather for my tangs.

 

[shallowreef]

I had alot of long hair algae in my sump but now i only have this red/violet nasty algae growing all over my fuge. I hate it!

 

[burning2nd]

i got all kinds of stuff going on in the sump, and to tell you the truth i really dont even know what it all is

 

[DonW]

Oh, 240 gallons. Lots o' water.

Its going to take a pretty big fuge to make much difference in water quality on a tank that zise. I doubt 40 is enough.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

Actually I think harvesting chaeto one a week has already made a difference. Nitrates were 10, now are zero. This is over a three-week period.

 

[burning2nd]

OH SNAP!!!!

IM runing to the tank and pulling some one NOW