Red Grape - Botryocladia

[Jamie9]

Has anyone else has somewhat uncontrolled spread of red grape macro algae? I kind of like how it looks, and it’s probably giving me the benefits of a refugium without a separate chamber, so I’ve just been letting it grow. But I never see any other tanks that are “overgrown” with it. Is it just me?

 

[Subsea]

Your grapes look nice. I grow Bortacladia in monoculture tanks.

Somewhat uncontrolled growth is not how I would discribe it. When I get it from the divers, it is dark burgundy. It is collected in 30’-100’ of water. When subjected to low to moderate light (100 PAR), burgundy turns fire engine red. If subjected to intense light it turn yellow/orange and is not very attractive. I also find that when subjected to “too much light intensity that a flock accumulates on surface of grapes.

Everybody eats Bortacladia, especially tangs & urchins.

Dual 55G growout tanks: Rock tank with red macros on top and a vertical loop tumble culture of red grapes on bottom.

PS: I am behind on glass cleaning. Too many tanks.

 

[Subsea]

Jamie,
Your display looks to simulate a Caribbean patch reef, very nice.

I emulate Caribbean lagoons with a heavy focus on filter feeding invertebrates and a splash of ornamental seaweeds. To accomplish that in my 120G display, I removed all tangs & drawf angel fish.

Your rock and rock scape is very nice looking. What is the source of the live rock?

In looking at your display, what is the bright orange encrusting thing next to red grapes in the bottom left front of your display?

 

[Jamie9]

Thanks! Most of my diving has been in the Caribbean…so perhaps I’ve been subconsciously working towards that. My live rock came from TBS…their 5 pound premium rock treasure box was the best purchase I’ve made to date for my tank. I believe that orange patch is bryozoan (it came in with the rock). That single rock came with bryozoan, tunicates, a yellow sponge, a couple limpets and an SPS coral…all of which are doing well 4 months later except for the sponge, which is barely holding on after initially having expanded.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wish I did have uncontrolled growth of it. lol

My fish (yellow tang and one spot foxface) ate it immediately, and in my refugium it also disappeared. I also saw mithrax crabs chomping on it.

 

[Jamie9]

Wish I did have uncontrolled growth of it. lol

My fish (yellow tang and one spot foxface) ate it immediately, and in my refugium it also disappeared. I also saw mithrax crabs chomping on it.

I suppose there's some benefit to having a tank too small for tangs and foxfaces!

 

[Izildora8]

Has anyone else has somewhat uncontrolled spread of red grape macro algae? I kind of like how it looks, and it’s probably giving me the benefits of a refugium without a separate chamber, so I’ve just been letting it grow. But I never see any other tanks that are “overgrown” with it. Is it just me?

I have a sprig in my tank from Mosaic Macros.. Hoping for it to look like this, soon!