Macroalgae for Shark tank?

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

I would like to add some kind of macroalgae to my current shark tank but am stumped on what kinds do better with others. I've heard of some can go sexual and destroy inhabitants. So, with that said, any input is welcome!

Thanks.

 

[FishyMel]

DO NOT ADD CAULERPA. It came really close to killing my shark and did kill the seahorse tankmates(which is a suprisingly good pair, believe it or not) about 3 weeks ago by going sexual. It also destorys live rock and looks nasty. I'm now using chaeto and it is working alot better. It took me hours to get all the caulerpa out of the tank ughhh... not fun

 

[reefergeorge]

Chaeto.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11406315#post11406315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishyMel
DO NOT ADD CAULERPA. It came really close to killing my shark and did kill the seahorse tankmates(which is a suprisingly good pair, believe it or not) about 3 weeks ago by going sexual. It also destorys live rock and looks nasty. I'm now using chaeto and it is working alot better. It took me hours to get all the caulerpa out of the tank ughhh... not fun

I have kept Caulerpa in my displays for years now and never had it go sexual. I think it may have been starting to once when my nitrates reached a pretty high number like 50 ppm but otherwise, as long as water quality stays the same its fine. I have it growing all throughout my new set up and think it looks awesome in FOWLR tank that usually have nothing but rock. Also not sure how it destroys the rock???

 

[FishyMel]

Are we talking about the same caulerpa? Grape caulerpa?? It vines all over the rocks and and grows faster than lightning? It chokes out coral?? It was far from a good experience, my nitrates are around 15 ppm, it went sexual for space most likely. The main mass was about 15 lbs when I pulled it out. It started as 1 lbs mass a month earlier.

 

[JustinReef]

Actually not grape Caulerpa. I do have some but I do agree to keep that stuff in check and I do pull that stuff out quite often. I was refering more to Caulerpa prolifera which is a lot nicer looking and easier to maintain in my opinion. It too can go sexual though quite fast. I also have Chlorophyta Phylum in my tank, its pretty nice looking stuff.

I was told once that it could be nitrates but after thinking about that, it doesn't make sense to me since they use nitrates for growth...I would agree that space is more an issue.

Anyways that sounds like a pretty big hunk of Caulpera!

 

[FishyMel]

Yeah, that stuff I hear is pretty good for in a FO system, I considered it earlier but I'm cautious on keeping it considering I would like to put LPS corals in the tank.

I'm doing chaeto right now because it does grab on to rocks and doesn't go sexual.

 

[socal-trading]

I would look into mangrove trees for nutrient export.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11416541#post11416541 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by socal-trading
I would look into mangrove trees for nutrient export.

Mangroves are great but you need a LOT...They grow relatively slow (they are a tree after all) compared to macro algae. Of course for nutrient export, the faster it grows, the more nutrients it is using up and cam be exported.

 

[Lrgclasper]

I kept Grape caulerpa in my shark tank for years and actually really liked the stuff because it grew so fast and really helps with Nitrates. It would a-sexual, but each time it did it was when I added freshwater directly to the tank. The a-sexual events would turn the tank totally cloudy, but never had a negative impact on the water. Of course, I removed the dead plant shortly after the event, so I am sure this helped.