Saltwater Plants

[Arny]

I found these SW plants in my LFS, I always thought the only SW plants you could get were just algea. They didn't have the latin names but they called them, Calcius Algea and Parrot Feather (he said there's also a FW plant that's called Parrot Feather). They also told me they are good at keeping your Nitrates down.

DSC00050.JPG

DSC00048.JPG

DSC00047.JPG

What do you think?

[greenspottedlover]

Keeping down nitrates you say... I may have to get a couple once my tank is full saltwater. Think a GSP would like these?

[Pufferpunk]

It's called macro algae. Keep an eye on that stuff, it'll take over your tank.

[RTR]

+1 to PP's comments. There are quite a few attractive marcoalgae, but none are really safe in fish tanks unless you specialize in them and their culture. Most folks settle for keeping such in refugia, so that if there is an issue, they can be isolated from the display tank. If they are happy in the tank, they do tend to take over, and then collapse or crash, with very bad effects on the water quality.

Handle with care, and keep under control.

[greenspottedlover]

+1 to PP's comments. There are quite a few attractive marcoalgae, but none are really safe in fish tanks unless you specialize in them and their culture. Most folks settle for keeping such in refugia, so that if there is an issue, they can be isolated from the display tank. If they are happy in the tank, they do tend to take over, and then collapse or crash, with very bad effects on the water quality.

Handle with care, and keep under control.

I'll just stick to live rock for nitrate control.

[RTR]

Even the hazardous species of Caulerpa are harmless under 24/7 lighting, so useful in a 24/7 lighted regugium. Many to most stores will not or cannot handle many types of caulerps, it is banned from many areas.

Chetomorpha alga is preferred by most folks, it is safer and still useful in a 24/7 lighted refugium.

[Pufferpunk]

That's what's in mine, along with red macro.

[Arny]

I just got back from another LFS and they also had some very nice Algae. If you know the names of this Algae can you let me know please:-

red algae.JPG

algae.JPG

maidens hair algae.JPG

halimedia discoidea.JPG

Red Botryocladia Uvaria - Red Bubble Algea.JPG

Caulerpa Prolifera.JPG

I think kept trimmed they will look nice in a tank, what do you think?

[RTR]

Some time back, Tom Barr did a smallish macroalgae tank which was spectacular. I don't know if any of the pictures are still araound. Most stuff he used was dive-collected.

I have done that Halimedia pictured above, it is pretty cool but for was quite slow growing for me, but that was many many years ago. It may have been the water more than the alga.

That Red Ulvaria is spectacular!

[Pufferpunk]

Myaj has a nice macro tank for her spiny puffer.

[joeposch]

halimedia discoidea.JPG

would this be a good plant to put with green spotted puffers? i want to do a planted tank with my fish. i just love the lush green color of aquatic plants, and it'd match my fishes.

[J-P]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/sl/index.php

That is a good article to get you started on Macros.

[joeposch]

Well, i went to petco and got some "aqua turf" which i believe is christmas moss and i had it since my sg was at 1.010. I'm now up to 1.020 and it is still growing. I have low lighting so i cannot say it is 'thriving' but it is doing well. It has shown noticable growth. Just added jave moss which is know to handle salinity better, so i'll see how that lasts. I'm added a brittle star fish, so i think it'll all get eaten. The aqua turf never browned or yellowed. And i don't "feed" it. But, anyone one who, like me, loves planted tanks, can use christmas moss. And the "unkillable" marimo balls turn brown at low sg's. Ha.