Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > Invert and Plant Forums > Marine Plants & Macroalgae
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 02/25/2017, 09:11 PM   #1
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
Algae ID needed

I was posting on the for sale page all my variety of Algae i am trimming back and when i got to this algae i got stumped.. the only thing it resembled to me was Caulerpa Brachypus but now i am second guessing myself.
Could anyone give me a positive ID on this??




__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/26/2017, 03:29 PM   #2
AlSimmons
Registered Member
 
AlSimmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: California
Posts: 2,482
Caulerpa brachypus would have been my guess as well.

http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLi...=1981&filter=0


AlSimmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/27/2017, 10:16 AM   #3
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
How do you like that macro? Is it too fast-growing and invasive?

I ask because I have gotten rid of my caulerpa racemosa peltata (I hope), and I wonder if I need another good export medium. However, I don't want another invasive macro - just something that grows at a medium speed.


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/27/2017, 04:41 PM   #4
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster View Post
How do you like that macro? Is it too fast-growing and invasive?

I ask because I have gotten rid of my caulerpa racemosa peltata (I hope), and I wonder if I need another good export medium. However, I don't want another invasive macro - just something that grows at a medium speed.
This is the fastest growing macro I've owned and would advise against if you don't want something like that.


__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/27/2017, 04:56 PM   #5
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
Thanks hotelbravo! Good to know.

Of the caulerpas, do you know of any that don't grow so fast?


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/27/2017, 07:00 PM   #6
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
The prolifera is the slowest for me.


__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 12:14 AM   #7
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
Thanks again! More great info!


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 08:28 AM   #8
BlueCat1949
Registered Member
 
BlueCat1949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 197
Smile

Most all caulerpas are fast growers under the right conditions. The C. brachypus is really small so even though it grows fast isn't any more invasive than C. prolifera. I like the brachypus because it can overgrow rocks or carpet the sand bed. It looks like a fresh water ground cover plants so good for aquascaping a macro tank. I used it in one of my 10 gallon macro tanks. These pictures are from 2008 or so.

It seems odd that about half the posts in this forum are about whether to keep or get rid of macros. :-)


Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0774.5.jpg (97.9 KB, 19 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0604.5.jpg (92.0 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0775.5.jpg (87.9 KB, 21 views)
BlueCat1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 09:29 AM   #9
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
More good info, BlueCat1949. I appreciate it.

It IS odd. The FEAR OF PLANTS! It's hard for me to imagine a tank without them. Not taking advantage of nature's most useful tool for us seems nuts.

On the other hand, having your aquarium overrun by a plant you never planted can be frustrating. So I understand when reefers wander down to the 'macro section' for advise. Having to prune back caulerpa racemosa almost every week for 2+ years has gotten old for me. I much prefer laying on the couch staring at the tank, to the drudgery of pruning.

A byproduct of running hypo salinity in my display is the apparent eradication of caulerpa. I see this as a chance to replace it with something less prolific, hence my questions on different caulerpas. With just the info I've gotten from this thread, I think I will avoid all caulerpas going forward.

It's a familiar conundrum I encountered with fresh water planted tanks as well. When starting up a new tank, you want something (anything!) to grow, so you choose easy, fast-growing plants. Later, when everything settles down, easy plants can become too prolific, and almost impossible to eliminate. Seasoned aquarists tend to gravitate towards slow growing plants for this reason.

So I guess I'm becoming 'seasoned'. I'd like to have a plant that gradually covers most of my foam back wall, without being too prolific. Any suggestions?


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 11:54 AM   #10
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
If you notice in my last picture floating on the top of the water is some codium I've been growing out. It's slower growing and non evasive. I'd suggest something like that. It can be glued to a rock


__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 12:34 PM   #11
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
Thanks for the suggestion, hotelbravo.

I love codium. I've tried some, with no luck. There are still a few scattered fragments in my tank. I think I keep my water too warm for them. Do you know their preferred water temp? I'd consider lowering it to accommodate them. From what I've read they are a cool water plant. I doubt I could maintain cool temps in the summer with a 400 watt metal halide light.


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 12:37 PM   #12
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
I have never ran a heater or chiller in my tank it stays at 78 ish. It seems to be doing fine in this temperature


__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 01:02 PM   #13
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
Okay, I'll keep that in mind, thanks!


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 04:21 PM   #14
JZinCO
Registered Member
 
JZinCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: northern CO
Posts: 502
For awhile, I ran my tank at 81. That was during the period when my codium went from a golfball size to softball... I couldn't tell you which codium spp that was however.


