Plant life = Shaving Brush?

[reefnoob]

I have a basic 55g setup, meaning no sump or fuge at this time. I want to add some plant life for a natural look as well as something to consume phosphates and help keep algea in check. I saw these plants on swf.com and they look pretty cool if they are hardy and low maint, I think I will give them a go. Will they help with what I want them to do?
anyone out there have these?

 

[beaslbob]

I don't have extensive experience but I hear they do need calcium and higher lighting that other plants. I have some of the new blades and really like those. But then the jury is out on those also.
caulpera profilera, gracilaria(sp), or brillo pad worked better for my. They do not require calcium and thrive under lower lighting. But the fish do like to eat them. So I wound up cultering them in an old 20g.

 

[wyldgunz]

They are pretty cool but fall apart easily so you need to be careful with them . i had 5 and now i only have 2 between the ones that died and fish eating them .. my tang loves them

 

[reefnoob]

well, fish eating them would defeat my purpose... but i'm all about natural food.
Having plants, but keeping them seperate from fish is basically the idea of a fuge right?

 

[fishrfriends]

I bought the set of 5 from this site about a month ago. Three are doing very well, two are not, and I have a tiny one coming up from a runner one of the healthy ones sent out.
They haven't really helped with nitrates, that I can tell, but they trap all sort of floaty things and make a great home for baby pods - they seem to be covered in them.
I think the two that aren't doing well are being broken by the hermit crabs that climb them and sleep in them (tree houses?)
The biggest problem is that when they start to go, it looks like a Christmas tree exploded in your tank - you have branches everywhere - they tend to get stuck in the powerhead intakes and require cleaning.
If I had to do it again I would probably choose something else, unless you like the look of them.

 

[goldenboy]

I got them from this website. Eventually my blue legs gathered on top of them. The needles kept falling everywhere. I couldn't even get them all out. Imagine 200 pine needles all over in your tank. Not to say everyone had this experience, but I sure freakin did. I'll NEVER buy one of them again.

 

[bheron]

I have been curous about these as well. Havent seen them anywhere else except this site - which makes me wonder.
And, to those who do have them, do they look as nice as they do in the pic online here? I'd love to try them but feel they're not worht it.
reefnob, if you get one let us know how it works out!

 

[goldenboy]

mine looked great for a couple months. They looked like mini palm trees. They took a lot of abuse from the crabs though.