Macroalgae for DT recommendations?

[njbillyv]

For my 55 g FOWLR DT I'm thinking about adding some macro and would appreciate suggestions. I have no herbivorous fish and only a few crabs.
I'm leaning toward either Halimeda or a Shaving Bush. Any issue with either?
Red Bone Grass looks cool, anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks in advance!

 

[beaslbob]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBillyV http:///t/391137/macroalgae-for-dt-recommendations#post_3467243
For my 55 g FOWLR DT I'm thinking about adding some macro and would appreciate suggestions. I have no herbivorous fish and only a few crabs.
I'm leaning toward either Halimeda or a Shaving Bush. Any issue with either?
Red Bone Grass looks cool, anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks in advance!
From what I understand shaving brushes and most especially Halimeda are calcium hard corals requiring high calcium and light. Much the same as hard coral sps type tanks.
No experience with red bone grass. Never heard of it.
That said the true sea grasses like turtle grass require deep sand beds with some organics. plus grow slowly.
I would recommend caulerpa prolifera or chaetomorphia (brillo pad). the crabs will will probably eat the macros especially of not just hermit crabs. I would recommend you partittion the tank with 1/4" square grid (egg crate) to form a display fish area and a refugium macro area. And add to light for the macros. then let the macro thrive in that area.
my .02

 

[snakeblitz33]

Halimeda and shaving brush are quite often sold without roots. If a root system is not intact, they will eventually wither away and die.
There are many different decorative macros that grow quickly (and some you could trade in to your Lfs) most of the caulerpas are pretty cool to watch grow. There are several different varieties. Prolifera, Mexicana, racemosa, etc. then you have the reds,- red grape and red kelp. And then you have the really cool looking slow growers such as pink galaxea algae and dragons tongue.
I'd try a few of those first and see if there is any success. Halimeda and shaving brush should be sold on a small piece of rock with a root system intact. If it isn't, then pass it up.