Marine plants

[plantbrain]

While many consider marine plants for their utility, there are an enormous number of interesting species out there available for tanks.
I collected some locally here in Florida. I'd have to say the tank is very satistfying and many folks think it's a "reef" tank. I figured out what everything was and made a list:

Greens:

Acetabularia: Had some but it's melted back, a few bits left.
Caulerpa verticillata
C. sertularioides(wee bit)
C. mexicana(wee bit)
C prolifera
C. racemosa
C. cupressoides
C. curpessoides "Tiny"
Batophora oerstedii
Dasycladus vermicularis(aka furry sauages)
Neomeris annulata (cannot find it now)
Ventricaria ventricaria
Valonia sp
Dictyospaeria cavernosa
Codium repens
Codium sp
Cladocephalus luteofuscus
Udotea flabellum
Rhipocephalus phoenix
Penicillus capitatus "Mini Trees"
P. dumetosus
Cymopolia barbata : my favorite green alga
Halimeda copisoa
H. discoidea
H. incraassata
H. monile

Browns:
Dictyota cervicornis
Padina gymnospora
Sargassum sp

Reds:
Halymenia sp.
Ceramium sp.
Laurecia poitei
L. intricata.
L. sp.
Eucheuma isiforme
Jania adherens(looks a lot like coral)
Galaxaura subverticillata
Amphiroa ridida (Looks like coral)
A. tribulus
Neogoniolithon spectabile
N. strictum
And Titanoderma prototypum

Plants:
Syringodium filiforme
Thlassia testudinum

43 plants.
That's a fair number. I'll weed out the less desirable ones later. I've had other species in addition to this.

I'm not certain as to why folks don't keep these plants/macro's except as refugium filter utility plants in marine tanks and then only 3-5 species. They are quite suitable and nice in their own right. No need to buy a refugium filter.

Make the refugium the tank instead.

Regards,
Tom Barr



Regards,
Tom Barr

[BrianH]

Tom,

Do you have any pics of the plants?

Brian

[mogurnda]

Make the refugium the tank instead. I certainly enjoy the reds I have in the main tank, but one can never put everything one wants into a tank at once. It's a challenge to keep them from shading out or irritating the corals.

PLEASE post photos of your tank, I'd love to see it. Would you be willing to "frag" any of those and send them my way?

[plantbrain]

A number of books are available for ID's and running a search will produce a photo in many cases.

I sold my digital camera about 4 months ago. I'll get some when the tank grows in a bit(35mm slides scanned to CD's etc). I'm still waiting for some things to grow in better after my initial abuse phase where I dump in all sorts of nutrients and see what happens.

The tank is set up the way I want, I just need to get all the macro's/plants to cooperate. I'm looking for one single nice branchy piece of rock for the tank as well. But generally, the tank is set up the way I want, just need to have things grow in good.

I'll trade etc when things grow out well and get a good feel for the growth patterns and ranges that are good for certain species.
I do have some reds that are growing well, Laurencia but it's not the real red colored one or another also real red. Caulerp's, Penecillus, Codium, seem growing well.
My Heterosiphonia did not make it back last time. This and Graciliaria are my favorite finely branched reds. Hard to ship though.

A few weeks I should/might have some images. I'm picky and wait for a nice growth and pattern before a photo. It's a little 25 gallon tall but is nice.

I can show you what the tank looked like with FW plants. Not sure if I can do it on to the board with a Mac.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[plantbrain]

I'll try posting it on a link then giving the link to it.

Regards,
Tom Barr It's raining Fish in Florida right now!

[plantbrain]

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/tcbiii/vwp?.dir=/FW+plant&.src=ph&.dnm=offensive+wood.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/tcbiii/lst%3f%26.dir=/FW%2bplant%26.src=ph%26.view=t

See if this works. Swap the FW weeds for Marine weeds and coral branches that might be offensive.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[mogurnda]

Sorry, Tom, didn't work for me. I guess I'll have to be patient.

[plantbrain]

Try this under FW plants

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/tcbiii

[BrianH]

Tom,

That link only has your pets album which is empty.

Brian

[storrsms]

Plantbrain-
"I'm not certain as to why folks don't keep these plants/macro's"
I'd love to be able to get some macros for my tank, however here in western central VA it is (almost) impossible to get anything except C. racemosa which I really don't want, and getting anything like the assortment you have is (from my searching) impossible. IPSF has about 5 macros available and some comes in on liverock but my fish feast on it before it grows out-I am thinking of setting up a seperate tank to grow them in someday...

"That link only has your pets album which is empty"--click on the 'thumbnail', not the album and you will see his planted aquarium.

I would like to get a good assortment of Indo-Pacific macros, as I,m getting ready to set up a 125g and want to make this as realistic as possible-after much more research and viewing dive pics for placement and types of inhabitants including (hopefully) a good assortment of macros.

Mark

[plantbrain]

Well much like aquatic plants a number of years ago, folks have little access to 100'S of species. When the buyers want these, an increased demand will create a market.
Live rock hitchikers are often the best bet but only a few will make it. Dark curing will also kill off many species.
Trades with hobbyist often work well.
Some delicate species are difficult to establish/ship.
There are a number of Florida marine companies here and many should be able to culture the macro's. Many just do the live rock portion of the trade etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr