Blue Hypnea Macro Algae

[JoJosReef]

Just got my two pieces of Hypnea and as I'm think about where to put them in my tank, my starry blenny is staring at me, then it hit me, he is going to devour this isn't he? Has anyone had any issue with this? This dude EATS whenever he can. What should I do? I only use an AquaClear70 and idk if I could put it in there and purchase a super tiny grow light?

Could put one piece in the tank and one in the AquaClear to see what he does.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Could put one piece in the tank and one in the AquaClear to see what he does.

So in my aquaclear70 it floats to the surface and I'm afraid it might be to close to the surface and the light will be to intense. Would it be able to float around in my tank or does that just seem ridiculous?

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

I have mine under medium flow (jebao OW10 and SLW10) in both "tanks". In my refugium it grows great under a freshwater full spectrum. I also have some in my macro tank under a hydra26hd. Doesn't seem to grow as well in there but can't attribute that to too much light. My sump/refugium is acrylic and the blue hypnea grows nicely on the walls. I actually just took a couple of pieces and have them on a small piece of acrylic to see how fast it attaches and grows. Also have some attached to plastic knitting squares for same test.

How would you go about attaching? Let it attached itself naturally?

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

I had a patch of hypnea at the top of my previous tank, like three inches from the lights. It grew faster and more densely than elsewhere in the tank.

My emerald crab didn’t eat a ton of it, but she would nip at it now and then, and pieces would float off and attach elsewhere and start new patches. Buyer beware!

 

[djf91]

Be careful with Macros you put in your system. I have blue Dictyota that has taken over my frag tank and refugium. My fox face is the only thing that keep it at bay in my display. Much more invasive than the caulerpa and ulva I have in the system.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

I had a patch of hypnea at the top of my previous tank, like three inches from the lights. It grew faster and more densely than elsewhere in the tank.

My emerald crab didn’t eat a ton of it, but she would nip at it now and then, and pieces would float off and attach elsewhere and start new patches. Buyer beware!

So I'm using a small new light I got from Petsmart. Normally I don't shop there. 60bday refund policy.

Aqualighter Picosoft Lamp.​

Not sure if its putting enough light out.
Also I removed the RowaPhos. Any recommendations?

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Be careful with Macros you put in your system. I have blue Dictyota that has taken over my frag tank and refugium. My fox face is the only thing that keep it at bay in my display. Much more invasive than the caulerpa and ulva I have in the system.

I have been hearing it's more invasive than helpful.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Just a heads up that it can spread like wildfire under the right conditions. I had a Deer Cowrie that would eat it but not fast enough to control it.

Old video, you can see it munching at the end

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Just a heads up that it can spread like wildfire under the right conditions. I had a Deer Cowrie that would eat it but not fast enough to control it.

Old video, you can see it munching at the end

Well I gave up on the in tank refugium lol. I added the cluster of hypnea directly in my display. I'm curious if any of my CUC will start to eat at it. I have a magnetic rock I could set it on but it won't get the best light on the wall of my tank. I started this journey hoping to help my nitrates/phos and have some good looking algae but I don't see myself accomplishing both lol. It's placed directly in the center of my tank towards the top. I have it on a small piece of rock sitting on my main display. I'm hoping it grows outwards in a cluster rather thank spreading along the rock surface. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

Just a heads up that it can spread like wildfire under the right conditions. I had a Deer Cowrie that would eat it but not fast enough to control it.

Old video, you can see it munching at the end

I love deer cowries, does your eat coral? I know that they could but I just dont see people keeping it a lot.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I love deer cowries, does your eat coral? I know that they could but I just dont see people keeping it a lot.

I honestly can't recall but I don't think I had any issues. There was a fair amount of macros in that tank for it to munch on.