Halimeda or not to halimeda?

[digidana]

i've been reading all the refugium stuff, and i've got a question. there was some halimeda growing on some of the LR. i ripped it off the rock and threw it into the fuge. and its growing great. better than the chaeto i have in there. but after reading this article on it:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php
i'm not sure if i should keep it or not. it sounds like it sucks up all the calcium...but then turns into aragonite when it dies. but can also release gametes which can throw us into oxygen deprivation. so i figured i better pitch it, but then the article ends with: "Factor in their nutrient export capabilities and service as an alkalinity test and you have the perfect marine plant for the home aquarium!"

so, i thought i'd ask the experts. whacha think?

 

[fishdoc11]

I'm ceartainly not an expert but my choice is chaeto in a fuge.

 

[EvilMel]

Yeah...I wouldn't put Halimeda in there if it were me. I was always told that it sucks up the calcium whereas other algaes give the same benefit but do not suck the calcium.

I wonder how much of each Halimeda leaf is made up of nutrients exported other than calcium. If you cut into a leaf, it appears that it's mostly white stuff with a very thin layer of green on top. To me that might indicate that per unit volume of leaf there's actually less chlorophyll and possibly less actual nutrients being take up. But...that's just a big old guess. So who the heck knows!

 

[ct_vol]

IMO having a LITTLE Halimeda in your tank isn't a bad thing... However as stated, I wouldn't use it as a primary macro algae in your refugium... But I've seen plenty of really nice reef tanks with Halimeda in it... Its nice because most fish will leave it alone, it doesn't spread like caulerpa so its easily managed, and it still provides a little greenery... If you're not dosing or using a calcium reactor, it can compete with your corals for Ca and Carbonate... But if you supplement your aquarium in some way, it wouldn't have drastic effects...

 

[themadreeferTN]

Ive had halimeda in my tank since the begining. I dont think it has much potential for nutrient export but its a great visual indicator for ca & alk i.e. if its not growing mad test your paramaters. Mine is in the main tank so I prune it regularly. I keep mostly sps so I have to add ca & buffer on a reg basis. Hope this helps
Chris

 

[digidana]

thanks guys. i think i'll keep a little and use it as an indicator. i check the fuge everyday, so i'll just keep an eye on it. apparently it turns white with green dots when its getting ready to release the gametes.

so chris, i thought since you weren't at the store anymore you were going to partipate more? where were you saturday? party pooper.

 

[EvilMel]

Oh yeah...Halimeda is neat...for sure! I always loved when I'd see it pop up because (as you guys stated) it meant my Ca and Alk were at good levels. Then I'd get mad at it because I'd have to rip it out all the dang time.

 

[themadreeferTN]

I couldnt make it saturday but Im in for seeing daves tank. I plan on joining at that meeting as well. I still cant log in from home so Im limited to posting at work which has been busy. Guppies & neons ???????????

 

[digidana]

glad you're coming chris! yeah, its a whole less heart-breaking with a $1.99 fish dies.