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News & Reviews Article
| Title |
Ol�Macroalgae Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O |
| Author |
Sheridan Henson
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| Last Updated |
2014-12-20
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| Abstract |
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Ol�Macroalgae Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O
by Sheridan Henson
And on this farm he had some beneficial qualities. Macroalgae differs from the annoying and unsightly microalgae that grows on tank glass, live rock, and gravel. Unlike the hair algae and slimy green algae that so many aquarist fight to remove and control, macroalgae is cultivated for many purposes. Simply defined, macroalgae are large-celled, photosynthetic algae. As they develop in your tank, macroalgae becomes a valuable component to the tank and its inhabitants.
Macroalgae has a number of excellent advantages. Macroalgae is a great food source for tangs, angels, and other herbivores. Unlike microalgae, fish will graze on macroalgae, adding diversity to their diet of flake, pellet, and frozen foods. It is a natural filter by reducing the usually high levels of phosphates present in tapwater and nitrates caused by various waste. It is also a great decorative element with deep shades of green and plenty of hiding places for fish and invertebrates.
Halimeda, Caulerpa, and Maiden�s Hair are the three most popular types available to aquarist. Grown in waters around the Hawaiian Islands, Halimeda is a slow growing, hardy, spherical plant that uses calcium to build the skeletal inner structure of its blades. Few herbivores will eat Halimeda due to the calcareous center, leaving it as a lovely decorative addition to liverock.
A common plant and a favorite snack for herbivores, Caulerpa is found in various shapes, including flat blades, feather blades, notch leaf, and grape-shaped. Its rapid growth fills empty space, improves water quality, and maintains a steady presence in the midst of a number of herbivores. Caulerpa is collected from the coastal regions of Florida.
Maiden�s Hair resembles a thick mat of bright green carpet, providing a very soft and lush appearance. Maiden�s hair is collected in Tonga or Fiji attached to live rock. Maiden�s Hair contains a toxin that prevents herbivores from feasting on them, but the tufts of thick hair provides ample breeding ground for crustaceans and copepods.
Farming macroalgae is steadily becoming a great way to fight poor water quality, eliminate microalgae, and vary the diet of herbivores. The system is comprised of a sump or refugium separate from the tank. This allows macroalgae to flourish, absorbing nitrates. Like other aquarium plants, macroalgae will also compete with annoying microalgae for nutrients. Since the macroalgae is separate from the fish, it will multiply and allow for harvesting as a food source. An aquarium light is needed for photosynthesis and should be left burning 18 to 24 hours a day. This will allow macroalgae ample time to convert carbon dioxide from the tank into oxygen. Extended dark periods will cause the opposite effect, causing macroalgae to pull out all available oxygen in the sump and producing carbon dioxide.
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