Dragons Breathe Macro Algae

[Fatmike92]

can anyone offer up some advice for dragons breathe algae?

successes? Failures?

What’s the correct way to attach it where you want it to grow?

I got some from top shelf aquatic and is one of my favorite things in my tank!

it’s a beautiful deep red with orange edges

 

[SPR1968]

I can’t help with the specific question but I can bump the thread to see if we can get you some attention

I ‘think’ you can use an elastic band around a small rock from when I was looking at this sort of algae which is very beautiful but maybe others will have ideas

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

When it comes to macros I came up with a simple idea for your sump/fuge.

Aquarium Veggie clips from Amazon.

PLEASE READ THIS PART :

Do NOT get the aquarium veggie clips that have metal imbedded in the plastic, they say they’re aquarium/salt safe and they are NOT, they will rust on you within 2-3 months.

That being said they do make a version that is plastic throughout and they work great. I got the ones that allow you to stick the clip in the suction cup vertical or horizontal. For things like Ulva and Chaeto I use them horizontal on the fuge walls and for things like grape ogo dragons breath sea fans etc I place them vertically and bury the cup in the sand. Here’s some photos so you can visualize what I do.

 

[Fatmike92]

When it comes to macros I came up with a simple idea for your sump/fuge.

Aquarium Veggie clips from Amazon.

PLEASE READ THIS PART :

Do NOT get the aquarium veggie clips that have metal imbedded in the plastic, they say they’re aquarium/salt safe and they are NOT, they will rust on you within 2-3 months.

That being said they do make a version that is plastic throughout and they work great. I got the ones that allow you to stick the clip in the suction cup vertical or horizontal. For things like Ulva and Chaeto I use them horizontal on the fuge walls and for things like grape ogo dragons breath sea fans etc I place them vertically and bury the cup in the sand. Here’s some photos so you can visualize what I do.

Awesome thank you!

do these algaes ever attach themselves to rocks? Or is it free floating?

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Awesome thank you!

do these algaes ever attach themselves to rocks? Or is it free floating?

The sea fan you see on the left has placed footer and wrapped itself around a rock.

Ulva will attach to a rock in my experience also.

The ogo/grape/dragons breath/hypnea/red graci remain to be seen. If you’re planning on the suction cup/clip idea, I can link you the right one, because the wrong one will do you really wrong

 

[Fatmike92]

The sea fan you see on the left has placed footer and wrapped itself around a rock.

Ulva will attach to a rock in my experience also.

The ogo/grape/dragons breath/hypnea/red graci remain to be seen. If you’re planning on the suction cup/clip idea, I can link you the right one, because the wrong one will do you really wrong

Yes please a link would be awesome

 

[X-37B]

I prefer ogo over dragons breath, although I like the look of dragons breath. DB grow fairly slow in my 30g fuge so ogo is faster at removing po4 from my 120. I just use a small rock to weight my macro down.

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Yes please a link would be awesome

The first link is what I use now. Notice the middle of the clip has a plastic bracket that holds it together. The second link is what I tried on the first pass and they worked great outside of turning into orange/yellow rust balls that “bled?” Color onto my fuge sand. Notice the meta bracket on them

Best of luck! Take pics! I actually got a a shoutout from @AlgaeBarn for my redneck engineering idea! Check it out!



SLSON 4 Pack Fishes Veggie...
POPETPOP Fishes Veggie Seaweed...

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

I prefer ogo over dragons breath, although I like the look of dragons breath. DB grow fairly slow in my 30g fuge so ogo is faster at removing po4 from my 120. I just use a small rock to weight my macro down.

Have you ever had DB “melt” and turn into a weird neon pink goo that stains sand?
Got a batch and it did that. Very odd.

Gorgeous tank, I’ve somehow found myself after 15 years in the hobby enjoying macros as much if not more than the coral

 

[X-37B]

Have you ever had DB “melt” and turn into a weird neon pink goo that stains sand?
Got a batch and it did that. Very odd.

Gorgeous tank, I’ve somehow found myself after 15 years in the hobby enjoying macros as much if not more than the coral

No no melt down. That fuge is only 2 months old.

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Just did a big harvest last week, ran down this morning to the tank and stuck my phone in the stand. Here’s a quick video

 

[X-37B]

Just did a big harvest last week, ran down this morning to the tank and stuck my phone in the stand. Here’s a quick video

No video on my end?

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

No video on my end?

Maybe Imgur will work better!

 

[X-37B]

Maybe Imgur will work better!

That works. Awesome fuge love it!

 

[ejsanchez92399]

Can anyone offer advice on the best type of flow and lighting that is best to help Dragons breath grow?

 

[-JoJoReefing-]

This is my setup, so far quite successful with dragon breath and ogo. I use a cheap Amazon coral grow blub (blue spectrum) on it, the flow I use PVC pipe poked with holes and connected to a pump to provide constant flow to let the algae rotate; if in a display setting I think gentle to medium flow is good, and most importantly is to make sure the algae can get even lighting (e.g. rotate it from time to time, or let the flow help it rotate)