Is algae alive?
- Thread starter btrs
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sweatervest13
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522381
Is saltwater algae alive? Also, is saltwater algae that disgusting green stuff you see in swamps?
Are you being serious???? Is a Tree alive?? How about a bug??
And no... Most swamps are not saltwater, so they should not have any saltwater algae. Its algae, but not saltwater algae.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a jerk. I hope it did not come off that way. Welcome to the site.
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522381
Is saltwater algae alive? Also, is saltwater algae that disgusting green stuff you see in swamps?
Are you being serious???? Is a Tree alive?? How about a bug??
And no... Most swamps are not saltwater, so they should not have any saltwater algae. Its algae, but not saltwater algae.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a jerk. I hope it did not come off that way. Welcome to the site.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522381
Is saltwater algae alive? Also, is saltwater algae that disgusting green stuff you see in swamps?
Hi, and welcome to the site!
Algae is like what I call marine plant life, but it really isn't. It is alive, and it grows if it has the right food. That means the water in your tank is not pristine. Regular water changes, don't overfeed, have good water flow from your power heads, and never using tap water for your SW mix is the only way to prevent the nasty stuff from growing.
Some algae such as hair algae is ugly and very much looks like the swamp stuff...it is called hair algae because it grows in thin ugly hair looking streams. Then there is microalgae, it's kind of a film on rocks, snails will eat that stuff and keep the tank clean for you..
The ugly hair algae is a macroalgae. It's a very invasive ugly type. However there are also some very beautiful algae...reds and browns (gold) and some very pretty greens. Check out "Golf Coast ecosystems" macoalgae if you have the right type for your system, is very good for your tank water. It feeds on Phosphates, nitrates, and ammonia...Then as it feeds on, and grows from those bad nasty tank parameters, you remove it from your tank when you remove the overgrowth....We call it harvesting.
If you have the pretty macroalgae, it will also out compete hair algae for food, and prevent the nasty stuff from getting a foothold,
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522381
Is saltwater algae alive? Also, is saltwater algae that disgusting green stuff you see in swamps?
Hi, and welcome to the site!
Algae is like what I call marine plant life, but it really isn't. It is alive, and it grows if it has the right food. That means the water in your tank is not pristine. Regular water changes, don't overfeed, have good water flow from your power heads, and never using tap water for your SW mix is the only way to prevent the nasty stuff from growing.
Some algae such as hair algae is ugly and very much looks like the swamp stuff...it is called hair algae because it grows in thin ugly hair looking streams. Then there is microalgae, it's kind of a film on rocks, snails will eat that stuff and keep the tank clean for you..
If you have the pretty macroalgae, it will also out compete hair algae for food, and prevent the nasty stuff from getting a foothold,
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522388
What is overgrowth, and why do you remove it? Is the pretty algae food for the fish?
Some fish do eat it, so folks who have such fish, will place the macros in the refugium section, so it can grow and do it's job...then place the harvested macro (if a fish will eat it) in the display for their eaters to enjoy AKA free fish food. Not all macros are good for a display with corals, they cover everything which would suffocate the coral, and not all macros will be eaten by fish. So you just toss it out or share it with those who may want it.
All macros grow if it has the needed nutrients. It will keep growing until it fills the tank...so you grow the amount you want, and the stuff that is out beyond that point, you remove (harvesting). Since the macro now will grow some more, feeding as it does (think absorbing)... it is also removing the bad stuff from your water keeping it pristine, and you remove it from your system as you remove what had grown out.
Originally Posted by BTRS http:///t/395598/is-algae-alive#post_3522388
What is overgrowth, and why do you remove it? Is the pretty algae food for the fish?
Some fish do eat it, so folks who have such fish, will place the macros in the refugium section, so it can grow and do it's job...then place the harvested macro (if a fish will eat it) in the display for their eaters to enjoy AKA free fish food. Not all macros are good for a display with corals, they cover everything which would suffocate the coral, and not all macros will be eaten by fish. So you just toss it out or share it with those who may want it.
All macros grow if it has the needed nutrients. It will keep growing until it fills the tank...so you grow the amount you want, and the stuff that is out beyond that point, you remove (harvesting). Since the macro now will grow some more, feeding as it does (think absorbing)... it is also removing the bad stuff from your water keeping it pristine, and you remove it from your system as you remove what had grown out.