Tangs eating Fauchea 8/29/05
Hi,
I have been trying to grow Gracilaria with very limited success for our Tangs.  They are very picky (spoiled) and only really like the Red Gracilaria or Green/Red pressed seaweed selects.  Unless they are hungry, they won't touch Ulva or some of the Gracilaria.  I was given a little piece of Fauchea for the sump, and it has grown like mad (or as you say... like a plague).  Before I offered it to other reefers, I put a rock of it in the main tank just to see what the Tangs would do.  They are going crazy over it (the Yellow has already devoured 1/2 of it).  How can I find out the nutritional value - will it give them they vitamins they need and can they eat all they want without harm?  Given it's growth history, if it provides for their nutritional needs (other than the meaty foods), it will be wonderful!!!
Thanks for your help!
Doug
<A gorgeous genus of Reds... Does have nutritional value... some references to this on Google Scholar... otherwise it's off to the large college library you go. Bob Fenner>

Nitrification/Denitrification and Chaetomorpha linum 8/1/05
Thank you so much for such a prompt reply.
<<Glad to help>>
I have had a really good look around your site, and I'm still struggling to find a few more answers, so I really hope you don't mind me asking just a few more questions.
With the cycling process in a aquarium without a wet/dry filter, where does the ammonia and nitrite conversion take place exactly. The reason I ask, is because I have always previously understood, that the bacteria required to perform this conversion only survives in aerobic conditions. With no wet/dry, there are no true areas where oxygen is constantly present, so where does the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate conversion take place. (or have I totally missed something?)
I'm "guessing" that it all happens with bacteria present in the live rock/sand, but all I have read about DSB's and live rock is its ability to convert nitrates back to nitrogen because of the "good" bacteria living in the anaerobic conditions. <<Good guess. There are two processes to consider. The nitrification process is an aerobic process where the waste is oxidized. The denitrification process is an anaerobic process where the waste is reduced. The aerobic process occurs on the surface of the rock as well as the sand bed. The anaerobic process occurs deep in the sand bed as well as in deep pores in the rock.>> I'd really appreciate it if you could clarify this for me.
<<Hope this clears things up for you.>>
(I really do apologize if this question/query has been asked before, but I've had a good look around and still cant find the answer - thank you! :)..)
Just going on from the Chaetomorpha question, the main reason I asked if it existed on all coral reefs, is because I was wondering if it could potentially be harvested here off the coast of Australia. There is a store in Western Australia who would be prepared to look for it, IF they knew it existed (as they at the moment they only harvest Caulerpa for refugium applications)<< I found an internet site that indicates that C. linum is found in the Indian Ocean and in particular mentions Australia as part of the distribution. Please see http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/getent?2833 >>
Thank you once again.
Paul
<< You're welcome. Cheers - Ted >>
Thank you once again Ted, that clarifies a lot - and thanks for the link re: Chaetomorpha.
<<You're welcome. Glad things are bit clearer.>>
I'll try and refrain from anymore questions for the time being - but no doubt once I finally have my tank up and running, I'll have a multitude!
Paul
<<No worries. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions. Cheers - Ted>>

Tap water Rinse for Aiptasia?  Another Infestation of Aiptasia after Buying Gracilaria - QT!
Dear Crew,
<Paul>
After receiving in the mail, a half-pound of beautiful Gracilaria parvispora infested with Aiptasia, I am at a loss as to what to do with it. Currently, it is isolated in a bucket of saltwater with lighting and aeration but the vendor does not seem to want it back. Is it possible to completely kill the Aiptasia and its larvae by soaking the Gracilaria for several minutes with chlorinated tap water?
<Mmm, no>
I don't want to contaminate my aquariums but I hate to simply throw out the Gracilaria.
Thanks,
Paul
<I would go the route of using a purposeful Glass Anemone predator with this red algae, while still keeping it separate from your other systems. These Aiptasia-eaters are listed on WWM. Bob Fenner>  

Anotrichum barbatum (The Red Scourge!) - 05/17/05
I have what looks like red turf algae. Anotrichum barbatum was the name I was given.
<Is a red turf algae, yes.>
Is there anything I can do to get rid of it? All parameters are optimal (0 or correct levels). Lighting is 300 watts of VHO, HOB refugium, and a mini 606 power head. This tank is a 20L.
Current inhabitants are a clown, Kenya tree, BTA, lawn mower blenny, misc. blenny, scarlet hermits and blue leg hermits.
<You need much more flow, especially with that BTA. Please increase water flow to 10x-20x the tank volume.>
Is there something I can put in there that will eat it? Possibly a Nudibranch of sort?
<Not likely. This algae can be very troublesome to eradicate. Elevate your pH to 8.6 and keep it there for several weeks, this has proven successful for some. I would also recommend adding a protein skimmer to help with nutrient export...an AquaC Remora would serve you well here.>
Thank you very much, Stephen.
<Very welcome, Eric R.>

Re: My reef tank plans
I do not know if you needed the original email or not so I keep it, sorry if it causes any problem. Just want to pass on this info on red Gracilaria tikvanhie.
<Thank you for this... couldn't find on the Net... as you've mis-spelled the scientific name... twice!>
You had said you never heard of this species. I know you guys always like new info. 
http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/rhodo/gracilaria_tikvahiae.htm 
Thanks for the fast reply.
Gary
<Thank you for the reference. Bob Fenner>

