is this bad?

[Manny]

should i try and remove that algea that is growing on the rock beside the closest acro? it seems to be growing really slowly and it doesn't really look bad.

can someone identify it?
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/504/1115IMG_0917.JPG

[muck]

Thats Halimeda macro algae.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/

[Willow]

it likes to eat calcium.

[Manny]

thanks for the link Ryan. i am undisided at this point weather i want to keep it or not. any oppinions would be appriciated. :confused:

[christyf5]

Well I'll offer my opinion then :razz:

I had some halimeda in my tank last year. Personally, I love the stuff, I really like the look of it and as a dual purpose it uses up nutrients that other nasty (ie. caulerpa) macroalgaes might otherwise use. You may not want it in a tank where you are dosing calcium but I had a reactor so I didn't see it being a problem. I was doing pretty well growing it last year until the dinoflagellates wiped it out. :confused:

HTH

Christy :)

[muck]

I have some in my Fuge along with some Chaeto. :biggrin:

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Personally, I like halimeda. Like the others have stated, just keep Calcium levels high.

Anthony

[Matt]

I have some halimeda and I think it is quite attractive, but I'm beginning to consider it a nuisance, as it pops up in unwanted places and needs to be pruned from time to time.

[Manny]

thannks for the replies guys :biggrin: i think that i might give it a try and see what happens. i would like to maybe try and move it to a better spot though.
now that i think of it it started to grow after i added some sps corals and dosing calcium. the stuff must have been there all along and didn't atart growing untill the calcium levels were high enough. i have haf that rock in the tank far longer than any of the sps corals.

[TNTCanada]

If you want to get rid of it just bring it to work I have room for it I love the stuff but only have a small amount.

Cheers
Tyler

[Manny]

tyler if you want some i can prune a bit off for you.

[Beverly]

Halimeda is great macroalgae. As others have said, it needs calcium, but along with keeping calcium levels optimal, make sure magnesium levels are up as well for vigorous, healthy growth.

[Manny]

i have never checked my magnesium levels. what product should i use to supliment the magnesium levels in my tank, and what brand of test kit should i buy?

thanks :mrgreen:

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Liquid Reactor has Magnesium & Strontium as well as Calcium. That's what I use.

Anthony

[Manny]

is that a kent product?

[muck]

is that a kent product?
Yes it is! :biggrin:

[Beverly]

I use Kent Liquid Calcium and Kent Tech-M Magnesium. Like to dose them separately. Mg test kit is a Salifert, Ca test kit is a Hagen.

For raising alkalinity I use a combination of baking soda and homemade washing soda. To test alk I use an Aquarium Pharmaceutical KH kit.

How to Make Homemade Washing Soda:

Spread baking soda (594 grams or about 2 ¼ cups) on a baking tray and heat in an ordinary oven at 300 °F for 1 hour to drive off water and carbon dioxide. Dissolve the residual solid in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds the dissolution process. This solution will contain about 1,900 meq/L of alkalinity (5,300 dKH). I prefer to use baked baking soda rather than washing soda in this recipe as baking soda from a grocery store is always food grade, while washing soda may not have the same purity requirements. Arm & Hammer brand is a good choice.

Here are some articles on reef chemistry (no groaning in the background, please :razz: ):

Aquarium System Volume Calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/volcalc.html

The Reef Chemistry Calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Magnesium in Reef Aquaria:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[Manny]

thank you beverly. i will have to put a few hours aside tonight to do some reading. :biggrin:

maybe some day my tank will be good enough for the "Tank of the Month". :mrgreen:

[Beverly]

thank you beverly. i will have to put a few hours aside tonight to do some reading. :biggrin:

maybe some day my tank will be good enough for the "Tank of the Month". :mrgreen:

You're welcome, Manny :biggrin:

It would be great if your tank was selected for FTOTM :cool: Looking forward to pics some time in the future :biggrin:

[Funky_Fish14]

Reef complete(made by Seachem) is good stuff, its calcium addative with magnesium and strontium. Good for SPS growth....I have a birdsnest that since I got it 2 months ago....went from 4 tips to 14. I guess lighting is a factor but without adequate nutrients it wouldnt grow that well.

Chris

[Johnny Reefer]

To quote Baensch Marine Atlas Vol. 1, page 238.

Halimeda opuntia..."An aquarium with these calcareous algae will surely certify the expertise of the aquarist."

Appears to this newbie that this stuff is an indication that things are goin' good. Oh ya! :mrgreen:
My 4 month old tank has a tiny bit that came in with some live rock. It's not growing profusely, but it is growing, so I consider myself lucky (in part). I think anyone with healthy Halimeda should be elated. :biggrin:

[Manny]

i would hardly call myself a reefer expert, but yes, right now things do seem to be going farely well (knock on wood). :biggrin: