Best macroalgae for a Refugium?

B

bchdFLdian

What, in your opinion, would be the best type of macroalgae for a refugium. I currently use spaghetti algae and caulerpa. Is there something more effective out there?
 
IMHO, the best is all of 'em... Or at least as many different types.

This is just my thoery. But I figure they're all slightly different and will "eat" slightly different things, and if one type has problems I'll still have other types to keep going...

Just my humble opinion, but I keep as many kinds of macro algae as I possibly can. Cheato, Feather Caluepera (The naughty kind), Razor, Grape...

Ironically enough, I'm assuming it's because of all the other algae, but I can't keep Cheato alive, it just withers away to nothing, but all the other types are growing strong...
 
I would use chaetomorpha. And I would never use any kind of caulerpa in a tank I had. At least not on purpose, such as growing it in a refugium. Caulerpa can produce anti-predatory compounds,(terpenes, phenols) that can cause problems when grown in proximinty to corals, especially stony corals.
And I am not saying that growing caulerpa is going to automatically wipe out all corals in your tank. But when chaeto. is so widely available as an alternative, why risk using a caulerpa.
 
To add to Rick's point unless you keep calurpa lit 24/7 it will go sexual. Messy and not pretty! Can kill corals and fish. Cheato works just as well and has none of the downsides!
 
@bchdFLdian wrote:
No way said:
All caulerpa is related. And as far as yanking it out, that is your choice. If you only have caulerpa, then keep it till you get some chaetomorpha. People are always throwing the stuff out when they pull the excess out of their refugims, I am sure someone has some to give away, the next time you come up. Another downside about caulerpa versus chaeto. is that caulerpa takes root where ever it can. And it can break loose in the refugium and end up in the main tank. Where if it gets a hold on your rock, some where you do not see it right away, can be a pain to try and remove.
Click to expand...
 
I have some on a rock that my husband always yanks and grows back. Mr. Lawnmower blenny has been taking chunks out of it since we got him, though.
-Cat
 
In you case that you hav a L.B. that likes to eat it , he may keep it under control in the main tank. But I have seen a lot of people get some types of caulerpa started in their tank and ended up pulling the rock to get rid of the stuff.
 
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