nuisance algae or beneficial algae? PICS

[ghandidawgg]

Ok just posted this in the wrong forum earlier. I am reposting in the correct one.

I want to know what those are and if they are good or not.

 

[kevantheman35]

first ones caulpera, its a good macro algae, idk about the second one

 

[drummereef]

I'd remove the caulerpa, but that's just me. The red macro could be Gracilaria curtissae or commonly called Ruby Red Algae. Quite attractive, but I don't know how invasive it can be.

 

[ghandidawgg]

is the Gracilaria curtissae any good? should I let it be or remove it too?
the caulerpa :uzi: :hammer: :blown:

its a gonner

 

[ghandidawgg]

stupid question. I do not have a refugium on my tank but people have lots of macro algae in there refugium. If caulerpa is macro algae, why isn't it good? would it be good in a refugium or just bad all around?

 

[drummereef]

Some caulerpa can go sexual which causes a massive bloom. It also attaches to the rockwork like none other. A pain to get rid of once it's established. There are safer forms of macro such as chaetomorpha many people use. I also like calcareous forms of algae like halimeda, but the debate is out as to how much impact it can have on phosphates etc... It's an attractive 'safe' macro though.

As far as I've seen the Gracilaria curtissae is OK for use in the fuge. Some say it's hard to grow but can't comment from personal experience here. It is pretty though.

 

[ghandidawgg]

I like the red one. It just grew in there all of a sudden. didn't make any changes. I guess I will just let it grow. Is it ok to grow in the display tank though?

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14776012#post14776012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghandidawgg
I like the red one. It just grew in there all of a sudden. didn't make any changes. I guess I will just let it grow. Is it ok to grow in the display tank though?

I don't see why not. I keep some Halimeda in my tank. It's a sumpless 40g. If you like it, keep it. You can always prune it back if it gets out of control.

 

[MartinEric]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14775984#post14775984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Some caulerpa can go sexual which causes a massive bloom. It also attaches to the rockwork like none other. A pain to get rid of once it's established. There are safer forms of macro such as chaetomorpha many people use. I also like calcareous forms of algae like halimeda, but the debate is out as to how much impact it can have on phosphates etc... It's an attractive 'safe' macro though.

As far as I've seen the Gracilaria curtissae is OK for use in the fuge. Some say it's hard to grow but can't comment from personal experience here. It is pretty though.

+1 its a pita to remove once it gets going.

 

[ghandidawgg]

ok. i will remove

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14783330#post14783330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghandidawgg
ok. i will remove

:thumbsup: There's plenty of 'safe' macro to keep in your display if you choose.

 

[screwsloose]

my tangs love to eat calarpa. i use it in the sump an when its trimming time they get a snack

 

[Anemonebuff]

The red one should be fine. Remove the caulerpa as fast as you can. It takes just one rhyzome(it's "root"), I think I have the spelling wrong, for it to come back. I have been pulling my razor caulerpa for about 8 years.

 

[Mopar Reefer]

I run caulerpa in my display tank under a rock as part of a safe place for pods to hang out/breed and have yet to have any horror stories of it going a sexual.

 

[tank41]

IMO this particular species can be of a nuisance. I have this in my tank and its runners are so small compared to other caulerpas I have kept and there runners spread thru my zoa's and other corals. My tang has cleaned it up nicely though and keeps it in check.

 

[bubbly]

That first species is grape caulerpa -- it's a godawful nuisance, and I am currently battling it in one of my tanks - the previous owner thought it was a good idea to have that in the fuge.

They say that once it's in the tank, it will never come out -- it grows quickly, and will grow into/around things (rocks, your favorite corals) , and sends runners into live rock. If you try to get it out, it will break into pieces, and will regrow from those pieces.

Going sexual isn't the big problem with this species -- the main problem I have experienced with it is the fact that it grows so quickly and that you can't get rid of it,.

So my response -- KILL IT WITH FIRE! Seriously -- I would take that rock out of the tank in case any pieces stay behind. It's that much of a pain.

The red one looks pretty cool -- I would keep it.

 

[luther1200]

I would get the first 1 out unless you want it every where. I had a piece in my DT, and it spread very fast before I even noticed it. It was behind a big acro colony, and started to grow all throughout it. It actually caused some dead spots on the coral.