What kind of macro algae
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vetteguy53081
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bushdoc
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I would add Halimeda.
If you decide on Ulva, I would recommend good CUC and possibly tangs as it can spread easily and some reefers regard it as pest algae.
If you decide on Ulva, I would recommend good CUC and possibly tangs as it can spread easily and some reefers regard it as pest algae.
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Botrycladia is my favorite so far in terms of aesthetics and ease. This one goes front and center. It grows well, the grapes look nice, and it sucks up nutrients. It occasionally has a problem with Valonia sticking to its branches, but if you act quickly you can scrape the bubble algae off.
Pom pom gracilaria (Gracilaria hayi) grows well and makes a red bush. It does NOT do well when you have Valonia in your tank.
Codium is just an all around great macroalgae both for function and aesthetic. I've not found that pest algae (GHA, Valonia) cause it problems. I like to put it in the sides/back of the tank to give the tank a fuller look.
I have Caulerpa prolifera, but it is very invasive and likely requires frequent (daily, every other day, at least weekly) trimming to keep it from rooting on everything.
Galaxaura. If you have a stable tank and little pest algae (GHA, Valonia, Ulva), then Galaxaura is an amazing macro, but it gets smothered by the pest algae if you have it. Also seems to be picky with lighting. I'd only use for a super clean, mature tank. Feature piece if you can manage it.
Ogo, I've had problems keeping it in one place with CUC. It just ends up breaking loose and floating around the tank--I suspect this is more popular for refugiums or people feeding their tangs.
Shaving brush is a calicified macro with needles like a shaving brush. It gets long. Not for a nano. I've had difficulty keeping it upright, and it probably does better with a deeper sand bed.
Pencil cap, on the other hand, looks like shaving brush but shorter with shorter needles. Grows pretty well, but it has difficulty with pest algae, particularly Valonia which gets nestled inbetween the needles and is impossible to remove. GHA also causes it problems once the GHA gets inside the needles.
Mermaid's fans... never had success.
Halimeda incressata/monile. I have some, but I don't know if it is alive or not. It didn't stay upright, and coraline algae has been completely covering it, so it is a purple wirey statue now.
Blue hypnea. Looks amazing. Was very hard for me to keep in one place. I run a lot of different types of snails, and it just got loose and went everywhere, lost in the filters.
Hope that helps!
Pom pom gracilaria (Gracilaria hayi) grows well and makes a red bush. It does NOT do well when you have Valonia in your tank.
Codium is just an all around great macroalgae both for function and aesthetic. I've not found that pest algae (GHA, Valonia) cause it problems. I like to put it in the sides/back of the tank to give the tank a fuller look.
I have Caulerpa prolifera, but it is very invasive and likely requires frequent (daily, every other day, at least weekly) trimming to keep it from rooting on everything.
Galaxaura. If you have a stable tank and little pest algae (GHA, Valonia, Ulva), then Galaxaura is an amazing macro, but it gets smothered by the pest algae if you have it. Also seems to be picky with lighting. I'd only use for a super clean, mature tank. Feature piece if you can manage it.
Ogo, I've had problems keeping it in one place with CUC. It just ends up breaking loose and floating around the tank--I suspect this is more popular for refugiums or people feeding their tangs.
Shaving brush is a calicified macro with needles like a shaving brush. It gets long. Not for a nano. I've had difficulty keeping it upright, and it probably does better with a deeper sand bed.
Pencil cap, on the other hand, looks like shaving brush but shorter with shorter needles. Grows pretty well, but it has difficulty with pest algae, particularly Valonia which gets nestled inbetween the needles and is impossible to remove. GHA also causes it problems once the GHA gets inside the needles.
Mermaid's fans... never had success.
Halimeda incressata/monile. I have some, but I don't know if it is alive or not. It didn't stay upright, and coraline algae has been completely covering it, so it is a purple wirey statue now.
Blue hypnea. Looks amazing. Was very hard for me to keep in one place. I run a lot of different types of snails, and it just got loose and went everywhere, lost in the filters.
Hope that helps!
