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Sea Lettuce grows in ribbons

Using Ulva to Remove Excess Nutrients

by Kenneth Wingerter

Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is an extremely versatile refugium macroalgae. It’s big, verdant fronds can add a little “greenery” to a reefscape. Highly palatable and nutritious, it serves as an excellent live food for larger herbivorous fish and invertebrates. Its broad “leaves” can grow in dense clumps, providing an enormous amount of microhabitat for small, beneficial protists and animals such as copepods. But if there is one thing Ulva really excels at, it’s removing excess nutrients from the system water.

For sure, the ability of sea lettuce to “absorb” nitrate and phosphate is a thing of legend. This is only possible because of its extremely fast rate of growth. Even among the green algae, which are known as a group to be pretty fast growers, sea lettuce can really pack on the biomass rapidly. This of course can happen only when two important resources are available: Very intense light and nutrient-rich water. 

Sea Lettuce: One to grow on

The Ulva we have for sale is an opportunistic seaweed that occurs widely in estuaries and shallow coastal waters, which are some of the most eutrophic (nutrient-rich) environments on Earth. Its capacity for rapid proliferation is in part a competitive adaptation. That is, it outcompetes other macroalgae for space and outcompetes both macroalgae and microalgae for nutrients. This includes competitors/epiphytes that might grow on its fronds. In many cases, these seaweeds live in boom-or-bust habitats where waters might be highly eutrophic during one season, and then fairly oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) during the next. Depending upon local ambient nutrient regimes, either nitrate or phosphate can be limiting. In most cases however (at least in the wild), nitrate appears slightly more often to be the limiting nutrient. 

A baby outgrowth of Sea LettuceInterestingly,  percent-tissue nitrogen values can exceed the critical nitrogen requirements for minimum growth. Percent-tissue nitrogen values of sea lettuce can reach up to 5.8% and likely represents excess nitrogen storage. This likely enables the seaweed to sustain maximum growth during times of poor nutrient availability. 

No worries about that here, right? Aquarists seem to have no problem supplying the fertile waters. Overfeeding and overstocking are the main culprit, usually combined with poor filtration and inadequate water exchange. Well, reef aquaria are brightly lit environments, which sets the stage for endless battles with nuisance algae. These algae can grow at a terrifying pace when nutrient levels are elevated. And that’s not merely an issue for a tank’s “looks,” but also threatens the health of corals. Runaway hair algae problems in particular have killed bazillions of corals and caused countless reef aquarists to give up forever.

Many solutions have been put forth to solve this problem. As a very natural approach, macroalgal nutrient sequestration has appealed to quite a few hobbyists. Nowadays, planted refugia are almost a standard component in aquarium filtration systems. Ulva undoubtedly is among the most popular of seaweeds used in refugia; but given its unusually high capacity for sequestration, it’s a little surprising that these macros aren’t just a bit more popular than they presently are.

Provided that very intense lighting is used, sea lettuce is rather easy to cultivate. It grows well in loose clumps on the bottom, but may eventually grow to form a solid sheet across the refugium water surface. It doesn’t need–and perhaps prefers–moderate or even weak water movement. While strong flow doesn’t necessarily harm it, it does increase the odds that you’ll be peeling wads of seaweed off the refugium pumps or screen on a regular basis. To use Ulva in a high-flow application, one would best circulate the mass in kreisel style refugium where it more easily stays in constant motion (and is evenly illuminated). The easiest way to compensate for low-flow applications (i.e. increased turnover times) is simply to use a larger refugium; that is, a larger algal bed can strip more nutrients from the passing waters at a given flow rate.

As the algal mass begins to fill the grow chamber, sections (preferably older parts) are removed and are either (1) discarded or (2) are fed out to your tangs, angelfish, trunkfish, rabbitfish, sea urchins, etc. This process of continual harvest is how the nutrients are ultimately removed or recycled; it is important to time correctly because overly dense masses grow more slowly (thus removing fewer nutrients). In the worst case, the mass begins to die back, consuming oxygen and making a nasty mess as it decomposes and releases all those nutrients back into the aquarium water! To keep the mass happy and growing at an optimal rate, try to cut back around 25% of the mass as it fills about 75% of the available grow space.

Conclusion

Healthy ulva lactucaFrom Caulerpa to Chaetomorpha, fast-growing green algae have always been favored for planted refugia that are designed primarily for nutrient sequestration. While all different macros have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages, it’s hard to argue that any species accomplished the task of nutrient removal like Sea Lettuce. This “nutrient sponge” can take any levels you might throw at it, yet not crash hard and die off as the nutrient levels fall. It doesn’t secrete copious allelopathic compounds (unlike most Caulerpa) and therefore won’t irritate corals. It’s fleshy in texture and tasty (unlike Chaetomopha) and can therefore be used as a high-quality live food. Though it may not really be very new to refugium keepers, sea lettuce definitely has not seen its day in the sun–yet!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Mark Miller says

    Hmm. I’m going to have to give it a try in my fuge. Chaeto keeps getting gunked up with slimey green stuff.

    Reply

  43. Bob Seyfarth says

    I used Caulerpa in the past and it over grew everything. I now have a small amount of Chaeto in w hang on the back filter with a grow light (I don’t have a sump), but this might work in the tank if the yellow tang leaves it alone. Thanks for the info.

    Reply

  71. JessU says

    I’ve only ever used cheato since I learned it would spread and take over the tank and was intimidated to try others. Thank you Algea Barn for the educational information on Ulva algea, I’ll be purchasing!

    Reply

  75. Joshua Vaisman says

    Been toying with the idea of starting a refugium…if I do, this might be the macro for me, especially given it’s a great supplemental food for my tang!

    Reply

  108. Dan Brands says

    I love the idea of using natural algae growth to reduce excessive nutrient buildup. I have used this method in my refugium for a few years now.

    Reply

  109. jeff.hershner says

    My AIO is only 28g, I don’t think I would be able to benefit from a refugium like some of the larger fuges provide.

    Reply

  114. Casey says

    My next tank will have a larger refugium where I can do stuff like this. I’ve even considered growing in the display in an acrylic cage so that as it grows out, fish eat it but not all the way down to nothing. It would have a filtration and an auto feeding effect.

    Reply

  141. mattsingledad says

    Just when you think you are done learning. Thank you for the information and taking the time to educate people

    Reply

  157. Tom Harbin says

    I used Ulva in aquaria for decades but never tried it in a fuge. Next time I set one up I’ll try the Ulva for sure. Great article.

    Reply

  177. Rafael says

    For some weird reason, this algae died everytime i tryed to put in a refugium. Maybe when i get a tank again i will give it a try.

    Reply

  178. Kim Eberhart says

    Hmmmm. Perhaps I’ll try this with my chaeto. I always thought most other macros could cause problems so I haven’t tried anything else.

    Reply

  184. George S says

    I Used ULVA in my sump it wound up in my main display. Now i leave it in my main display it grows on the rocks and if it winds up growing in places i dont want it or if i have to much i just pull it its easy i love it. and looks great. Non of my algae grazers seem to eat it so its able to do its job reducing nutrients.

    Reply

  193. Stewart Sbordone says

    Ulva got into my display tank, hated it at first but now I love it. Looks really cool and takes nitrates and phosphates faster than anything I’ve ever seen. No issue if you accidentally overfeed, or just like to feed a lot to give all livestock plenty of food.

    Reply

  209. Jose says

    Excellent article
    I’ve always used chaeto but have wanted to try different macro algaes. I love the look of a display refugium full of different algaes.

    Reply

  222. RowenH says

    Thanks for the info on this strain of algae. I haven’t tried it before, but did run chaetomorpha in my systems with good results. Use to cull it every 3 weeks since they grow as they consume nutrients out of the system.

    Reply

  223. RowenH says

    Great info on this strain of algae. I haven’t tried it before, but did run chaetomorpha in my systems with good results. Use to cull it every 3 weeks since they grow as they consume nutrients out of the system.

    Reply

  229. Jason Williams says

    Used Chaetomorpha in my 275 gallon system and it was wonderful at keep unwanted algae away. Will definitely give Ulva a try next time.

    Reply

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