Aiptasia infestation & quarantine question
Dear Crew, 
<Hi Paul, MacL here with you this fine and lovely day.>
Last week, I obtained a half-pound of live Gracilaria parvispora (Ogo) from a dealer in Hawaii. I specifically asked the dealer if I needed to quarantine the Ogo before adding it to my downstream marine refugium. His emailed reply was no.
<First and foremost, quarantine everything!>
Upon adding the Ogo to my refugium, I noticed a few dead amphipods. A few days later, I discovered three 1-inch Aiptasia specimens attached to the glass and to a clump of Ogo. I've never had Aiptasia in my tanks before. After spending all night throwing out everything in my refugium including live rock, quarantining the Ogo in a bucket after the fact, sanitizing my refugium and hoping that the Aiptasia hasn't made it to the main tank, are there any other precautions I should take? 
<You should be aware that lots of people use Aiptasia in refugiums for nutrient export. On the other hand its possible that this dealer was unaware that he had Aiptasia in his Ogo. Most people are going to say that you don't have to quarantine grasses etc before you put them in your tank because usually they come out of a situation where they've been used for nutrient export.>
Regarding the dealer, should I simply warn him to check his Ogo tanks for Aiptasia or should I also demand my money back? What is customary? 
<I might email him and tell him that you ended up having to put the Ogo in quarantine because you found some Aiptasia in it and you didn't want to chance having that go into your tank. I'm sure he didn't mean you any harm, but if you feel very strongly about it you might see if he's willing to give your money back or perhaps you two can come to a compromise. You'll need to treat the Ogo in quarantine to remove the Aiptasia from what's there.> 

Aiptasia Infestation
Dear Crew, 
<Hi Paul, MacL here with you again today.>
(1) If Aiptasia is used in refugiums for nutrient export, how does one prevent the Aiptasia from contaminating the main aquarium? 
<The people I know who are using it in this manner are keeping in enclosed in their sumps. So far they are telling me that they are not having it move. I personally wouldn't like to take the chance. One person I know who is cultivating it in their refugium has a second tank with softies that contains peppermint shrimps and copperband butterflies in the line before his main tank, so he controls them that way.>
(2) Is it common for growers of Gracilaria parvispora to culture it in tanks with amphipods and other marine creatures, such as Aiptasia? 
<With pods, definitely. With Aiptasia, probably not. But there are many people who don't view Gracilaria the way that others do. To them its a nuisance. This is something that is changing as more people begin to use it in their refugiums.>
(3) Are you aware of any suppliers of live Gracilaria parvispora and Chaetomorpha linum within the 48 states? (I live in Colorado.) 
<Honestly no I'm not unless Inland Aquatics has it. However, I do know that there are lots of people trading it on lots of websites. One with people close to your area would be www.reeffrontiers.com. They have a lot of people based in the western United States who are using Chaetomorpha.>
Thanks very much. 
<Its been lovely to talk with you Paul, if we can be of any further assistance please let us know. MacL> 

Botryocladia Predators
Hello.
<Hey, Mike G here>
I recently purchased a red grape macro (Botryocladia sp.) and would like to know if there are
snails that will eat algae, but not touch my red grape macro.
<An astonishing array of herbivorous marine life will consume Botryocladia species macroalgae, I am sorry to inform you. I would think it would be consumed soon after you began to fill your tank.>
Also, would a lawnmower blenny eat the red grape macro?
<I would think so.>

Fauchea for Tangs? 1/8/04
Hi, Will Tangs eat Fauchea and if so, does it supply nutrition similar to Tang Heaven?  
<it is not so readily accepted as Gracilaria. I am not sure about nutritional value though. I've seen the specs on Gracilaria (Tang Heaven), but nothing on Fauchea. My advice is to stick with Gracilaria... Fauchea can be a miserable nuisance over time. Somewhat noxious too>
Red Fauchea looks like a species that grows really well in a tank or refugium
<yes... because it is a nuisance <G>>
(we've tried several times to get Gracilaria to grow out for the tangs - no luck). Thanks!
<do try to find a copy of our "Reef Invertebrates" which has extensive coverage of refugiums, plants and algae species (the most comprehensive in the industry to date). But the crash course on Gracilaria is most people do not give it enough light (5 watts per gallon minimum... 2-3X even better), or enough water flow (very strong is needed to keep the colony tumbling in suspension in the aquarium). This algae is line or basket grown in shallow tropical waters under very bright light and strong wave action. Anthony>

Where Did That Ogo Go-Go? (Mystery Gracilaria ID)
Hi,
<Hi there! Scott F. at your service!>
We received a type of Red Gracilaria that differed from the branchy type in that it was rather flattish, somewhat transparent and "slimy."  Our tangs loved it and it seemed to grow better than the thin branchy type.  I found a picture at one time that indicated the species was from Japan.  The Caulerpa smothered it out and of course I can't find the picture/type now.
Any idea what the name of it was or where it could be obtained?
Thanks, Doug
<Well, Doug- I believe that I have encountered this species before, myself. I think that it may be G. salicornia, but you may need to do some internet searches to be sure. University of Hawai'i maintains a nice database on macroalgae with links that may be of interest...I highly recommend checking it out. Best of luck on your search! Regards, Scott F.> <<There are dozens of species of Gracilaria... RMF>>