Red Grape Caulerpa & Cactus Stalk Halimeda

[daveverdo]

I just got some Red Grape Caulerpa & Cactus Stalk Halimeda from reeftopia.com.
I am putting them in the display tank.

Is there anything special I need to do with these when I put them in the tank?

What is the best way to put them in?

Where is a good place relative to powerheads, lights, etc?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[graveyardworm]

For info on the red grape I would do a search for info on Botryocladia. Sorry I have no experience with botryocladia, but I would suspect that moderate light, and low to moderate flow would work well. I have 2 different species of halimeda growing in low and high light, and in low and moderate flow both are growing, but the one in high light moderate flow is growing better. Halimeda is a calcearous algae so alk, calcium, and magnesium will need to be monitored and dosed when necessary.

 

[Macroculture]

Botryocladia is highly adaptable. I have grown it out under 24 watt PC in a mini reef and under 1200 watts of Metal Halide in display tanks. It will grow almost anywhere, from the plastic sides inside a well lit overflow, to partially shaded areas in T5 and Power Compact lit tanks. It will do best if you treat it like a hard coral. Keep the Alk high and add Calcium and Iodine on a regular basis as needed. A balanced mix of reef supplements of your choice won't hurt either. This is one macroalgae that never seemed to need additional Iron supplementation when lighting and water paramaters were good and water changes were done regularly. One side note about Halimdea incrassata and the other stalked Halimedas, they are Nitrate intolerant and will bleach and frag (bad fragging) if the level gets too high.

 

[DrHank]

Macroculture thank you for the info on Nitrate intollerance regarding Halimeda. What would your opinion be as to too much nitrate for this macro?

 

[graveyardworm]

I maintain up to 5 ppm nitrates for seagrasses and macros, and my halimeda doesnt seem to have suffered any.

 

[DrHank]

Thanks!

 

[Macroculture]

I agree, I have gotten up to about 9-10 ppt before it starts to become unhappy.