need info on plant selection

[racedraper]

hey ther I have deside to move all my rock to one side and put marine plants on the other, All I need to know is what plant would be the best and something that will not take over the tank. and maybe somethng I can use in my new fuge that I am making. Also somthong I could cut and give to others or sell but I prefer to give to others.so any help would be great. As for lighting I have a lunar light system 4x65 this is enough correct. my tank in a 75 gal , all that is in my tank is a panther grouper and snowflake eel and two maroon cinn clowns that are seperated buy pexy glass from the grouper until I get anemone

 

[kmk2307]

What kind of lighting do you have? Do you test your calcium / alkalinity? Do you test your phosphates? If you want something that won't take over I would recommend Halimedia, Udotea, Penicillus, or Rhipocephalus. If you phosphates are high or your calcium is low, these algae will not do well for you. Instead you may want to look into different species of Caulerpa or sea grasses. All of these algae require moderately bright light.

Kevin

 

[racedraper]

I was thinking about java fern or vallisneria spiralis. Do I need special bedding ,I have live sand put its not fine.

 

[kmk2307]

Java ferns and Vallisneria are both freshwater plants. Most marine "plants" aren't really plants, they are algae which do not form roots (though they do have special "holdfasts" that look like roots). Algae don't obtain nutrition through the holdfast, it just anchors them in place. Most algae don't really care what substrate they grow on. Seagrasses, on the other hand, are angiosperm plants and they do have real roots. They need very fine sand and a pretty deep layer of it to do well.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[jdieck]

I also recomend halimeda and halimenia, you can also try some red gracilaria if your lighting is right. I would recomend make and arrangement with some rock it looks terrific. For open sand I recomend seagrass and barber brush.

 

[Kelmen]

Maiden's Hair
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=659

It contains a toxic substance which deters herbivorous fish from eating it.

 

[Yaggi Hooligan]

Maiden's Hair
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=659

It contains a toxic substance which deters herbivorous fish from eating it.

I've often wondered about this "Maiden's Hair" or "Angel's Hair" as I see it being sold at various LFS's; because:
According to Baensch Marine Atlas (vol. 1, p. 240), Chlorodesmis fastigiata = Bryopsis plumosa. The picture looks much like the one in the above link. The description says "This alga is not held in high esteem by aquarists because it will cover all the tank's decor when favorable conditions pervail..."

 

[racedraper]

I am thinking about red kelp in the main tank and mangrove stalks in the refuge. would this be a good selection to help with nitrates

 

[Kelmen]

What's this "barber brush"?
I can't find any info about it. As I'm interested to get a sand bed-based plant too.

Is it same as Shaving Brush Plant (Penicillus sp) ?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1478

I also recomend halimeda and halimenia, you can also try some red gracilaria if your lighting is right. I would recomend make and arrangement with some rock it looks terrific. For open sand I recomend seagrass and barber brush.