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Unread 02/17/2019, 09:53 AM   #1
mogurnda
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Thinning Turtle Grass?

Hi All,
I have unintentionally ended up with a tank packed with Thalassia. I had been buying Penicillus and Halimeda for my sea slugs, and the turtle grass rode in with it from time to time. The macroalgae were eaten, but the seagrasses have taken over. It serves as a nice framework for the Bryopsis the slugs are eating now, but is getting too dense.



My question is, can I pull out about half without tearing the sandbed up and making a mess of things? How do people thin their seagrass beds?


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Current Tank Info: 90 gallon SPS, softy & anemone; multiple tanks for the solar sea slugs.
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Unread 02/17/2019, 10:08 AM   #2
Speaker73
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You could pull it out but it would make a mess of your bed. Send it to me if you want. Lol

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Unread 02/18/2019, 08:52 AM   #3
mogurnda
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Speaker73 View Post
You could pull it out but it would make a mess of your bed. Send it to me if you want. Lol
Will keep you in mind.

Anybody got advice?


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Current Tank Info: 90 gallon SPS, softy & anemone; multiple tanks for the solar sea slugs.
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Unread 02/18/2019, 01:43 PM   #4
Michael Hoaster
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I used a method you might be interested in. The turtle grass in my previous tank was taking over, and I didn't want to tear up the sand bed. I took some scissors and cut them off at the base. This makes it impossible for them to photosynthesize. They'll shoot up more leaves, so you may have to do two or three rounds, but it worked surprisingly quickly for me.

If you want to give them away, you could pull one or two plants at a time, than give things time to resettle before pulling out more. Maybe once a week?


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Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018
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Unread 02/18/2019, 02:25 PM   #5
mogurnda
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster View Post
If you want to give them away, you could pull one or two plants at a time, than give things time to resettle before pulling out more. Maybe once a week?
The gradual approach may be the ticket. I was thinking about doing it all at once, which might be a mess.

Is here any truth to the idea that they will not grow from cut ends?


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Dave
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Current Tank Info: 90 gallon SPS, softy & anemone; multiple tanks for the solar sea slugs.
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Unread 02/18/2019, 10:19 PM   #6
Michael Hoaster
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That'll work. Small disturbances will be less distressful to your tank's ecosystem. And keeping them alive is great!

Cutting them at the base eliminates energy input. Stored energy will put up another blade, but maybe not another.


__________________
As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance,
our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey

Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018
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Unread 02/19/2019, 09:34 AM   #7
mogurnda
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Thanks!


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Dave
------
I don't want the world, I just want your half.

Current Tank Info: 90 gallon SPS, softy & anemone; multiple tanks for the solar sea slugs.
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