how to grow Tang Heaven Red?

[kypatriot]

A few weeks ago I bought some Tang Heaven Red (Gracilaria), and my yellow tang loves it. I have a 10g tank that currently only has this, some long feather caulerpa, and a lot of pods.

I would like to keep the red macro growing to be able to feed to the tang. Can anyone give me clues as to how to keep this stuff growing optimally?

Optimal light timing, how to provide sufficient nutrients, etc. I have 2 small biowheel powerfilters on the tank, for flow and to help jack up the nitrates. occasionally I throw in some pieces of flake or something to provide nutrients.

Surely somebody has had good luck growing this stuff.....

 

[coralcat]

Have a lighted sump? If it's what I think. It doesn't like to be disturbed growing. Was it attached to a rock, or from a rock when you got it? Likes a good current

 

[coralcat]

also doesn't like to be eaten off. not fast growing and the tangs will have a nice meal before it can settle in and grow.

 

[graveyardworm]

Is the 10 gal tank seperate from the main tank or does it share water like a refugium?

 

[kypatriot]

the 10g is a separate tank. I will be adding a refug to my display (a 135g), but i don't have time to right now.

In the meantime, when I do water changes on the display, the old water goes into the 10g, to try to help keep the nutrient load up.

When I bought it, it came in a bag not attached to anything, with the instructions just saying to float it in the tank. It sinks though.

 

[mano]

Gracilaria usually needs sufficient flow of water and/or air to keep it tumbling since it tends to be negatively buoyant. Do you have an airline in the tank? Are there amphipods in the tank too because they will graze on the Gracilaria if there isn't sufficient food for them?

 

[kypatriot]

I have a small air pump going, but the bubbles are too small from the air stone to produce turbulance.

Does it need to be tumbling? Right now it kinda sways, and about once or twice a day I stir it up a little.

There are a LOT of pods in that tank, but I've been putting stuff like flakes and DT's in there, both to feed them and to try to provide enough nutrients for the gracilaria. There's also a red foot conch (thorn latairus) that gets a small chunk of scallop or shrimp every few days.

I bought some chealated iron today, and I dosed some of it and some iodine this afternoon.

I'd really like to perpetuate enough of this stuff to feed my tang (just barely 3" right now).

 

[mano]

It does best when tumbling, although I've heard some people have been able to keep it going with enough flow. What is the nitrate and phosphate level in the tank?

 

[bboy aqua]

they need strong flow and medium-high lighting
they dont literally need to be tumbling
my lfs grows them in a bucket and just using an airstone connected to a pump

 

[graveyardworm]

I have some brown gracillaria, might be completely different, but its in a 35 gal refuge wedged in behind some LR with moderate flow and moderate light and it's growing well.

 

[jgreen1025]

I'm also interested in getting red/brown gracilaria to grow - I recently got some from FloridaPets, but so far it's just kinda wasting away. I think the comments about needing to tumble are more applicable to chaeto algae, whereas gracilaria should be attached or wedged in somewhere.

David (Graveyardworm): what kind of light do you have on your refugium?

John

 

[graveyardworm]

I have an 85 watt 6500k LOA outdoor fixture from Home Depot.

 

[jgreen1025]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7547124#post7547124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
I have an 85 watt 6500k LOA outdoor fixture from Home Depot.

Thanks David. I've noticed there are a number of compact fluorescent floodlights in the 5000-6000k range, and have been planning to switch from the NO shoplights I'm currently using.

Also, regarding my comment above on tumbling not being applicable to gracilaria - I stand corrected. Just re-reading a Calfo article where he says that gracilaria "is more demanding [than chaeto] about receiving strong water flow and really excels if kept tumbling, although [it] will attach to a substrate readily." He also says it needs stronger lighting (than chaeto) and recommends "close to 2 watts per liter of water in shallow refugiums."

John

 

[kypatriot]

Sounds like I need to pick up a powerhead for that tank then.

I'm borrowing a 96w 6500k fixture from my wife's soon-to-be set up freshwater tank, to see if I can get this stuff to grow, so that tank is very bright right now.

Does Gracilaria need a light cycle (ie - does it need a dark period)?

I remember in the undergrad bio classes, talking about how a greenhouse gets better results with having a light cycle instead of 24/7 light.

 

[jgreen1025]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7547613#post7547613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kypatriot
Does Gracilaria need a light cycle (ie - does it need a dark period)?

I remember in the undergrad bio classes, talking about how a greenhouse gets better results with having a light cycle instead of 24/7 light.

Well, I'd hoped someone more knowledgeable that myself would answer this. My feeling is that a light/dark cycle is more beneficial because it's natural. I also recall something about that regarding plants, but of course, we're talking about algae. I think a lot of people keeping caulerpa maintain a 24-hour photoperiod but I think that's mainly to keep it from releasing it's toxins, or something like that.

John

 

[mano]

I do think the Gracilaria will grow best when given a more "natural" light cycle. Mine is cultured outdoors so I don't really have to worry about it.

Good luck with it!