Anyone have some spare Cheato or Gracilaria?

I finally have the 'fuge set up the way I want it. Now I need to get some macroalgae in there! It would be great if a fellow board member was pruning and wanted to send some my way. Barring that, though, where is the best (cheapest) place to order some?

 

Oh, I wish you posted this a few weeks in the future! I just got mine really growing! but it will be a few weeks till I need to prune, just got a 6 inch ball right now!

Have you tried any local reef clubs? They usually have tons!

 

Actually, my LFS gave me good size handful of Chaeto tonight. We'll have to wait and see how fast it grows. I may be offering it to others soon!

 

Oh good! I changed my light out to a clamp on flood light with a lamp that is a fluorescent spotlight "with a warm light" (could not find the temp on there) and the Chaeto has taken off! It was the size of my fist...it is getting large quickly! Tons of critters have taken up residence in there as well!

 

If it's the twisted compact fluorescent housed in a floodlight case from Home Depot, I've heard that they are 5100K. (Somebody called the manufacturer ... Philips?)

 

Yes, it has the twist inside what looks like a normal glass floodlight. It does not get hot but is quite bright! 5100K would be about right for plant growth, yes? My plant is certainly growing! I can't wait to start giving it away!!!

 

Did I see in another post where you had to be careful with Cheato? Something about it being toxic if pruned or broken, or am I thinking about something else. I want to get my fuge started, but want to do it right?

Mike

 

Chaeto is pretty safe. Caulerpa Algae in it's many forms is the one that can be problematic. When caulerpa decides to reproduce, it fills your water with huge numbers of spores that can poison the system. There are ways to avoid this, like careful pruning and 24hr lighting, but it's safer to simply use chaetomorpha.

 

So many names to remember! Thanks for setting me straight. Put me on the list for anyone who has any spare to sell/trade/donate. ;D

 

check out www.macro-algae.com for chaetomorpha. I just purchased some for my new sump.