Will this Red Macro Algae be good for nutrient export?

pammy · 02/02/2008, 11:43 PM

Hello. I've tried chaeto in my sump twice, and it didn't do well and ended up dying. I think it's because there is too little flow in
the very small section I have in my sump where I placed it. I decided to pile up some rock rubble in that section to try to have a predator-free zone for pod reproduction. Do I need to light the sump just for the pods? (I'm guessing no). In my display, I have red macro algae that popped up on my live rock. (see pictures below). I set up my tank in May, and in July, the red macro algae didn't even exist yet. The attached picture is from November. I love this red macro algae and think it is really pretty, and grows pretty fast. I have to trim it down by about 50%, every two weeks or so. Is this macro algae good for nutrient export like Chaeto ??

Thanks!
Pam

ManotheSea · 02/03/2008, 12:16 AM

I use that macro in my sump with chaeto and graciliaria. I could never find a name for it. It grows very well. Do you find it or buy it?

zhenjw · 02/03/2008, 12:35 AM

You should send it to me so I can do some tests on how good it exports nutrients. LOL :

: I think its called Dragon's Breath.

renisel · 02/03/2008, 03:53 AM

If it's growing, it's obviously exporting some kind of nutrients. At the very least it's sucking up some phosphates, some nitrogenous compounds and some carbon-containing compounds. I think a more important question than whether or not it's exporting nutrients is whether or not it has the potential to do any damage to other inhabitants.

tami1024 · 02/03/2008, 06:46 AM

From what I have heard and read about the stuff. It is good for the tank. I bought some myself. And it does great. Filters the bad stuff out.

Aquabucket · 02/03/2008, 10:02 AM

Looks like Gracilaria curtissae to me. Its a pretty macro that won't get invasive if you choose to keep some in your display.

pammy · 02/03/2008, 10:21 AM

Thanks all. I didn't buy it. It just popped up on my live rock one day. It started as the tiniest nub....and just grew. It's actually attached by a small spot, to my live rock. It's not free floating in my tank. I was told by someone on WWM before that it a good macro algae, so I never tried to remove it.... and it's been in my tank for 6 months or so, and it has never grown anywhere else in the tank....just that one rock. When I trim it down, plenty pieces of it get away from me and float around the tank, and it's never taken hold anywhere else. Was just wondering, since Chaeto doesn't do well in my system, do I care since this macro algae does so well in the display?
Thanks!
Pam

02/02/2008, 11:43 PM	#1
pammy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 768	Will this Red Macro Algae be good for nutrient export? Hello. I've tried chaeto in my sump twice, and it didn't do well and ended up dying. I think it's because there is too little flow in the very small section I have in my sump where I placed it. I decided to pile up some rock rubble in that section to try to have a predator-free zone for pod reproduction. Do I need to light the sump just for the pods? (I'm guessing no). In my display, I have red macro algae that popped up on my live rock. (see pictures below). I set up my tank in May, and in July, the red macro algae didn't even exist yet. The attached picture is from November. I love this red macro algae and think it is really pretty, and grows pretty fast. I have to trim it down by about 50%, every two weeks or so. Is this macro algae good for nutrient export like Chaeto ?? Thanks! Pam __________________ Pair of Ocellaris Clowns Flame Hawkfish Pygmy Angel Splendid Goby + Tiger Pistol Shrimp Current Tank Info: 53 Gallon Elos System 80 (31.5" x 19.5" x 19.5"), Elos NS500 Skimmer, Elos Planet 150w MH / 4 24w T5 Combo Light, CLICK on Pammy on the Left and then "VISIT Pammy's Homepage" to see my tank.

02/03/2008, 12:35 AM	#3
zhenjw Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 128	You should send it to me so I can do some tests on how good it exports nutrients. LOL :: I think its called Dragon's Breath. __________________ Hautung der seele. Current Tank Info: Bio Cube 8&14, 35G Fuge, 180G~Frogspawn, Fungia, Open Brain, Xenia, Kenya Tree, Zoas, Tube Anemone, Tube Worm, Pink Milli, Metallic Grn Birdsnest, Baby Blue Acro, Green Donut, Orange Digi, Purple Lotoptes, Yellow Porite, Firefish, Carpntr Wrasse,

02/03/2008, 06:46 AM	#5
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	From what I have heard and read about the stuff. It is good for the tank. I bought some myself. And it does great. Filters the bad stuff out. __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/03/2008, 10:02 AM	#6
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	Looks like Gracilaria curtissae to me. Its a pretty macro that won't get invasive if you choose to keep some in your display. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

02/03/2008, 10:21 AM	#7
pammy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 768	Thanks all. I didn't buy it. It just popped up on my live rock one day. It started as the tiniest nub....and just grew. It's actually attached by a small spot, to my live rock. It's not free floating in my tank. I was told by someone on WWM before that it a good macro algae, so I never tried to remove it.... and it's been in my tank for 6 months or so, and it has never grown anywhere else in the tank....just that one rock. When I trim it down, plenty pieces of it get away from me and float around the tank, and it's never taken hold anywhere else. Was just wondering, since Chaeto doesn't do well in my system, do I care since this macro algae does so well in the display? Thanks! Pam __________________ Pair of Ocellaris Clowns Flame Hawkfish Pygmy Angel Splendid Goby + Tiger Pistol Shrimp Current Tank Info: 53 Gallon Elos System 80 (31.5" x 19.5" x 19.5"), Elos NS500 Skimmer, Elos Planet 150w MH / 4 24w T5 Combo Light, CLICK on Pammy on the Left and then "VISIT Pammy's Homepage" to see my tank.

02/03/2008, 12:16 AM	#2
ManotheSea Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FL Posts: 414	I use that macro in my sump with chaeto and graciliaria. I could never find a name for it. It grows very well. Do you find it or buy it?

02/03/2008, 03:53 AM	#4
renisel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 866	If it's growing, it's obviously exporting some kind of nutrients. At the very least it's sucking up some phosphates, some nitrogenous compounds and some carbon-containing compounds. I think a more important question than whether or not it's exporting nutrients is whether or not it has the potential to do any damage to other inhabitants.