Cold Water Macros from Maine Gulf

[mr. bojangsjang]

I am setting up a cold water reef very soon and I want some macros in the display to add some variety to the aquascape.

The macros I have in mind are:
Chondrus crispus- Irish Moss
Ptilota serrata- Red Fern
Chorda filum- Cord Weed
Fucus spiralis- Twisted Rockweed

My question is how much lighting is needed for these macros? I assume not much, will a single t5 strip light (6700k) be OK?

 

[graveyardworm]

Not sure why the lighting requirements for coldwater species would be any less than that of tropical ones. Most algaes are adaptable and should do well under many lighting schemes. The intensity of the light will also be dependant upon the depth of the tank.

 

[rambone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8702359#post8702359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
Not sure why the lighting requirements for coldwater species would be any less than that of tropical ones. Most algaes are adaptable and should do well under many lighting schemes. The intensity of the light will also be dependant upon the depth of the tank.

maybe the whole distance from the equator mgiht have something to do with it

 

[graveyardworm]

In the summer during the growing season we get plenty of sunlight from right overhead. In the winter when the days are shorter many of the shallow water species go dormant. So I'm assuming Mr Bojangs is intending to simulate light from during the warmer months.

 

[billsreef]

It's generally a good idea to look at where these are found, i.e. intertidal, subtidal, deep water, etc.

Chondrus crispus- Irish Moss

Low intertidal to subtidal zone in high energy enviroments. Read that to mean lots of light and lots of water motion.

Ptilota serrata- Red Fern

I've found this mostly subtidal and deeper in areas of good current and wave action. So not so much light needed, but it does like some water motion.

Chorda filum- Cord Weed

I've periodically seen this around here in the back end of creeks in shallow water. So not high light and low water motion.

Fucus spiralis- Twisted Rockweed

High intertidal, and by this I mean it's out of the water more than it's in the water. So high light, i.e. you need to replicate direct sunlight. It also apears to need that several hours a day of air exposure. It's also generally only found in areas of high wave action, so lots of water motion too. This one is likely to be problematic to grow. I have held Fucus vessiculosis in outdoor ponds for periods of time. I found if I left it submerged it would only last a couple of weeks. If I lifted the basket of Fucus out of the water to dry for several hours a day it would last for months, basically till I got busy and forget to dry it for a couple of weeks.