caulerpa brachypus question

[hotelbravo]

Does anyone here grow this in their DT instead of refuge? Im wondering where im going to place this macro to grow, can it grow in sand? does it prefer rock? How would YOU add it to your DT if there was a tang in the system? Would you put some sort of egg crate on it until it really started to take hold and grow or what?

I just purchased some from a fellow reefer on here who im sure will chime in once he sees this:spin3::spin3::spin3: but I just wanted to see what everyone else thought also

 

[phobos2deimos]

I plant it in my sand because I love the 'lawn' look, but it will grow excellently in any way. In rocks, in rubble, in sand, and just free floating in a ball like chaeto.

If you plant it in the sand, eggcrate to hold it down while it establishes is a good idea, but it will grow into the eggcrate too.

I think the easiest way to manage it is to wedge it into places all over a rock. Set the rock into its own area in your tank (~6 inches away from everything else), and let it grow in. As it outgrows the rock, it will send runners out, which (in my experience) are immediately chomped on by my fish. And if your tang ends up not eating it, it'll be easy to pull the rock out and regulate the Brachypus to your sump (where it will make an excellent nutrient exporter).

Keep some in your fuge as a backup just in case your tang goes crazy and tries to devour all of it.

Here's a few shots of how I've grown it.
Sandbed:

Like Chaeto:

Rock: