• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Macroalgae / The Advantages of Clean Macroalgae
Ulva Lactuca Macroalgae

The Advantages of Clean Macroalgae

by Sean Tadjeran

The Advantages of Clean Macroalgae

Ulva Lactuca MacroalgaeIt so often can be a major challenge to grow the aquarium macroalgae species we love; we really don’t need the extra chore of having to suppress the pest species we most hate. As some of us already know too well, aquarium pest control can potentially spiral into a costly and time-consuming nightmare.

This seemingly unending battle could rightly serve as the basis for a classic “prevention is the best cure” scenario. That is, the easiest way to deal with pests is to prevent them from successfully invading in the first place. This is not always so easy, however. Some of these organisms are both tough and sneaky. There are a number of ways in which an undesirable organism may find its way into a home aquarium (e.g. through the addition of live rock). Usually, these unwanted “hitchhikers” tag along (mostly unseen) in shipments of ornamental aquarium livestock.

Can Macroalgae Facilitate the Spread of Pest Species?

Seaweeds are well-suited to harbor a great variety of organisms; some of these hitchhikers are indeed unfavorable in the typical marine aquarium. The most common pests that are dispersed in this manner include flatworms, bristle worms, Aiptasia anemones, certain types of bivalve mollusks, certain tube worms, all sorts of nuisance algae, and so on. Seaweed sometimes even provides a rather pampered environment for some small pest organisms that can nestle within the algal fronds during shipment. Both wild and cultured macroalgae are capable of harboring/transferring aquarium pests in this manner.

[macroalgae]

So, Should Macroalgae be Avoided?

A refugium without macroalgae is (at least to many of us) like a reef tank without live rock. One need not, out of fear of invasive species, shy away altogether from adding macroalgae to any properly illuminated refugium. The benefits of seaweeds (whether used in scrubbers, reactors or “planted” refugia) are just too numerous:

• Macroalgae provide a prime microhabitat for a host of beneficial small animals (e.g. copepods) and microorganisms.
• Fast-growing varieties can take up substantial amounts of excess dissolved nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate from the main system waters (thereby competing with, and limiting the growth of, most forms of nuisance algae).
• In the case of certain species (e.g. Gracilaria spp.), portions of the standing crop may be periodically harvested and used as a fresh, natural, nutritious food for herbivorous aquarium fishes, crabs, snails, sea urchins, etc.
• Macroalgae can be as interesting and rewarding to keep as any aquarium species.
• Macroalgae are quite beautiful and add a nice splash of exotic form, color and texture to any reef system (whether in the main tank or in the refugium).

The Safest Route

The risk of introducing a pest species to an aquarium system via macroalgae can be greatly reduced—even minimized—by using a product that has been “cleaned” and quarantined for some time before sale/shipment.
Of course, even though good dealers will go to great lengths to treat, quarantine and manually remove any unwanted organisms from their macroalgae, one can never really guarantee that the product is 100% “pure”. This is due to the fact that viable fragments, spores, eggs, etc. can slip through even the strictest quarantine procedures. It is thus recommended that any new seaweeds are properly inspected/quarantined before addition to the main system.
That being said, cleaned macroalgae are the hobbyist’s safest option in terms of overall biosecurity. An excellent choice of refugium seaweed—in this regard as well as others—is either of the two types presently offered as part of AlgaeBarn’s impressive CleanMacro™ Series. These offer especially important alternatives for home aquarists, since both species—spaghetti algae (Chaetomorpha linum) and sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca)—are otherwise known to be common carriers of pests.
AlgaeBarn’s proprietary handling procedure ensures that all CleanMacro™ Series seaweeds have been (1) meticulously cleaned, (2) safely treated and (3) thoroughly quarantined before finally being released for sale.

A Pod Paradise

Spaghetti algae (oftentimes referred to as “chaeto”) eventually grows to form big chunks and mats. The tangled masses it forms can spread over the substrate. These growths make excellent biogenic microhabitats for small, beneficial aquarium creatures such as copepods and amphipods. Small animals can easily hide in, feed in and reproduce within the sheltered microenvironment of the algal mass. Over time, entire biological communities can develop in larger and older Chaetomorpha beds, with different organisms occupying the upper and lower parts of the mass.

Large masses of Chaetomorpha maintain their shape well even when kept in areas of high flow; therefore, this hardy green algae is commonly used in reactors, where the plant can be kept in bulk with minimal compression. Provided with adequate light and water flow, Chaetomorpha can grow fairly quickly, perpetually consuming nitrates and phosphates for easy nutrient export.

Some aquarists might want to add a small mat of Chaetomorpha to a display tank for ornamental purposes. It is usually ignored by herbivores and thus cannot easily be overgrazed, yet it is not particularly invasive in reef aquaria and thus presents very little threat of overgrowth.

A Virtual Nutrient Sponge

Commonly occurring worldwide on shallow, rocky reefs, the sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) prefers brightly illuminated waters and high levels of nutrients. This delicate green algae can rapidly remove dissolved nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate from marine aquarium water.

Sea lettuce most frequently takes on a benthic pattern of growth; however, it can also grow quite well when tumbled gently in a kreisel-type tank.

Ulva is considered to be an extremely nutritious food. Highly palatable and nutritious, sea lettuce is generally accepted by most herbivorous fishes and invertebrates.

Staying Clean

There are a whole lot of reasons to love seaweeds. They promote big populations of desirable little critters including pods. As they grow, they suppress the growth of “bad” algae. They are very much enjoyed as a tasty treat by numerous kinds of herbivorous aquarium animals. Furthermore, they are attractive and enjoyable to cultivate.

Any newly acquired macroalgae can however harbor unwanted drifters. The best way to control these pests is to keep them from finding their way into the tank. This is most easily accomplished by using only top-quality, clean products such as CleanMacro™ Series seaweeds!

[macroalgae]

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

Many hobbyists are constantly looking for ways to increase the health and vitality of their corals. There are many obvious ways to achieve better

Read More about How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

Bulletproof Refugiums: Macroalgae

Welcome to the next part of our series on how to build a bulletproof refugium. At AlgaeBarn, a lot of our customers have asked what the secret is to a

Read More about Bulletproof Refugiums: Macroalgae

A Closer Look at Clean Sea Lettuce

AlgaeBarn is committed to doing our part to help keep the planet clean and green. It's why we're talking about the ways we can keep a clean reef tank

Read More about A Closer Look at Clean Sea Lettuce

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";