Caulerpa mexicana

DennyRay · May 12, 2019

I don’t see a lot of people who put macro algae in their tank. In fact most people I talk to say they don’t recommend it. Why? I have some caulerpa mexicana that is on a rock and it’s beautiful. I have to pull the rock out every couple of weeks and “weed” it. Every once in a while a fern will float off and try to start some place else, but I “pluck it out”. I just have a 29 bio cube. LED. 2 clowns. 2 damsels. Lawnmower blend. Mini maxi. Couple of corals.

Michael Gilbreath · May 12, 2019

Most for the reason you said it can grow fast and take over. There are some people that have tanks set up for just macro algae and yes they are nice.

DennyRay · May 12, 2019

Thanks

Silver14SS · May 13, 2019

Michael Gilbreath said:
Most for the reason you said it can grow fast and take over. There are some people that have tanks set up for just macro algae and yes they are nice.

Agreed, my guess is most will not be as diligent as OP about keeping it pruned and it can take over in a hurry. I don't have any in my display, but the caulerpa lentillifera in my sump grows very fast.

lion king · May 13, 2019

I love macro algae in a display, I had a macro only tank for a while, for some reason I've never had luck with it in my reef. It;s an excellent excessive nutrients sponge, so I think it is an good addition if you manage it. I bet your nitrates and phosphates are in check, which will lead to overall cleaner tank, in regards to other algae control. I will eventually be adding it to my new predator tank display.

DennyRay · May 14, 2019

I had dragons breath but my crabs/fish/etc kept dragging it around. I tried to glue it down to a rock but dragons breath almost has a soft slimy feel. It kept breaking. How do I secure dragons breath please?

Michael Gilbreath · May 14, 2019

Have you tried rubberbanding it to a small rock?

Jekyl · May 14, 2019

I just put it under a rock to hold it down.

KrisReef · May 14, 2019

Yes, the macroalgae is beautiful but it grows so fast it can quickly overrun everything else in the tank.

I don't know how to secure dragons breath, but what I am really wondering is how have you been on here so long and no one has said;

Welcome to Reef2Reef @DennyRay ?

@Crabs McJones

Crabs McJones · May 14, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

The most common reason reefers dont put macro in the display is simply more room for coral lol. Some types of caulerpa can choke out corals. It roots into rocks and can be difficult to remove.