Kelp?

[Aaron1100us]

Does anyone grow Kelp? Don't know if that is the right name but I just remember seeing that stuff when swimming out in the ocean and was wondering if that would be useful, benifitial or not a good idea to try to grow in a reef aquarium. I think it is an interesting plant. It seems like people grow alot of mangroves and algae but I haven't heard much about Kelp (seaweed?) I think it is also a type of algae. I've never seen it online or at any lfs stores, I've only seen different types of caulerpa. Thanks.

 

[skylsdale]

Here's some basic info for you on kelp: http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/oceans/forest.htm

It's a temperate/cold water plant, and I can't imagine that it would do well in warmer water. Also, this stuff gets BIG...so I'm thinking you would need a tank at least 20 feet deep to get some good healthy growth. Public aquariums can do it(with tanks much deeper and plenty of flow)...but I can't imagine this stuff doing well in a home aquarium.

 

[Joe Kelley]

Good topic Aaron,

That sure would be neat if we could grow a Nori like seaweed. Feed all the tangs and uptake all those excess nutrients. Maybe there is a warm water species that would work for us.Hmm,

Joe

 

[Joey French]

Check this out...
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_kelp_cam.asp
Joey

 

[Aaron1100us]

Thanks for the info and thanks for the sites. I should have known that they were a cold water plant being that I only remember seeing kelp in the ocean off of California and didn't see it at all in the bahamas. That would be cool to try and grow it in a cold water tank. It does get large but I think it would be interesting to attempt. Hardest part would be trying to find where to get it. Anyone else interested in something like this?