Halimeda. Ugh

[ostrow]

Some $#&*@_! said a bit of halimeda in the display was no problem, it is self contained. Last thing I buy from that brainless crackpot.

Does ANYTHING eat this stuff? I once had a sea hare that ate my shaving brush, would one eat this? Or am I in an ever-losing battle to contain the pest?

 

[Janice12]

Did you try just yanking it out? The holdfasts of Halimeda species are not very strong, and has a very low chance of growing back. Then send it to me, because I love that algae!! BTW, because it is a calcerious species, not much will munch it .

 

[ostrow]

It is spreading all over the rocks. And when I pull it a piece invariably splits off, drifts and hides somewhere else to grow.

Thanks though I don't think much eats it.

 

[bcolvin]

I have the same problem.... nothing will eat that calcareous crap. Keep pulling it out and adventually you can keep it in control. Its amazing some people cant keep it alive and I cant kill it.

 

[ostrow]

Great. Crud.

 

[coralnut99]

One trick is to make sure you grab the base of the plant, otherwise you're just pruning.

I introduced a bunch of the stuff to a tank that I maintain in my companies entrance lobby about a year or so ago. It had pretty much carpeted the tank bottom, and actually buffered the sandbed against the inevitable falling powerhead when I wasn't around. About 3 weeks ago I introduced a hawaiian saifin tang, and all I can say is that he's got a real apetite for the stuff. He's munched his way through half of it. I've started hanging nori in a veggie clip in the hope he doesn't devour all of the halimeda.

I have 3 hawaiians at home in different systems too, and I use them as something of a cleaning service. Whenever I see a piece of stray macro I don't want on a piece of rock, I just put it in the tank, and it's clean as a whistle in a few hours. The only green plant matter I can honestly say they don't care for is bryopsis. I have a flat red ribbon macro that grows super slow, and they don't touch that either.

 

[ostrow]

Sailfins I hear are hit or miss on macros though. Some swear they mow through bubble algae. Others report they ignore the stuff.

But another argument to add a sailfin -- I love them. Though in a 155 with a Hepatus and a Kole, I am not sure a sailfin would work....

Thanks.

 

[coralnut99]

I guess every fish can be hit or miss when you buy them as a solution to a problem. That's why I hate seeing anything sold that way. There's just no guarantees. But this is my fourth experience with hawaiians, and they are just uniform across the board. Absolute lawnmowers one and all. Remember these are hawaiians, and not Desjardins. My oldest has been with me for almost 5 years now, and he's got as much personality as my big goofy dog and an appetite to match.

I also have a couple of Heps, and a Thompsons that won't touch anything green. So go figure!

 

[ostrow]

Funny, because at one point (search on RC) many report that the Desjardini's are the ones that are more reliable algae eaters.

Go figure.

I love the Hawaiian and may try one again (my first setup had one). Gotta be sure it can "fit" first, though....