Codium Fragile Algae??

[falesdk]

I have been looking for some interesting plants to add to my tank...I found this plant on ebay and the description says that this will do well in a display tank but I have not been able to find any information on this type of algae in a home aquarium.

I have found several sites on this in the ocean, its known by quite a few names, dead mans finger is the most common.

Has any one kept this? Is it easy to take care of...will it bother anything etc.

(All I really have in the tank is live rock, clown fish, mollies and feather dusters so I'm not worried about it killing what I have now, just want to make sure I don't buy this, and then buy something else just to have it be killed )

I have a 70 gal with sand substrate...

Any info would be great!

 

[Big Ying]

I've just started collecting it. I found a huge amount on a broken down structure at a beach I go to. I've had some in my tank for over a month, and it seems to do fine, very attractive. I couldn't tell you if it is a good nutrient remover. The only problem I have is my pistol shrimp constantly tries to drag it into the rock work, which has ended up breaking some pieces off. It certainly is a lot tougher and less fragile than any other algae I have ever seen though. Hermits do get on it, but I think they are cleaning other algae that might get on it, and not eating it themselves.

 

[falesdk]

Thats great! Do you add anything to the tank that could be feeding it? I'm not worried about it removing nutrients, just a decorative thing, I like blues and greens in my tank.

I don't yet have any shrimp, crabs or snails, so no worries there

I'm assuming you have it in the sand then?

Also Codium taylori is another one I can't find any information on.

 

[Big Ying]

Yes I have it laying on the sand, but it could sit on rocks too. It might even attach. I don't put anything in the tank specifically for it.

 

[falesdk]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Ironsheikh]

I have a good amount that grew from a small size if you want, let me know --
emerald crabs may have a bite from time to time but it grows too strong for them to eat it all up. hermits and snails just eat the algae off. depending on light the color will change and sometimes some hairs will come out of it. all the pieces that beak off will grow into new macros -- removes nitrates etc but not at the rate of chaeto, etc

 

[falesdk]

Wow so it sounds like a very hardy addition to the tank.

If you were offering me some of yours let me know how much you want for it.

 

[dalbrecht]

Codium fragile is a temperate species tho, I'm concerned about cultivating it at tropical temperatures. This is what has kept me from adding it to my tank. I love the look of the plant.

 

[falesdk]

That is a good point....people that have it...what temp do you keep it at???

 

[icyuod2]

i have codium (not sure if its fragile) in a tank at 78* its been there for a few months and is showing many signs of growth in my planted aquarium

i have it under a 10000k 110w power compacts. i dont dose the tank but i do overfeed the tank. i use io salt.

the codium in my reef however was destroyed by peanut worms of all things they keep chewing on it, and it keeps seperating into smaller pieces.
from this

to this

 

[falesdk]

I'm pretty sure thats codium taylori...but then again I've never seen either in real life.

Still a very nice looking plant...which I think I'll look into getting now

 

[dalbrecht]

spectacular tank, I agree it looks to dense to be fragile. I think I'll try the codium taylori myself. I really like the look of the fragile more than the tropical species tho.

 

[Ironsheikh]

it looks like mine and i have taylori -- keep it in a bedroom tank w/out a heater water is about 78 degrees grows well under pc lights
i have like 5 pieces I can sell or trade for zoa frags -- let me know

 

[Ironsheikh]

its a great algae grows into a new plant from broken pieces