Macro Algae and Corals TOTW 2/22/05

[kevinpo]

Macro algae are plants can grow from live rock or can be purchased and placed in your tank. Some have roots and are vine like while others grow free floating. They make good export mechanisms of nutrient buildup in aquariums. IMO/IME they are the best way to reduce nitrate buildup in reef tanks. There are some things that must be addressed when using plants. Most of them have the ability to grow much faster than corals and can overgrow them by blocking the light or growing roots into them. Some species, Caulerpa in particular, can suddenly dissolve, dumping the nutrients it has collected back into your tank. Many fish species will also eat macro algae, so depending on which fish you keep you need take that into consideration. You can grow your macro algae in a remote location to protect it from being eaten and it overgrowing your corals. This can be a hang on back (HOB) type or a beside/under tank type. It is also a great habitat for Amphipods and Copepods to flourish without being eaten by other tank inhabitants. My favorite type is a Spaghetti (Chaetomorpha sp.) alga that has no roots. Most macro algae do not require special lighting or flow requirements. The nutrients are absorbed by the algae and then removed from your system when you trim the plants.
Here is a list of some of the common types that you may encounter:

Caulerpa prolifera
Caulerpa racemosa
Caulerpa racemosa peltata
Caulerpa serrulata
Caulerpa sertularoides
Halimeda sp.
Valonia sp.
Ulva lactusa
Ventricaria ventricosa
Chaetomorpha sp.
Bryopsis
Sargassum
Dictyota sp.

Please add to this list as I know there are others I have missed.

Regards,
Kevin

[Reefland]

Red Algae from Hell!!! Ok maybe not common but defintitely worth noting as a pest!

[Ninong]

Kevin,

Just one little correction:

Macroalgae are eucaryotic photosynthesizers, not plants. They do not have roots; they have holdfasts. Yes, there is a very big difference between roots and holdfasts -- which is why they're not plants.




P.S. -- If you encounter Valonia sp. or Ventricaria ventricosa, you have my sympathy!

P.P.S. -- If you encounter any of the following species of Caulerpa in the state of California, you are in deep doo-doo because possession is illegal: Caulerpa taxifolia, C. cupressoides, C. mexicana, C. sertulariodes, C. floridana, C. ashmeadii, C. racemosa, C. verticillata and C. scapelliformis.

[kevinpo]

Thanks for the clarification.

Regards,
Kevin