Algae For Refugium

[steven]

Dear bro and sis,

I am trying out a refugium and needs your advice as to which algae is most appropriate. Or if u got other algae to recommend... i am all ears or rather all eyes...

Preferably fast growing.

Currently only got 3 pics.....

in advance

Regards,

Steven

[steven]

Type 1

Caulerpa_mexicanaAQ

[steven]

Type 2

Caulerpa_proliferaAQ

[steven]

Type 3

DerbesiaAQ

[Just me]

i am using type 1 now. very fast growing. you wan some. i got lots to spare.

[iantoh]

caulerpa nummalaria. it doesnt look like the usual caulerpas and is quite attractive, plus you can sort of foretell when certain stalks are going sexual so you can harvest those before they do. they have not gone sexual in my tank or in bro bob's tank and he recommended these to me.

[zarkon]

caulerpa nummalaria. it doesnt look like the usual caulerpas and is quite attractive, plus you can sort of foretell when certain stalks are going sexual so you can harvest those before they do. they have not gone sexual in my tank or in bro bob's tank and he recommended these to me.

And where can we get this caulerpa nummalaria? Is it common in our LFS?

[blueheaven]

You posted in the wrong forum

Anyway, I would certainly recommend chaeto if you would want a more stable macroalgae.

[veliferium]

Will Caulerpa racemosa do??

[roidan]

*thread moved to General Reefkeeping*

[steven]

roidan,

Thanks for moving my thread. Sorry for the Inconvenience caused.

Guys,

wow, thanks for your invaluable advice. So many scientific names coming out. Need to search for their picture. anyone got a good website showing all the picture of the b/m algae ?

But anyway decided to get " Type 1" Caulerpa_mexicanaAQ from Coral F**m.

The intention is to reduce my nitrate level and keep it at a manageable level.

Currently running my light in my sump from 12am to 12pm (reverse light vs main tank) with Type 3 (DerbesiaAQ) . Is there anything that i need to pay special attentin to ?

Refugium crash ? Anyway to prevent that from happening ? Is it common ?

[blueheaven]

Go for 24 hrs of light and prune monthly and in the correct method

[keithtanbb]

need help! I have a 3 feet tank...fitted 1 10k 3 feet flourescent and 1 3 ft actinic blue....14 hours....my grapes and other algae just kept turning yellow- grapes algae disintegrated in 1 week! any advise please??

[steven]

keithtanbb,

If i am not wrong, grapes are very sensitive to high NO3 level. Likewise for turtle weed. U can try checking your NO3.

Low calcium level also might affect too.

Blueheaven,

Won't my algae grows asexual for such long period of lightning ? How do u know that the algae is dying ? When it is growing, is it true that the new sprouts are white ? Becos my type 3 (DerbesiaAQ) has white sprouts at the end. It seems to be growing.

Just me,

thanks for your kind offer. Bought mine ald.

PS: I bought type 2 and type 3 algae and red bamboo from CoralF**m for a total of $15.80. Cheap Cheap The lady at the CoralF**m call them fern and money algae...

[blueheaven]

With 24hr lighting, your caulerpa will least likely to go vegetative.

When they are about to go asexual, you will notice many small hairs on the specimen.

My previous bunch of caulerpa does not have white tips but more of a fainter colour.

I really do not recommend caulerpa unless you are willing to spend the time to frequently prune them and you run carbon to rid the water of the yellowing

[steven]

really do not recommend caulerpa unless you are willing to spend the time to frequently prune them and you run carbon to rid the water of the yellowing

BlueHeaven,

where can i find "chaeto" ? Is there any picture on the net that i can view ?

Didn't know that the yellowing of the water is due to algae.

[blueheaven]

Its not selling in Singapore. Your best bet is to get it from reefers who have them.

Go on the net and do a search on chaetomorpha

[steven]

Juz to share

My Type 2 (Caulerpa_proliferaAQ ) algae seems to be turn yellow.

This is only happening to those near the water surface. anyone had similar experience ?

btw my " Type 1" Caulerpa_mexicanaAQ algae is growing well.

another point to check...

why does the algae turn asexual ?

Under what condition does this happens ?

[blueheaven]

Hmm...why does algae go asexual?

Well, for reproduction of course!!!

As for when it will happen, basically about 3 months if you don't prune them

And it occurs when the lights are out so you see ppl with 24/7 lights

[steven]

blueheaven,

wow, u r very knowledgable....

Hmm...why does algae go asexual?

Well, for reproduction of course!!! 

I thought when algae turn asexual, it means that it is dying ?

Getting a bit confused ...

And it occurs when the lights are out so you see ppl with 24/7 lights

Wouldn't 24/7 light stress the algae ? Juz like fishes being exposed to 24/7 lighting ?

Do you have any web site that provides info on macro algae ?

[blueheaven]

According to what Anthony Calfo had said, caulerpa is able to tolerate 24hr lighting

As for the algae turning vegetative, it will usually release its gametes and then a mass dieoff occurs, further polluting the water