sterbrock1
New member
anybody got a set up to successfully grow this stuff?
"tang heaven" cultivation
- Thread starter sterbrock1
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Gracilaria is easily propogated in many ways. One method is the pond scattering where you just throw some live gracilaria in a pond and let it grow. If your fuge is large enough, just toss it in.
Keep in mind that Gracilaria is like most Rhodophytes in that it needs brighter light than most green macroalgaes. Sometimes it's useful to dose a LITTLE bit of Iron. Kent Marine makes a chelated Iron product that is useful.
Here's more info. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/AB730E/AB730E02.htm#chII.3.e
Keep in mind that Gracilaria is like most Rhodophytes in that it needs brighter light than most green macroalgaes. Sometimes it's useful to dose a LITTLE bit of Iron. Kent Marine makes a chelated Iron product that is useful.
Here's more info. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/AB730E/AB730E02.htm#chII.3.e
sterbrock1
New member
interesting article, thanks
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
My expereince is that it is a very slow growing algae. It needs lots of light and lights of flow. Plus if you skim heavily you may not get it to grow.
Good luck.
Good luck.
sterbrock1
New member
yes, from the article above and from Indo Pacific Sea Farms, they suggested more nutrient rich water, such as the water drained from your tank for water changes (which I suck up all the fish poop). I don't get much from my skimmer, so I think my water may be too clean.
What is weird though, is everyone is saying this stuff likes a lot of light and if you read at IPSF, they are suggesting a less intense lighting??
I guess since I'm not getting a lot of response on this, no one must be having much success.
Thanks for your help everyone!
What is weird though, is everyone is saying this stuff likes a lot of light and if you read at IPSF, they are suggesting a less intense lighting??
I guess since I'm not getting a lot of response on this, no one must be having much success.
Thanks for your help everyone!
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
There are several species of grac too. Maybe you are reading about different types without realizing it.
sterbrock1
New member
This could very well be the case. The first time I got it from IPSF, I got it to grow a little but it didn't thrive. I had stronger light above it and it turned orange, just like thier directions said it would.
They had 3 varieties: Tang heaven Red, Green and gold. I guess their about as scientific as I am. The exact species that they talk about growing is the Grascilaria parvispora. (Red)
They had 3 varieties: Tang heaven Red, Green and gold. I guess their about as scientific as I am. The exact species that they talk about growing is the Grascilaria parvispora. (Red)
sterbrock1
New member
It's kind of weird though, because in the article above it sounds like these different colors occur naturally in at least on species depending on the light it receives. I do notice different scientific names on all of these species here though. They say it is from Hawaii.
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
Yes, it's from Hawaii. And, yes the color can change depending upon the amount of light it gets. It can change from deep red to green if it gets an excess of light. I have seen this happen.
Not all tangs dig this stuff either. It's easier to buy the sheets and find the kind your fish like the best. The cheapest order of grac I've seen is more than a pack of algae sheets cost and you get about a small handful for your money.
Not all tangs dig this stuff either. It's easier to buy the sheets and find the kind your fish like the best. The cheapest order of grac I've seen is more than a pack of algae sheets cost and you get about a small handful for your money.
sterbrock1
New member
yea, this is kind of why I was wondering if anyone was having success actually growing the stuff. This place also sells it as their macro algae 6 pack for a refugium start up. If it doesn't grow it won't be much of a refugium starter pack?
McBeck
Premium Member
I got it to grow in a sump with medium lighting, dirty water (didn't skim the tank) and a rolling flow. Somehow it worked out that the graciliaria rolled like a tumbleweed. I never grew enough to share, but I was able to keep my tang happy.
I have not had any success getting it to anchor to anything, but the tumbling ball seemed to grow ok for me. Then I sold that tank and moved into a new one, and I've not been able to duplicate that flow. My graciliaria dwindled in the new setup and I haven't tried to re-establish it.
I'd love to hear about any success you have growing this, b/c I really prefer it to cheato.
I have not had any success getting it to anchor to anything, but the tumbling ball seemed to grow ok for me. Then I sold that tank and moved into a new one, and I've not been able to duplicate that flow. My graciliaria dwindled in the new setup and I haven't tried to re-establish it.
I'd love to hear about any success you have growing this, b/c I really prefer it to cheato.
sterbrock1
New member
mcbeck, sounds like you created a similar situation to what IPSF says you need to grow this stuff.
I'm thinking of creating 2 setups to test. One in my fuge and one in a seperate system. I think I can somehow create a tumbling motion, but what I'm not so sure of is the light intensity. Can you give me some idea of what type of lights you had above your sump, the height of the lights, duration of light exposure and the depth of the water. Thanks. Scott
I'm thinking of creating 2 setups to test. One in my fuge and one in a seperate system. I think I can somehow create a tumbling motion, but what I'm not so sure of is the light intensity. Can you give me some idea of what type of lights you had above your sump, the height of the lights, duration of light exposure and the depth of the water. Thanks. Scott
Scott,
I could grow gracilaria easily in my softy tank's fuge but couldn't get it to live in my SPS prop tank system. Your water might be too clean.
(Heck, the Japanese and Chinese literally toss manure into their culturing ponds).
PS....that 200g tank of yours still lives on. When I moved, I sold it to Dave (Loose Marbles)
I could grow gracilaria easily in my softy tank's fuge but couldn't get it to live in my SPS prop tank system. Your water might be too clean.
(Heck, the Japanese and Chinese literally toss manure into their culturing ponds).
PS....that 200g tank of yours still lives on. When I moved, I sold it to Dave (Loose Marbles)
sterbrock1
New member
That is amazing! I don't think that tank will ever die. That was one heavy tank with all the patches on it.
When you had it growing in your softies, what was your lighting setup?
I'm thinking of testing a stand alone system, so I can throw manure or whatever in it. That should make it grow. I just want to get the lighting right.
When you had it growing in your softies, what was your lighting setup?
I'm thinking of testing a stand alone system, so I can throw manure or whatever in it. That should make it grow. I just want to get the lighting right.
I believe I was running a photoperiod of about 16 hours with a Lights of America fixture from HD. (In other words, it wasn't a true reverse-photoperiod setup from the display tank but not that far off).
My first softy tank was nutrient-ridden for a long time while I learned some things so it grew well in my fuge. As I started cutting down on nutrients and concentrated on exports, it grew slower....but still grew.
I'll try to find the fixture I used.
My first softy tank was nutrient-ridden for a long time while I learned some things so it grew well in my fuge. As I started cutting down on nutrients and concentrated on exports, it grew slower....but still grew.
I'll try to find the fixture I used.
sterbrock1
New member
Curt, I think I had one of those fixtures before, those have those curly flourescent lights in them don't they? Thanks for the info
