plant ID

[blot60]

I got a new rock and it had this littile plant on it. Will it grow alot?

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[redhorse]

It might be Halimeda Opuntia. It looks different when it is growing in a home aquarium. Mine has grown from one stalk to about 40 and over 10" tall in 3 months. Every night is grows about 1/2" or better. Have fun

 

[blot60]

Oh wow ok. Are they pretty hearty? Should I keep it? Thanks

 

[mastou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8541773#post8541773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blot60
Oh wow ok. Are they pretty hearty? Should I keep it? Thanks

When deciding if you are going to keep it you should remember that Halimeda will "eat" of your KH and calcium level just like stony corals.
That said it is a very beautiful algae and have a funny feature - it will become pale during night because it moves it chloroplast (where photosynthesis takes place) from the surface of the algae towards the centre to protect them. This is also done if threatend by predators.

Here is a link to additional information:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php

/Magnus

 

[piercho]

Halimeda - yes, opuntia - not sure. Brittle Halimeda (opuntia) has small, highly calcified blades and tends toward prostrate growth in a tank, IME. Halimeda are a great-looking and generally controllable macroalgae genus, IME. Control is usually through hand-harvest. I have one weakly-calcified Halimeda that is hard to control manually and spreads much like Caulerpa. So, I would vote to keep yours, if I were you.

 

[blot60]

Ill try it for a while thanks all.