Gracilaria

[mano]

Anyone know where to get some Gracilaria from? Prefer G. pacifica because I need it for a cooler water tank. Thanks for any ideas!

 

[graveyardworm]

Here's what I found on algaebase. Looks like the stuff is native to the west coast. I have no idea what collection resrictions you may have, but it may be as simple as a trip to the beach.

 

[grupper]

I got mine from: http://www.liveplants.gulf-coast.net/macroalgae.htm If I remember right, it was around $15 with shipping.

Although, you might want to do some more research before buying it. I was actually looking for a thread that might teach me the trick to keeping gracilaria.

This is the first thread I've found so far: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=640112

Its not very useful.

From my own experence, the gracilaria started to grow quickly and then after a while parts of it started to turn white and it gradually fell apart. Some of the fragments found some places in the shade and started to grow again, but after a while they also started having the same problems.

From a internet search I found that at least some of the species of gracilaria that they try to aquaculture for food in natural sea water seem to have the same problems.

 

[graveyardworm]

I am currently keeping two species of gracilaria both are growing very fast. I dont believe either one is the temperate species that mano is looking for though.

 

[Samala]

Unfortunately Gulf Coast Ecosystems (grupper's first link) is out of the macro/marine plant game for now. They havent been shipping plants in over a year. Just a quick fyi.

>Sarah

 

[mano]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am indeed looking for the temperate species and I may have to find a place it grows so I can collect some since I can't find enough of the correct species.

 

[plaz]

What are the two species you are growing successfully and how much lighting/flow do they get? I've had trouble getting it to grow too! Thanks!

 

[graveyardworm]

You talkin to me? Dont know what species just that they are Gracillaria. They are in a 35 gal tank with 1 65 watt LOA fixture, and low to moderate flow. I dose iron, and KNO3. This tank is connected to a larger system where I have some fish and a suncoral and I feed heavily.