JZinCO is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 11:21 PM   #15
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
I could probably do 81. Maybe after hypo treatment I'll start a gradual cooling trend.


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/28/2017, 11:51 PM   #16
JZinCO
Registered Member
 
JZinCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: northern CO
Posts: 502
Yeah, I did some looking into the literature (it's great to have access from my employer )... looks like codium is a big invader in many cool-water ecosystems. The research shows it can thrive in harsh conditions, shows an increased growth with higher temperatures, and can persist in temperatures upwards of 86F.

Sorry for the thread hijack OP. I'm excited to get some macros from you and see how they grow.


JZinCO is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/01/2017, 01:15 AM   #17
hotelbravo
Registered Member
 
hotelbravo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,175
Quote:
Originally Posted by JZinCO View Post
Yeah, I did some looking into the literature (it's great to have access from my employer )... looks like codium is a big invader in many cool-water ecosystems. The research shows it can thrive in harsh conditions, shows an increased growth with higher temperatures, and can persist in temperatures upwards of 86F.

Sorry for the thread hijack OP. I'm excited to get some macros from you and see how they grow.
No problem at all. I know you said you had some codium before but idk if you still have some. If you would like I can trim off a branch or two of codium to send with the rest of the macro you are getting from me.


__________________
-Hodge

Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.
hotelbravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/01/2017, 06:34 AM   #18
Ron Reefman
Registered Member
 
Ron Reefman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 10,431
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueCat1949 View Post
It seems odd that about half the posts in this forum are about whether to keep or get rid of macros. :-)
Really? I have a tank full of expensive, slow growing corals and I get concerned about a super fast growing, invasive algae and that seems odd to you?

Now if everybody were doing a planted tank, that would be a different story. But even in a semi-planted tank it can be an issue. I have a 4'x2'x14" shallow reef with only things I collect from the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Keys in it. And a rock that came in with a Caulerpa that grew SUPER fast quickly became an issue as it attached to everything in the tank and grew inches per day! I have other algae that grow slower and work well in a mixed (algae, inverts, fish and some corals).


__________________
The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson)
Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017
Ron Reefman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/01/2017, 09:19 AM   #19
BlueCat1949
Registered Member
 
BlueCat1949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 197
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Reefman View Post
Really? I have a tank full of expensive, slow growing corals and I get concerned about a super fast growing, invasive algae and that seems odd to you?

Now if everybody were doing a planted tank, that would be a different story. But even in a semi-planted tank it can be an issue. I have a 4'x2'x14" shallow reef with only things I collect from the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Keys in it. And a rock that came in with a Caulerpa that grew SUPER fast quickly became an issue as it attached to everything in the tank and grew inches per day! I have other algae that grow slower and work well in a mixed (algae, inverts, fish and some corals).
Just the fact that there are some of us who want to grow algae to make a SW planted tanks and the other half want to get rid of macros. So it goes back and forth on how do I grow marcos and how do I kill macros. One man's nuisance algae is another man's treasure.


BlueCat1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/01/2017, 10:04 AM   #20
Michael Hoaster
Registered Seaweedist
 
Michael Hoaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
Maybe if RC had a separate forum for 'problem algae' we'd have less of those posts.

On the other hand, I think it's good that the reef guys come by to visit occasionally. It exposes them to a very different world of aquariums, and all the radically different ideas they wouldn't otherwise encounter. Look at all the reefers dosing nitrate these days, for example.

So it's all good! We all want the same thing - a cool-looking tank, no matter what flavor.

Some pretty good info and discussion in this little thread! It may have gotten a little hijacky, but I'm grateful for what I've learned here!


__________________
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
Michael Hoaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/04/2017, 07:43 AM   #21
BlueCat1949
Registered Member
 
BlueCat1949's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 197
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster View Post
Maybe if RC had a separate forum for 'problem algae' we'd have less of those posts.

On the other hand, I think it's good that the reef guys come by to visit occasionally. It exposes them to a very different world of aquariums, and all the radically different ideas they wouldn't otherwise encounter. Look at all the reefers dosing nitrate these days, for example.

So it's all good! We all want the same thing - a cool-looking tank, no matter what flavor.

Some pretty good info and discussion in this little thread! It may have gotten a little hijacky, but I'm grateful for what I've learned here!
I am waiting for the post "Corals are ruining my aquascape" No matter how hard I try mushrooms and other assorted corals keep popping up in my tank. Is there anything that eats them? What is the best way to get rid of unwanted corals? Some of these mushrooms are the size of dinner plates and they are shading my caulerpa brachypus.


BlueCat1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.