Requirements for growing plants

[Duce]

OK...I know this is too general of a question but what are the basics for growing macros in a reef tank (and not causing them to go asexual)... Beside lights what else?
Interested in both Ca based and non-Cal based plant

 

[kmk2307]

Well Duce you really did ask for a novel of an answer but basically... Macroalgaes like caulerpa need nutrients including phosphorous, nitrogen, iron, and trace amounts of other things which are in the water of a healthy reef tank. They require adequate lighting although they are adaptive to thrive under a 13 watt compact florescent in my 2.5 nano or under a 250w metal halide in my 16 gallon tank Also, its not asexual reproduction you need to worry about, its sexual reproduction. When macroalgaes "go sexual" they can pollute the water. The best way to prevent this is to keep each individual "plant" trimmed. The horizontal "stem" which is called a stolon where rootlike structures come out of caulerpa should be kept less that ~8" to prevent the plant going sexual. That is what I have been striving for in my 16 gallon tank and so far so good. As far as calcaerous macroalgaes like Halmedia sp. just treat the plant like a bush and generally trim it to prevent it from going sexual. I had a massive "plant" of it about the size of a softball go sexual and it didn't even phase my 45 gallon tank. Of course Halmedia consumes a lot of calcium in its growth.

Note that some macroalgaes can become nusiances. Caulerpa racemosa can take over an aquarium.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[Joe Kelley]

I know for sea grass and old mucky and declining DSB is really great.
HTH

Joe