Considering seagrass

[Kung]

Hey folks,

Long time reader, first time poster in this area. I really like the look of seagrass and am strongly considering some for my tank. I'm looking for both pleasing appearance and for some nutrient export. Space prevents a good refugium, at least for now, so I was considering seagrasses for the display.

My major concern is that it will overtake my rockwork. Is this a legitimate concern? I really don't care if my sandbed is totally over-run, but I don't want any on the rocks. Am I dreaming, or is this a realistic goal?

Second question . . . will it be an effective tool to choke out hair algea?

Third . . . will my grazers (virgate rabbitfish and a red sea sailfin tang) destroy it before it can get a foothold?

 

[ClamIAm]

Seagrass will definitely not spread to rockwork as the roots stay buried in the sand. Macroalgaes like caulerpa will spread all over the rockwork. I would worry about rabbitfish going after it but I have never actually heard of anyone keeping seagrass with one so I'm not completely sure about this.

 

[graveyardworm]

I've tried adding seagrass to t ank with a foxface rabbitfish and it did eat the seagrass. I presume the same would go for most species of rabbitfish. The Sailfin Tang also will likely munch on the grass

 

[Samala]

Howard will probably be along to let you know what type of rabbit it was, but a rabbitfish did indeed consume leaves of stargrass he had in his tank. I'm not sure on the sailfin's myself.

The only herbivorous reef fish that we know are typically great with seagrasses are the bristle tooth tangs. (I believe genus is Ctenochaetus.)

There is a species of seagrass (the vascular plants) that will grow on bare rock but it only lives in coldwater (50-60F) regions of the world and is not available in the hobby. Most 'plants' that you see growing on rockwork in marine aquaria are macroalgae (not vascular plants but we like to lump them in with seagrass as "marine plants" from time to time).

Macroalgae of certain kinds are more than capable of invading and overgrowing a tank (ie. Caulerpa).

It may be effective in reducing the amount of nuisance algae in your tank, but only if it can gain the upperhand. I find if I have nuisance algae on new rockwork that they need to be scrubbed free of the offending alga before going into a seagrass dominated tank.

Once in there the remaining bits of alga on the rock (and perhaps any spores) typically are outcompeted for nutrients and do not grow or bloom after that. Of course, if you get an imbalance of nutrients or other water quality parameters, they could come back.

To outcompete nuisance algae in an established system the grasses are going to need plenty of light and other nutrients to grow on until they reach a level large enough to keep up with the nutrients that keep your nuisance algae's alive. (I hope that made sense!)

HTH - and welcome to the dark side :strooper:

>Sarah

 

[graveyardworm]

The only herbivorous reef fish that we know are typically great with seagrasses are the bristle tooth tangs. (I believe genus is Ctenochaetus.)

I have a Ctenochaetus Striatus ( Striated Bristletooth ) in QT right now, only 1 more week and it'll be going into my seagrass lagoon tank. So we'll see how it does.