Neomeris question

[bassetbros]

Hey guys! Just wondered if you could help me with some macro in my tank. Located in several locations among my live rock are little “shoots” of Neomeris sp. (thanks for the algae slideshow!). The shoots are approximately 1/4 â€"œ ½ “ long and appear to be calcified along the base and about halfway up the shoot.

First of all…is this a desirable macro to have in the tank? I don’t seem to mind it but didn’t know of any drawbacks to this species.

Second…if it is desirable, how can I make it flourish? As far as supplements are concerned, I use the following:
Kent Turbo Calcium
Kent Part A/B (keeps calcium at 400 +/- 15 and alk at 10 +/- .5)
Kent Tech M (magnesium)
Inland Seas trace element replacement (strontium/iodine)

I also change out about 30 gallons monthly using IO Reef Crystals. This keeps zero ammonia/nitrite with generally less than 10 parts nitrate.

Is there anything I could do to encourage/discourage the growth of this stuff?

Thanks and God bless,
Basset

 

[kmk2307]

If you like it, then yes it is a desireable alga to have. It is obviously easy to remove so if it does too well you can just rip some up. They like high calcium, very low phosphates, and moderate-low nitrates. Your nitrates are good now. Keep the water quality high and calcium around 400 or 450 and it should do well. I think Neomeris likes lots of water movement too but I'm not really sure on that.

Kevin

 

[Samala]

I think Neomeris likes lots of water movement too but I'm not really sure on that.

I think so too. Usually when patches pop up in reefs its in high-flow areas.

Overall, I think you're set as is. This alga doesnt seem to compete well with other, faster growing, photosynthetic creatures so having it in a single species environment is probably helping.

As Kevin said, if you like it, its desireable.

>Sarah

 

[bassetbros]

Thanks guys! Sounds like Neomeris is a decent indicator species of a healthy reef (low nutrients, decent flow, and high calcium). Thanks for the feedback!

God bless,
Basset

 

[scbadiver]

My advice is get it out while you still can! I just took 200 lbs of rock out of my tank because it's grown completely over and I can't kill this nasty weed!!! It grows in low flow, high flow, right at the top under a 250W MH and in the basement sump, in a dark corner. It's growing from my sand bed now too. Any ideas how to get rid of it now guys? Here is a pic taken about 6 months after I saw the first few sprigs pop up.

Robbie

 

[skeeter-doc]

yes i agree with everyone else, consider it desireable if YOU like it, ... take Robbie for instance, he doesnt like it (anymore) but I do like it, so I would have loved to get some of those rocks for a tank to set up, ... but at least like you said, it is a great indicator of how the tank is doing health-wise

 

[Limbo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8459464#post8459464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scbadiver
My advice is get it out while you still can! I just took 200 lbs of rock out of my tank because it's grown completely over and I can't kill this nasty weed!!! It grows in low flow, high flow, right at the top under a 250W MH and in the basement sump, in a dark corner. It's growing from my sand bed now too. Any ideas how to get rid of it now guys? Here is a pic taken about 6 months after I saw the first few sprigs pop up.

Robbie

Hey Robbie, just a thought, but as you can't get this stuff very easily, why not sell it on ebay or in the forums for profit and buy new LR? hehe, I'd buy some

Any chance of getting a closeup shot of the offending macro? I think it is a beautiful macro... sorry it overran your tank so badly.

 

[scbadiver]

These are about the only thing I have in the way of a close-up;

I thought about selling it but frankly I didn't want to take the time to mess with it. I have about 200lbs of rock in the basement "cooking" right now. I may still sell the rock later as it will still be good base rock. Anyway, Thanks guys. If anybody comes up with a way to get rid of this please let me know!

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

Even though you don't like the macro I think you tank looks great Robbie! What about some urchins?

 

[scbadiver]

Thanks for the compliment. I tried four different types of urchins, BIG ones too! They were like bulldozers knocking stuff over and they cleaned the rocks real well, AROUND the weed. They didn't eat one peice of that stuff that I could see so after about 2 months of picking up corals and rearranging rocks I pulled them out and donated them back to the store. I wouldn't mind the appearance so much if it didn't grow over the Zoos and corals crowding them so badly they are dying. Thats my real concern. One of the guys in our local club referred to it as a "planted freshwater tank" LOL.

 

[Mike4284m]

I actually think the tank looks pretty neat as well, but I can see how it could be a problem if you wanted corals. You do have a great start to an amazing planted tank though!

 

[Nuuze]

Is that beneficial to the reef tank?

 

[Plankt0s]

Man that stuff is awesome Ill buy some, PM me

 

[drouner]

Limbo,

I have had this on and off for several years. All of sudden I got it back and I am like cool. Tonight I poking around in the tank and figure out that it is burying several SPS frags. I did not think that it was the thick or tall.

Now after seeing your tank, I am going to start pulling on it to see if I can get it under control before my tank turns into yours.

Bassetbro - Sorry to highjack your thread.