Plants...how much is too much?

[hillcountryhippies]

I've got a 29g reef with some misc. ricordia, gsp, mushrooms, a couple of fish, and an abundance of plant growth. There are at least 10 different large varieties of plants now growing and some pruning is definately going to need to occur. I notice most all tanks shown by members have little to no plant growth. Is this more of a personal choice or can too much plant life have a detrimental effect on varieties of fish and corals (as I do intend on continuing adding to my tank portfolio :D )

[Thunderkat]

If there is something you like in your tank put as much as you want in your tank. If you like macroalgae, let it grow. The only problem is sometimes plants go into a sexual cycle and then die :(

[Viet-Tin]

I have some macros growing in my tank. I keep is confined in the corner of my tank and prune it when it grows outside its boundaries. Ive also noticed an explosion in my pod population. Hopefully soon ill be replacing the macros with sea grass or something. I think it looks nice and hopefully doesnt go sexual on me.

[Ram_Puppy]

seagrass, Thelesia I think, (turtle grass) is a true plant (sea grasses, mangroves, and I believe kelp are the only true plants that grow in the ocean, everything else is a macro alage) anyhow, seagrasses reproduce sexually through flowering, so the problem you would get with a macro going sexual is simply a non issue

inlandaquatics sells turtlegrass btw. it is illegal to collect along the gulf coast.

[blueboy]

i used to have over a dozen varieties of macros in my main tank. after i upgraded my lighting the pruning became a regular chore, as in weekly, or more often even. so, i am trying to erradicate the more aggressive types, which can be VERY difficult with some species( racemosa) . i have actually had to pull each rock out one by one, and pick at it with tweezers, or a toothpick, over a bucket. and i have now done this twice, and still have some. so, macros can be very cool, and are deffinatly good for pods, but be sure to keep them under control from the beginning, and be carefull which species you place in the display, tearing the whole thing apart to "pull weeds" is no fun! i still have several less common species that are far less invasive that i really like such as halimeida, spikeweed, and codium.

[GaryP]

I believe kelp are the only true plants that grow in the ocean.

Kelp is actually a member of the brown algae family (Phaeophyta).

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/chromista/phaeophyta.html

Sea grasses are a flowering plant.

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/seagrass/what_is.htm

[Andrew]

seagrass, Thelesia I think, (turtle grass) .

If you're interested in looking up this seagrass,
the correct spelling is Thalassia
Thalassia testudinum is the species found on the TX coast, but can be a big fine if you take any of the native species from the wild in TX. Other native sp. are Halodule beaudettii, Cymodeceae filiforme (manatee grass), and Halophila engelmanii (peanut grass) -the smallest of the four.

HTH
Andrew

[Viet-Tin]

Wonder if anyone in austin has any of this stuff. I would like to get my hands on this stuff legally.

[hillcountryhippies]

I'll try to post some pics this afternoon of the micros in the tank. Maybe you guys could help identify. Appreciate the responses.

[Ram_Puppy]

inlandaquatics is the only place I have ever seen that sells it.

[Viet-Tin]

ill have to check them out. Thanks