MacroAlgae to use?

[RAV-65]

Hi all,

intending to try using macroalgae to reduce the phosphate level in my tank, can someone advise which type would be most effective, where to get it and how it looks like? Would greatly appreciate if you could post a pic.

Btw, another stupid question but I've never kept macroalgae before... do I need to use sand to plant them in? or juz throw into the sump with lights on??

Thanxs!

Vincent Ho

[ryz]

throw in ref and turn lights on. why not u try a variety of macroalgae as different species take in different propertions of pollutants. some may take more of a certain kind of pollutant. so maybe keeping a variety is the best, different kinds of pollutants can be absorbed efficiently. Just my opinion.

[terryansimon]

caluerpa racemosa.

got a small bundle from a reefer here no larger than three fistfuls, and within a month, they overgrown my whole sump. very good. must prune like siao also.

[giantbicycle]

you also need to learn how to purne and need to do it regulary..

[patrick123]

you also need to learn how to purne and need to do it regulary..

Why? if not what will happen?

[sps_dude]

if not they will crash..... they grow grow and grow and use up all the nutrients.... once no more nutrients they will die lor..... thats my logic..... donnow about all other seniors....

[terryansimon]

no lah. they will grow and reach sexual maturity.

they will then release the gametes which pollutes your tank and crashes your tank.

they can also release caulerpa toxins if not pruned properly. but the dosage they release is little to do significant damage...or so I learnt from a reefer. (=

[kschew1498]

caluerpa racemosa.

got a small bundle from a reefer here no larger than three fistfuls, and within a month, they overgrown my whole sump. very good. must prune like siao also.

How does this caluerpa racemosa looks like???

[ryz]

sea grapes.

[kschew1498]

sea grapes.

OORRR...those green grapes right... ok...I have it but it doesnt seem to be growing in my sump.....it used to grow damp fast in my previous 2 footer under a 150MH!

Does it required very stronge lights?

[terryansimon]

well, mine is under 2x24W T5s for 24hrs...so..I suppose its better for them? (=

[giantbicycle]

no lah. they will grow and reach sexual maturity.

they will then release the gametes which pollutes your tank and crashes your tank.

they can also release caulerpa toxins if not pruned properly. but the dosage they release is little to do significant damage...or so I learnt from a reefer. (=

haha..thats right

[RAV-65]

Hmmm... since it requires all the pruning, can someone spare some for me?!

Vincent Ho

[giantbicycle]

hehe...anytime bro...why dont get some yourself as it does not cous a bomb???haha,,but its better to get some from our bro's overgrown forest..hehe

[surfedelic]

As far as I am concerned I find that growing macroaglae to get rid of PO4 is quite tough becasue of all the work required to maintain the algae. The growth can be super fast and sometimes you still have alot of PO4 in the water. And not to mention, the chores of prunning this macroaglae is really a pain. You will never know when they go sexual - they will happy happy die on you when you touch them or shift them.

And unless you have a very big refugium - otherwise it is difficult to obtain the equilibrium state whereby your PO4 reach 0.01. I have tear down my macroalgae culture and start using Rowa where I could achieve below zero reading.

If you are still keen on macroaglae, avoid caulerpa racemosa - use sea lettuce instead.

[terryansimon]

people normally grow macroalgae to get rid of NO3....

as for caulerpa racemosa, its rated as one of the best NO3 removers in existence.

[FuEl]

I've got caulerpa in my main tank..so far has'nt crashed. Only goes a little pale after lights off..but once the lights are back on they turn back green..

[ryz]

one rock of culerpa racemosa almost turned sexual yesterday. it had britles growing out of it and was discoloured.. hinting that it was going to go sexual. immediately threw that bunch away.

[surfedelic]

people normally grow macroalgae to get rid of NO3....

as for caulerpa racemosa, its rated as one of the best NO3 removers in existence.

But if you have too high a level of nitrate - some macro will not take it well - they will also turn sexual. As for PO4, usu a certain small amount of PO4 is used by the macroalgae but not sufficient to use it solely for PO4 removal. On the other hand if PO4 reached zero - the macro aglae will turn sexual- not sure how true this is as I have get rid of the culture. Maybe somebody like to share their experiences.

I believe there are other better alternative to Caulerpa racemosa like Chaetomorpha and Gracilaria. A few reefers are using Chaetomorpha - they are generally safer as they do not turn sexual so easily.

[minsmarine]

sorry newbies, what ur guys mean "sexual".

I have few sea grape in sump ( with 24w on 24x7 ), in 2 days time change color to yellow.

Does it mean gone sexual ?

Am I supposed to throw away also ?

[terryansimon]

read the earlier post in this thread. (=

[minsmarine]

read the earlier post in this thread. (=

Read lar, not much understand, so ask question

[RAV-65]

As far as I am concerned I find that growing macroaglae to get rid of PO4 is quite tough becasue of all the work required to maintain the algae. The growth can be super fast and sometimes you still have alot of PO4 in the water. And not to mention, the chores of prunning this macroaglae is really a pain. You will never know when they go sexual - they will happy happy die on you when you touch them or shift them.

And unless you have a very big refugium - otherwise it is difficult to obtain the equilibrium state whereby your PO4 reach 0.01. I have tear down my macroalgae culture and start using Rowa where I could achieve below zero reading.

If you are still keen on macroaglae, avoid caulerpa racemosa - use sea lettuce instead.

Wah.... throw me off balance again.... so izit better with a refugium or not?! seems that the macroalgae is like a time bomb?

Vincent Ho

[terryansimon]

going sexual = reaching sexual maturity. like going through puberty, where the male gametes and female gametes are ready to be released.

gametes = ###### cells.

[vicky]

like i say i got a marcoalgae plant from sentosa beach ,found at sallows water and wow my nitrate dipped to 0 , i got a whole plant now half the leave botak coz the naso tang keep on eating the plant i brought in