ID and question.

[SeanT]

I believe this is Halimeda (sp?)
If not would someone identify it for me.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=1006045

[SeanT]

Here is a close up.
Here you can see white 'sprouts' forming on the tips of a few leaves.
Is it going sexual or just growing?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=1006060

[billsreef]

That's some real nice looking Halimedia sp. ;) The little sprouts at the tips are new growth starting.

[SeanT]

Thanks Bill.
I have a bush of it in my main tank and think it is rather attractive.
I am thinking about pruning it back some as it is growing fast in my system. Right under a Halide. It loves the light.
My follow up questions would be:
A. Does it go sexual in a detrimental way?
B. I have heard that this really isn't a good plant to use in a refugium or have in a main tank because it is a calcium hog. Is this true?

[Frick-n-Frags]

If you have a huge mass of it and it goes sexual, it can grey the water. It happened to me once, I just did a big water change and nothing seemed to have any problems. You can tell when it is going, the smooth light green reforms into a bunch of tiny dark green spheres on a now white background. That's when you pull it.

[SeanT]

Is Halimeda a good macro to use in a fuge or does it hog calcium?

[kali77]

From my understanding it uses alot of calcium, so you probally won't want to keep it if you have clams and SPS.

Gene

[SeanT]

Thank you.
This may also explain why I am having problems keeping my calcium level above 350 ppm.
Time to break out the pruning shears. I have a little bush of this in my main tank.

[SeanT]

Oh BTW if anyone wants some just holler at me.
No charge except for shipping.

[kali77]

I had an outbreak in my 30g sps tank, and did not know at the time it was a calcium lover, and I to was definately having problems with ca