Botryocladia (red grape) macroalgae loosing "grapes"

[ninjamyst]

I got some red grape macroalgae 2 days ago. I notice that it is loosing a lot of the bubbles / grapes and they are floating all around the tank and accumulating in some areas. Will this cause a nitrate / phosphate spike? Do I need to siphon it all out?

[ll_maynard_ll]

I'd take 'em out to be on the safe side, they will grow again. Plus if you leave them they may let go of they spores, I think that's what happened to me. Now I have them sprouting everywhere. They aren't fast growers so its not going to smother anything but I have dozens of sprouts, some as tall now as the original, others I tear out after a month or so when they get about an inch tall.

[Subsea]

Have you noticed if color has changed. When subjected to too much light, I have noticed a shift from dark red to yellow/orange, particularly at the tips.

Patrick

[drunkenmonk21]

Sometimes they just loose bubbles, if its still growing and still red it should be ok, I have never had a problem with too much light myself. Used 6500k whites and 450nm blues at max without a prob.

 

Take them bubbles out if you can get to them, they may clog up your powerheads and or filters.

 

I have seen hermits ripping them apart, also sometimes fish grab onto the bubbles and rip it apart.

 

Josh

[BluCrab]

I have a batch of them growing like crazy, longest steam about 7 inches. Just started growing on some live rock I baught about a year ago.

I also see it yellowing up but I also notice that might be a when it spreads.

I really like how it looks but want to trim it back,will it attatch to live rock by using a rubber band or what should I use.

Thinking of transfering some to a bio cube I have set up.

 

Is this stuff any good for anything, I see hermits and emeral crabs picking on it but not eating it

[grmoore]

Botryocladia will attach over time if you affix the stems to rock by either tying it down or wedging it in. Lower light levels will make for a darker plant. Flow rates will determine the clustering of the 'grapes' with less flow making for a more dense plant. Like most macro algae, it is a nutrient exporter and decorative.