Macro Algae

[RobertG]

This is some red gracililaria. I guess thats how you spell it. The green is I dont know. So if someone can help me ID it Thank you.

Also how benificial is this stuff. I would like to remove all my calaurpa. Is this wise or should I have a mixture?

[GaryP]

The Green stuff looks like Chaetamorpha.

Gary

[Brett Wilson]

I would love some of the red stuff if you dont mind parting with a little when I visit you on Sunday...

I think it is beneficial if it is growing in your system... it is feeding off of phosphates one way or another.

[BA]

if u wanna thorw it out i would take any of it, i need to get more algae for my refug

[Instar]

I prefer a mixture. If one tends to go asexual, you can prune it significantly and still have plenty of the others left. Each kind also provides just a little different set of beneficial amino acid perks to the tank and that means good health and balance, normally. They also have different light requirements and after some time you may realize one grows better in one place and another somewhere else. The variety will also help compete to reduce unwanted strains in your main display.

[RobertG]

Cool I picked the red stuff up at Gallery of Pets here in Austin, she does have more. It is cultured from ORA. Is this stuff suppose to grow fast? The green does'nt seem too. The clump started at a handful, about 2-3 months ago. I guess it has tripled in size now that I think of it. Should it be growing faster? I can pickup more of the red, sounds like I should. It was cheap. 3.50 for what you see. The chaetamorpha was 10 bucks for the same amount at Aquatek. Brett I'll see how much more I can get. I will let go a small amount as I want it to take off. Hopefully it does so I can harvest it & share! :-D

[mharris7]

Gracillaria is very hardy - I believe in the wild it ranges broadly, from tropical seas to parts of the north atlantic. What I love about it is it's brillant red color and the fact that it doesn't root. It's also very easy to sell off what you harvest out of the tank..... Most herbivores love it also though. It's hard to keep in the main tank because of that sometimes....

[MikeP]

Mike, If it's that slippery bright red stuff you have someone who is vastly more knowledgable than me on algaes said it was Halymenia not gracilaria.

[RobertG]

I was told it was Red Gracilaria, & the store told me it came from ORA. They also have some brown gracilaria, Is the brown as ggod as the Red?

[Tim Marvin]

I'll take a small piece.

[::pete::]

gracillaria ... IPSF sells it as tang heaven.

[mharris7]

I'm pretty sure it's gracilaria - although there could be some room for error. I looked it up and it looked like some certain species of gracilaria (there are several, and they vary a bit in appearance) All I know is it's darn pretty and durable. :D Charlie up at Austin Aquarium dubbed it "dragon's breath" which I thought fit it rather well.

Tim - I can hook you up with a piece. ;)

-Mike

[wkopplin]

Do not let any turbo snails near it as they will eat it all up in a day or two

[RobertG]

Good Info to know. They love it what a tip. I have plenty of them, so thanks.