What is the best Macroalgae?

Kstater10 · 07/08/2006, 10:38 AM

I am ready to start adding things to my refugium and was wondering if there is a macroalgae that stands alone, or are they all the same?

jdieck · 07/08/2006, 10:42 AM

My preferred one is Chaetomorpha. It grows well and it is easier to remove if necessary as it does not attach but keeps floating.
Caulerpa attaches strongly to the rock and may end up in your main, also has the risk of going sexual and the spores will run havoc with your water quality.
Gracilaria is a nice to have as you can use it as a feed for Tangs but is really a slow grower and difficult to maintain in some systems.

hairymushroom · 07/08/2006, 11:10 AM

I agree with jdieck, chaeto is the one for me.

Ironman · 07/08/2006, 11:19 AM

Chaeto here too.

Kaiser Tang · 07/08/2006, 11:32 AM

I have never used the others, so chaeto is the only thing I have experience with. Great stuff! I highly recommend!

moonpod · 07/08/2006, 11:54 AM

pretty much my experience mirrors jdieck's. Chaeto is the easiest and most reliable. Caulerpa is sort of problem when it goes sexual. Gracilleria just doesn't grow reliably or quick enough.

Kstater10 · 07/08/2006, 10:16 PM

bump

Ralph ATL · 07/08/2006, 10:40 PM

Chaeto here, too!

longreef · 07/09/2006, 04:34 PM

I agree with jdieck, chaeto is the one for me.

CJ · 07/09/2006, 04:43 PM

Chaeto here too.

thor32766 · 07/09/2006, 05:50 PM

cheato here!

Lpsfanatic338 · 07/09/2006, 06:00 PM

Chaeto

dark8nge1 · 07/10/2006, 01:22 PM

yup Chaeto

fittdog8848 · 07/10/2006, 01:26 PM

I recently switched from Caulerpa to Chaeto and I am never going back. So easy to prune and it does not stick to everything everywhere.

Thanks Twon for the chaeto!

07/08/2006, 10:38 AM	#1
Kstater10 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 42	What is the best Macroalgae? I am ready to start adding things to my refugium and was wondering if there is a macroalgae that stands alone, or are they all the same?

07/08/2006, 10:42 AM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	My preferred one is Chaetomorpha. It grows well and it is easier to remove if necessary as it does not attach but keeps floating. Caulerpa attaches strongly to the rock and may end up in your main, also has the risk of going sexual and the spores will run havoc with your water quality. Gracilaria is a nice to have as you can use it as a feed for Tangs but is really a slow grower and difficult to maintain in some systems. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

07/08/2006, 11:32 AM	#5
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	I have never used the others, so chaeto is the only thing I have experience with. Great stuff! I highly recommend! __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/08/2006, 11:54 AM	#6
moonpod Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: B.H., Los Angeles Posts: 13,053	pretty much my experience mirrors jdieck's. Chaeto is the easiest and most reliable. Caulerpa is sort of problem when it goes sexual. Gracilleria just doesn't grow reliably or quick enough. __________________ Excuses are just the nails for the house of failure. Current Tank Info: 32" Leemar starfire cube now empty and not quite so stinky

07/09/2006, 04:34 PM	#9
longreef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 40	I agree with jdieck, chaeto is the one for me. __________________ Nam Current Tank Info: 50G AGA

07/08/2006, 11:10 AM	#3
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	I agree with jdieck, chaeto is the one for me.

07/08/2006, 11:19 AM	#4
Ironman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 811	Chaeto here too.

07/08/2006, 10:16 PM	#7
Kstater10 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 42	bump

07/08/2006, 10:40 PM	#8
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	Chaeto here, too!

07/09/2006, 04:43 PM	#10
CJ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Oley Valley, PA. Posts: 1,232	Chaeto here too. __________________ CJ Current Tank Info: 75 gallon acrylic with two 20 longs in line homes to RBTs and softies. Turboflotor skimmer, Dolphin circulation pump, two Vortex pumps, 3 MaxiJets on wavemaker, 2 are mods. mixed tank with clam, fish, shrimps and cleaner crew.

07/09/2006, 05:50 PM	#11
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	cheato here! __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

07/09/2006, 06:00 PM	#12
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	Chaeto

07/10/2006, 01:22 PM	#13
dark8nge1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: (wishes he was in) Austin, Tx Posts: 185	yup Chaeto

07/10/2006, 01:26 PM	#14
fittdog8848 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 308	I recently switched from Caulerpa to Chaeto and I am never going back. So easy to prune and it does not stick to everything everywhere. Thanks Twon for the chaeto! __________________ When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with 50g refugium/sump