Carpeting macro?

[enchelycore808]

Anyone know of a macro that will carpet? I have a 6gal macro only and have been trying to find something that'll be pretty thick but only maybe an 1" tall. Maybe tying chaeto to small stones and keeping it pruned java moss style. any ideas or suggestions?

 

[JLynn]

Chlorodesmis might work... Ochtodes would carpet, but you would have to prune them like crazy to keep them from taking over. Several Caulerpas- Taxifolia, for example- would also carpet, but again, you would need to be a vigilant pruner.

 

[enchelycore808]

I actually found a small stem of caulerpa racemosa peltata diving the other day. Seems to hug the ground but dont know how dense it will be. A couple bushes of ochotodes would be cool! How easy are they to keep? I will look in to Chlorodesmis as i am not familiar. Thanks! Any other suggestions?

 

[btreyes]

Blue hypnea looks just like blue ochtodes and is supposed to grow really well on substrate.

 

[enchelycore808]

Would really like some hypnea but I have know idea who sells it. Same with the maidens hair but I hear that one can become hard to control.

 

[eddiesylas]

Cladophora is very manageable and looks quite "lawn-ish". Gulf Coast E. often carries it. I have yet to prune mine.

 

[Osei]

Cladophora is good macro. Very nice

 

[Osei]

Beautiful color and look.

 

[Plantbrain]

Cauplera "serruta" works very weel, and C. prolifera if you have a larger tank.
Quite a few are suited.

 

[Raybee]

Would really like some hypnea but I have know idea who sells it. Same with the maidens hair but I hear that one can become hard to control.

I'm about to setup a macro tank so I've got up-to-date links for almost everything I'm considering. Only found the hypnea here:

http://www.treasurecoastcorals.com/blue-hypnea.html

Never heard of this place before, so can't vouch for them.

 

[Speaker73]

Too bad you only want to use macros. You could do a carpet of GSP and that would be pretty cool on a BB tank.

 

[JLynn]

ORA now offers blue hypnea.

 

[enchelycore808]

Cladophora is very manageable and looks quite "lawn-ish". Gulf Coast E. often carries it. I have yet to prune mine.

Cladophora is good macro. Very nice

Hmm how tall does it get? It seems very lawnish from the pics I looked up. I had no idea that Marimo balls were in the same genus.

 

[enchelycore808]

Cauplera "serruta" works very weel, and C. prolifera if you have a larger tank.
Quite a few are suited.

Its only a 6g but I do love the look of prolifera in a larger system. Almost like seagrass beds without the waiting time for it to grow in.

I'm about to setup a macro tank so I've got up-to-date links for almost everything I'm considering. Only found the hypnea here:

http://www.treasurecoastcorals.com/blue-hypnea.html

Never heard of this place before, so can't vouch for them.

ORA now offers blue hypnea.

Will have to check these places out! If you order from treasurecoast before I do, let me know how they were! Will also check out ORA as they very well known.

Too bad you only want to use macros. You could do a carpet of GSP and that would be pretty cool on a BB tank.

I do agree that would sick! Thats why Im building a BB nano next to my macro tank. Having a lawn of gsp is one of the goals. Wanted some diaseris but they are so hard to find right now.

Right now i have some kind of brown algae that Im trying to grow. It carpets and forms a thick mat. The nice thing is that it has iridescent strands that shine from green to purple to blue depending on angle. The downside is that at head on view it looks mostly brown. Ill try getting a pic..

 

[enchelycore808]

Was really hard to get a pic but if you look at the green flecks, all the strands are like that. It just depends on the angle but its really shiny when you see it. Anyone got an ID on this by the way? I know the pic isnt that good though lol!

 

[radiata]

Sorry for not being more specific, but I believe there is a dwarf sea grass that might work for you. It would probably require a 2 to 3" deep sand bed.

Can anyone offer any IDs or sources?

 

[enchelycore808]

I really want some seagrasses but the sand bed is only 3/4" deep. I could do them in another tank though. I saw some on ebay a month or so ago but I guess the sellers are out at the moment. Maybe its not season or something.

 

[Ligershark]

Petco should be able to order you some ora hypnea if a local aquarium shop doesn't carry ora. I paid about $15 for my clump and it is doing well.

 

[JLynn]

I really want some seagrasses but the sand bed is only 3/4" deep. I could do them in another tank though. I saw some on ebay a month or so ago but I guess the sellers are out at the moment. Maybe its not season or something.

It probably is out of season. Gulf Coast Ecosystems carries a couple types of seagrass as well. Just FYI.

 

[enchelycore808]

Just an update. Picked up a bunch of algae that I hope will fit the bill. They seem to be growing pretty slow but at least they haven't died! Not to sure what species this is..