chris melb
Member
Can anyone confirm whether or not this is true? I believe i have read somewhere that GSP may be used as a partial means for nutrient export?
GSP as a nutrient exporter
- Thread starter chris melb
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antonsemrad
New member
sure it can......
anything that grows fast enough that you can remove it on a regular basis will work.
I wouldn't choose it because of how it competes in the tank with chemical warfare. GSP is actually quite nasty.
But, if you like the look, (it is a nice coral) you can keep a small colony on its own rock. Put oyster shell around it, and as it spreds, trade off the small colonys for whatever.
You can see in Sunnyx Tank of the Month that he is doing exactly that and keeping a stuning tank at the same time.
anything that grows fast enough that you can remove it on a regular basis will work.
I wouldn't choose it because of how it competes in the tank with chemical warfare. GSP is actually quite nasty.
But, if you like the look, (it is a nice coral) you can keep a small colony on its own rock. Put oyster shell around it, and as it spreds, trade off the small colonys for whatever.
You can see in Sunnyx Tank of the Month that he is doing exactly that and keeping a stuning tank at the same time.
chris melb
Member
Thanks antonsemrad my next question is what are they good at exporting (which nutirents and how much of what)? i havent found any research on using GSP as nutrient export, but did briefly read somewhere that they can be used as a nutrient export. They are a nice looking coral, but given there ability to take over everything i might place them in refuge.
antonsemrad
New member
I am no expert or anything, but I would assume nitrogen and phosphorus.
The problem is what they are producing.
There are more efficient things to use in a fuge. I like to use algae.
I thought that in a display, you could keep a small colony for looks, and the toxins are offset by looks. But if you are going to just put them in a fuge, choose somthing more functional. Xenia perhaps, or montiporia, clams, seagrass, ulva, and so on.
chris melb
Member
Ive looked into Xenia and Macros, the reason i thought about the GSP is that i dont think it melts as quickly (apart from say cheato) as Xenia and Calupera can, it may be a more stable form nutrient export. From my research i see that Xenia is a bit of a hit or miss in peoples tank. And Calupera is known to go asexual.
Caulerpa goes sexual when it is nutrient limited. With a little observation, its is easy to figure out when it is close and either harvest or dose a little nitrogen to boost the algae.
Chaeto can grow quite quickly as well and, as you observed, is much less likely to go sexual.
There is also the option of an ATS scrubber.
Fred
Chaeto can grow quite quickly as well and, as you observed, is much less likely to go sexual.
There is also the option of an ATS scrubber.
Fred
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
GSP, Xenia, Shrooms, and a few other softies make for good nitrate exporters. Clams are excellent nitrate and ammonia exporters as well.
Caulerpa is okay, but it does leach out toxins that block calcium uptake by corals. If you can find a good variety of macro other then chaeto... like that 'tang heaven', chaeto, or grassilaria... that thats the best. The downside is that the uptake by these species isnt as good.
Caulerpa is okay, but it does leach out toxins that block calcium uptake by corals. If you can find a good variety of macro other then chaeto... like that 'tang heaven', chaeto, or grassilaria... that thats the best. The downside is that the uptake by these species isnt as good.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Gosh... I dont know that I have a any on hand, but its pretty easy to find because its generally accepted info.
Caulerpin and caulerpicin toxins in the home aquarium can build up to levels that inhibit corals.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caulerpafaq2.htm
3rd question down...
"You indicated that you disliked the use of Caulerpa in a planted sump. Can you provide specific reasons as to why you dislike the use of Caulerpa in a lighted sump for display systems (with corals/fish) -
<this is literally a several hour/many page dissertation but the short story of it all has been written about many times here in the FAQs if you care to use the google feature in a keyword search to run down the history. My apologies for not retelling the entire story but we literally get upwards of sixty or more emails daily here and brevity alas is necessary at times. The short story is that there are far more disadvantages than advantages. Yes it grows fast and yes it is a large nutrient exporter for it. However, for those same reasons is a very strong competitor with corals for the same nutrients. Furthermore, they exude noxious compounds that slow the potential growth of many corals (read: slows, not stops). They are tedious to maintain without breaching critical mass for fear of a vegetative event which is inevitable and potentially catastrophic in many systems. The list goes on. There are much better macros out there. Caulerpa is popular because it was commercially marketed, not because it is the best choice. See how many corals you can find in Caulerpa zones on wild shores (zero or nearly so... there must be a reason!)>
I will definitely be pre-ordering your new book that you mentioned?
<thank you my friend. Read it in good health!>
I've used Caulerpa in my reef tanks with very good results - and this was after being encouraged to do so by Bob Fenner (via wetwebmedia).
<in small quantities it causes little harm... but doesn't help much either. Bob is a VERY wise an experienced aquarist. My specialty is reef invertebrate science and coral propagation however (Bob's the Fish guy
) I have written a two volume set of books on the topic of coral farming (first volume 450 pages mostly text!). And I have lived this science for many years. Short story: if you love plants and are willing to sacrifice some coral growth... enjoy the Caulerpa. It you want maximum coral growth and health (like coral farmers do), don't take Caulerpa for free!>"
Pretty much, if you use caulerpa in large enough amounts to actually impact the nutrient uptake in a tank, then you are also introducing alot of toxins.
There are better articles on it, by biologists and such... I just dont keep them on hand. Its why I have banned caulerpa from my tanks though... now its just grassilaria/red macro/chaeto for me.
Caulerpin and caulerpicin toxins in the home aquarium can build up to levels that inhibit corals.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caulerpafaq2.htm
3rd question down...
"You indicated that you disliked the use of Caulerpa in a planted sump. Can you provide specific reasons as to why you dislike the use of Caulerpa in a lighted sump for display systems (with corals/fish) -
<this is literally a several hour/many page dissertation but the short story of it all has been written about many times here in the FAQs if you care to use the google feature in a keyword search to run down the history. My apologies for not retelling the entire story but we literally get upwards of sixty or more emails daily here and brevity alas is necessary at times. The short story is that there are far more disadvantages than advantages. Yes it grows fast and yes it is a large nutrient exporter for it. However, for those same reasons is a very strong competitor with corals for the same nutrients. Furthermore, they exude noxious compounds that slow the potential growth of many corals (read: slows, not stops). They are tedious to maintain without breaching critical mass for fear of a vegetative event which is inevitable and potentially catastrophic in many systems. The list goes on. There are much better macros out there. Caulerpa is popular because it was commercially marketed, not because it is the best choice. See how many corals you can find in Caulerpa zones on wild shores (zero or nearly so... there must be a reason!)>
I will definitely be pre-ordering your new book that you mentioned?
<thank you my friend. Read it in good health!>
I've used Caulerpa in my reef tanks with very good results - and this was after being encouraged to do so by Bob Fenner (via wetwebmedia).
<in small quantities it causes little harm... but doesn't help much either. Bob is a VERY wise an experienced aquarist. My specialty is reef invertebrate science and coral propagation however (Bob's the Fish guy
) I have written a two volume set of books on the topic of coral farming (first volume 450 pages mostly text!). And I have lived this science for many years. Short story: if you love plants and are willing to sacrifice some coral growth... enjoy the Caulerpa. It you want maximum coral growth and health (like coral farmers do), don't take Caulerpa for free!>"Pretty much, if you use caulerpa in large enough amounts to actually impact the nutrient uptake in a tank, then you are also introducing alot of toxins.
There are better articles on it, by biologists and such... I just dont keep them on hand. Its why I have banned caulerpa from my tanks though... now its just grassilaria/red macro/chaeto for me.
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