Please I.D what macro algae this is?

Hey guys,

I have finally set up my sump and refugium -> Will be posting some threads on my build thread very soon.

But I was wondering what type of macro algae this is. I got it from the LFS refugium of their big main display tank. I dont think its as stringy as cheato?

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w402/Ryan_Duchatel/2012-08-19162039.jpg

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

 

Caulerpa prolifera.

 

Is that a good macro algae?

 

It is an effective algae for nutrient transport as long as you keep it thinned out. If you don't it will breakdown and put the nutrients back into your system.

 

Thank you. What do you mean thinned out? Like making sure it doesn't grow to wild just by cutting bits off etc and not letting it grow into a massive clump?

 

Exactly

 

FWIW, IME, C. prolifera is not one of the fast-growing Caulerpa sp., and isn't NEARLY as quick-growing as C. racemosa, C. taxifolia, and their variants. I'd keep it thinned out every so often, but as I mentioned, it's not one of the "bad" species everyone goes on about.

We've never had prolifera even LOOK like it's going to go sexual, altho we've had racemosa and taxifolia start to go south on us. What you want to look for is the macro turning a milky white with green specs in it (don't be confused by new growth on the tips which is also white).

C. prolifera is really nice stuff for setting up "mock seagrass" tanks without the substrate and lighting requirements.

HTH