Cladophora: An exciting alternative to Chaeto?

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Matt Rogers, Sep 20, 2014.

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  1. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Recently an enormous amount of rare filamentous algae balls washed up on a beach in Sydney Australia and caused quite a stir for locals. Daily Mail likes to be sensational and say scientists are baffled but they are well-documented. Known as Marumo algae in Japan, Moss or Lake Balls elsewhere, Cladophora aegagropila has just peaked my interest as a possible fascinating alternate to chaetomorpha in our aquarium refugiums. Generally found in freshwater, Cladophora algae does tolerate a range of pH and water hardness as shown in Sydney. Cladophora is easy to grow and soaks up nutrients much like chaeto. The obvious difference between the two is the round shape which by design may make it more beneficial in that it would rotate in current better and not require the flipping I have to do in my fuge with chaeto. Cladophora is also farmed and you can buy it right now. Perhaps I am late to the party, but I am very curious if anyone has tried this yet in saltwater refugiums. Details in links below.

    [​IMG]
    Photo Credit: Daily Mail UK

    More Details:
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ied-Floating-Objects-washed-Sydney-beach.html

    http://fishsabby.com/moss-ball-cladophora-aegagropila/

    http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-take-care-of-marimo-balls/



    Buy it here:
    http://www.aquariumplants.com/Moss_Balls_Cladophora_aegagropila_p/misc25.htm


     
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  3. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    This algae is also called 'Tribbles' which is hilarious because I thought of that too. :)

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Vinnyboombatz

    Vinnyboombatz Giant Squid

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  5. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    interesting!
     
  6. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    Is this the same moss ball commonly sold for freshwater aquariums? I don't understand how this can be in saltwater.
     
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  7. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    as stated in first post it appears to be extremely tolerant and just washed up on a beach in Sydney
     
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  9. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    I'm pretty curious to see some in a marine setup! I would go out and see if I can find one, if I weren't sick. booo

    I can see them up against a baffle in my sump, the water flowing over them, possibly keeping them rolling with the flow of the water.
     
  10. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    I get that, I just don't understand how it's possible for the algae to do that
     
  11. nc208082

    nc208082 Zoanthid

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    From what i read about them they are a hardy algae that can tolerate a sg of up to 1.010 which is quite a bit less than 1.026 which we have our reefs at. I dont mind being a guinea pig ill go get some right now and see if it can withstand the stronger salinty.
     
  12. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Sweet nc2. Please keep us posted. Very curious. :)
     
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