Kelp for a refugium?

True kelps tend to be temperate zone plants that will do best in temperatures that are lower than a typical reef tank setup. Something similar to kelp, but can be finicky and hard to keep happy, is Sargassum.

Honestly Chaetomorpha is very popular for good reason. It is practically bullet proof and very undemanding, and is not prone to asexual reproduction or tank fouling. Many fish will also eat it if you want to feed out of your refugium to tank inhabitants.

>Sarah
 
I have seen kelp at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Stephen Birch aquarium in San Diego. Keep in mind that they were grown in massive displays.
 
Ohhhh Monterey Bay! :D Sarah's favorite macroalgae and seagrass friendly public aquarium.

kelp5.jpg


>Sarah
 
the massive, 60 foot tall kelp in the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a local, cooler water variety. I used to fish the central coast kelp beds for rock fish, chili peppers, sculpin, bass and ling cod, and troll the open waters for king and silver salmon. all cold water fish. As you might know, the California waters north of LA are in the 55-70 degree range through out the year. but provide a good cool temperature for raising Catilina Gobies. But, like the kelp, the gobies don't survive long in tropical temp reef tanks above 70 degrees. The gobies are very pretty and bright red. you just need a really big chiller. the california kelp can grow 2 feet a day. who has a tank that big? other than Monterey Bay Aquarium?

If you do, we would really like to see it!!
 
Oh! I forgot. I am also thinking of getting some Florida type sargassum algae for a fuge. Has anyone had good success with that? Is it better than chaeto?
 
I could not have said it better myself kaptken. I hope you do get the sargassum. I think a floating mass would make an awesome display.
 
Sargassum

Sargassum

I have some sargassum in the display and it is very nice. My sail fin tang ate most of it i hope to get some to grow back.
 
Back
Top