Hypnea pannosa

[FullSend]

I received a portion of this macro from GCE. The other macros I received are showing growth, caulerpa and various reds. The hypnea is following the trend from the last time I ordered it, 2 years ago. The outside of the clump bleaches, the outside fades away, the new outside layer loses its color, falls off, and the cycle repeats. I've had the algea for 4 months now, I expected it would have settled in. The only way I've found to slow the cycle down is to place the algae in a shaded area. I have a peice in shade and one not.

I have a 40B with a reefbreeders fixture running AB+ at ~20% intensity for 8 hours.

How much light should the algae get?

How much flow should the algae get?

 

[ichthyogeek]

I've honestly had the most success (slowest melting time) in the following setup:

10 gallon aquarium, HOB filter running on it lengthwise (I think it's a quietflow20? It was bought for a 29g aquarium). natural light from a skylight. The tank was bare and the algae rested (and formed holdfasts) on some rubble. Other tank inhabitants included a school of around 60 or so juvenile mollies, and a candy cane pistol shrimp. The tank would receive irregular 5 gallon water changes.

 

[ThePurple12]

What are your nutrient levels at? It's possible that your other faster growing macros are competing with it for nutrients.

Light and flow aren't too big of a deal for macros, though I've never had hypnea. I grow macros successfully in a 30 gallon with 2 CFL bulbs and hardly any flow.