Red Grapes go sexual

[Subsea]

When seaweed dies, it spreads spores thru the water column. Going sexual is the term used by reef aquarist for this survival technique.

https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookbotryo.htm

When I receive Bortacladia from the divers, it is a dark burgundy. Because Red Grapes are collected between 60’-120’, they are accustomed to dim lighting. When subjected to intense light, flotation balls turn white and fall off with seaweed disintegrating. What I just discribed happened in a 55G grow out tank. Two years after that event, I had starts of Bortacladia everywhere that was wet. Some grew in the HOB filter with dim, indirect lighting, some grew within a few inches of light source.

With respect to red macroalgae, as light intensity increases the macro color goes from burgundy to fire engine red to red orange and finally to yellow orange. While I find the variations of color attractive on Dragons Breath, I did not find that to be the case with Bortacladia.

 

[Flippers4pups]

When seaweed dies, it spreads spores thru the water column. Going sexual is the term used by reef aquarist for this survival technique.

https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookbotryo.htm

When I receive Bortacladia from the divers, it is a dark burgundy. Because Red Grapes are collected between 60’-120’, they are accustomed to dim lighting. When subjected to intense light, flotation balls turn white and fall off with seaweed disintegrating. What I just discribed happened in a 55G grow out tank. Two years after that event, I had starts of Bortacladia everywhere that was wet. Some grew in the HOB filter with dim, indirect lighting, some grew within a few inches of light source.

With respect to red macroalgae, as light intensity increases the macro color goes from burgundy to fire engine red to red orange and finally to yellow orange. While I find the variations of color attractive on Dragons Breath, I did not find that to be the case with Bortacladia.

Interesting finding!

 

[Subsea]

An unanswered question that is a stumbling block for my ornamental macro mariculture is how to prevent undesirable macro, often called micro algae, from infecting culture quality. I read several manuals on mariculture with cross contamination as the number one reason for failure in mariculture. For success in marketing, the one constant is “quality of product”. In reefkeeping terms that means first, “no pest”, then functional. Functional to what goal is an important question. In the case of Red Grapes, they are gorgeous to look at. They provide a lattice matrix for micro fauna and fana. Nutritious and “quorum sensing” biofilms grow on all surfaces providing a living, holistic food web. So, in the case of Red Grapes, they are both gorgeous and functional as a vital component in “minimalistic systems”. Algae is a good thing when managed by the Master Gardner.

While I have had some success with sexual reproduction of Bortacladia, the more consistent method for cultivation of macro is fragmentation. In the case of two other red macro, Gracilaria Hayi and Halymenia dilatata, the tumble culture assist with fragmentation as seaweed scrubes the bottom keeping algae clean of nuisance growth.

For those that think they can keep systems sterile, I saw bleach a 55G tank. Sterilize, I use UV, makeup water going into tank and add salt and light, but nothing else. I assure you, algae will grow, but where did it come from is the real question. Part of the answer to that Riddle is why I don’t bother with quarantine. Stuff comes thru no matter what you do.