Plants

mpyers

mpyers

New member
I have a quick question about plants. I have read a few things and got mixed results. But I am coming to a conclusion that they are bad, but I don't understand why.

My main reason for believing they're bad, is that I don't see any in anyone's pictures of tanks.

So what makes them undesirable for reef tanks?
 
Most "plants" in reef systems are considered macroalgae. It's not that they're undesirable really, but most will be gobbled up by the fish and inverts so they don't last very long.

Undesirable aspects are that some species of macroalgae (especially those that fish will not eat) can really overgrow an aquarium and become a nuisance. For instance, Grape Caulerpa algae grows well, but it roots into your rockwork and will overgrow corals, etc.

A lot of people keep macroalgae in the refugium section of their sump or in a separate aquarium to aid in nutrient reduction - specifically nitrates.

HTH. :bigeyes:
 
I do keep some red/purple macro algae in one of my DT's. It's not a fast grower, but every 6 months I do have to cut 30% to 50% of it off to keep it from getting too big. It looks nice in the tank and people often comment about it.
 
The main problem with macroalgae in a reef aquarium is that it can grow over things fast. Caulerpa, as stated above, grows insanely fast and can possibly kill other things in the tank from too much growth (shading out corals). There is no problem with putting some decorative macro in your reef tank, such as blue hypnea and other decorative macroalgae, but just be aware that herbivores might eat it.

It can also be hard to find a balance of nutrients in a tank with both corals and macroalgae. For example, if you have an SPS dominated aquarium, you will have ultra-low nutrients, because that is what SPS needs to grow. Macroalgae needs nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate to grow, so you have to decide between high or low nutrients. You can find a balance between the two, but it would need to be monitored so it doesn't get too high or too low.

Some people have macroalgae dominated aquariums. They are generally easier to care for because macroalgae uses nutrients to grow, so less or even no filtration (besides macro) is needed. There are a few people who have build threads in the macroalgae and seagrass forum for macroalgae dominated aquariums (me being one of those people).
 
The more I research macro algaes the less I'm convinced they are reef safe. Most use chemical warfare to attack sps corals, which in-turn causes the sps to then release a chemical that attracts algae eradicating fish. in the home aquarium it is unlikely you have the algae attacking fish (and likely wouldn't want to). Yes of course we can all run carbon BUT then it is a constant battle. I am researching the safest algaes currently; however, there isn't specific research on each plant. So far chaeto may be the safest with sps but it isn't really decorative.
 
I had read something about marimo balls in freshwater tanks. I was hoping I could get something similar to that for a reef tank. But it seems that's not going to happen without a fuge. However, I am also contemplating setting up a display fuge. Google image freshwater aquascaping. That is what I have in mind (obviously the saline version). I don't know if there are plants/algae that will play nice with this idea, but if I can find some, then I will most certainly try.

jraker, that goby in your profile pic is sick! I've been looking into getting one.
 
j_mazzy said:
The more I research macro algaes the less I'm convinced they are reef safe. Most use chemical warfare to attack sps corals, which in-turn causes the sps to then release a chemical that attracts algae eradicating fish. in the home aquarium it is unlikely you have the algae attacking fish (and likely wouldn't want to). Yes of course we can all run carbon BUT then it is a constant battle. I am researching the safest algaes currently; however, there isn't specific research on each plant. So far chaeto may be the safest with sps but it isn't really decorative.
Click to expand...

I would like to read on this. Can you share some of your sources?

Thanks.
 
mpyers said:
I had read something about marimo balls in freshwater tanks. I was hoping I could get something similar to that for a reef tank. But it seems that's not going to happen without a fuge. However, I am also contemplating setting up a display fuge. Google image freshwater aquascaping. That is what I have in mind (obviously the saline version). I don't know if there are plants/algae that will play nice with this idea, but if I can find some, then I will most certainly try.

jraker, that goby in your profile pic is sick! I've been looking into getting one.
Click to expand...

Seagrasses and magroves are the only higher plants that can live in sea water. All the other green stuff you see is macro algae of different sorts. Look into Caulerpa sp. if you want a decorative green look.
A word of advice: You will never get them out of your tank again.
 
mpyers said:
I had read something about marimo balls in freshwater tanks. I was hoping I could get something similar to that for a reef tank. But it seems that's not going to happen without a fuge. However, I am also contemplating setting up a display fuge. Google image freshwater aquascaping. That is what I have in mind (obviously the saline version). I don't know if there are plants/algae that will play nice with this idea, but if I can find some, then I will most certainly try.

jraker, that goby in your profile pic is sick! I've been looking into getting one.
Click to expand...

Look into the genus Chlorodesmis. It is pretty similar to marimo balls, but I have never kept any in a tank before.

Good luck finding the fish in my profile pic. Emblemaria hypacanthus, or the Gulf Signal Blenny isn't collected any more (to my knowledge). Look up Emblemaria pandionis if you want something similar.
 
Bummer, I've seen pictures of them, so I looked them up and I wanted one.

I looked up the chlorodesmis. I'm definitely interested in it, but I can't find much info on it. Do you have a good link?
 
It says that the toxin it gives off to discourage fish from eating it will also affect coral growth... Looks like a no go.
 
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