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Redbeard Algae - any luck keeping it?

Started by Guest_Piscator_* , Sep 23 2009 10:25 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 23 September 2009 - 10:25 PM

I once again put some Redbeard Algae in my tank:

http://www.facebook....2f&id=668649497

This batch has held up pretty well for a week, but I never had luck keeping it long-term when I tried it years ago. Any advice?

BTW--Any reason I should not keep it? I've read it is slightly toxic to humans and can cause dermatitis. Can it harm fish?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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#2 Guest_miketron75_*

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Posted 24 September 2009 - 12:38 AM

requires metal halide lighting, and massive flow.

I once again put some Redbeard Algae in my tank:

http://www.facebook....2f&id=668649497

This batch has held up pretty well for a week, but I never had luck keeping it long-term when I tried it years ago. Any advice?

BTW--Any reason I should not keep it? I've read it is slightly toxic to humans and can cause dermatitis. Can it harm fish?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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#3 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 24 September 2009 - 07:07 PM

Thanks for the reply--sounds like I'd have to go from low-tech to full-blown reef aquarium keeping. Not quite ready for that step!

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#4 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 16 October 2009 - 08:22 PM

updates? did it live? im very interested

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#5 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 16 October 2009 - 08:54 PM

Actually, it is doing quite well. The only harm it seems to have suffered has been from where the tips have been smothered by blue-green algae. I'm working on clearing up that problem. I'm considering trying peroxide, but I wonder what effect that will have on other tank inhabitants, such as the redbeard sponge.

Have you ever tried keeping the sponge?

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#6 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 17 October 2009 - 12:26 PM

Ive never seen then here before. I would love to get some someday, they look really cool! Do you have lots where you are? Im guessing they dont like the warm weather over here.

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#7 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 18 October 2009 - 02:31 PM

Yes, it is very common to find a piece on the beach down here on the lower Chesapeake, dislodged by wave action. As I mentioned, this is the best luck I've had keeping it. I suspect that is because, in addition to the single flourescent tube hood I use, I set the tank up in front of a north-facing window this time.

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#8 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 18 October 2009 - 06:38 PM

that is awesome, do you have any other anemones or sponges there. I think there is some species of brackish anemone aroung your area bot sure though. Have you ever tried keeping a native marine tank, its really fun and not that hard. You have some cool inverts there, like urchins and conchs. you should try it as I said its very fun.

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#9 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 20 October 2009 - 09:15 PM

Actually, I always kept my tank at full marine levels previously; this is the first time I've tried cutting it back to brackish. The salinity in my area fluctuates wildly since we have the James and Elizabeth rivers dumping out here right near the mouth of the Chesapeake, with the Atlantic beyond. When I collected up in New Jersey, I had anemones. Never found an urchin outside of the Carribean, however. To get live conchs, I think I'd have to do some diving or dredging--never found them in the shallows.

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#10 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 05:13 PM

macroalgaes are also really cool, long island in New York has plenty of em, red, green, yellow.
heres a link to a guy who collects native macros, its really a beautiful tank.Link is here.

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#11 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 08:39 PM

Great link--Thanks! I put some of that "Agardhiella tenera" in my tank at the same time I added the redbeard sponge. The tenera was quickly eaten up--I think by my sheepshead minnows.

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#12 Guest_Groem_*

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Posted 23 October 2009 - 08:35 PM

Is this stuff an algae or a sponge? If it is a sponge the lighting won't matter, you would need to add food. Probably want lots of phytoplankton, and any other micro foods.

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#13 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 23 October 2009 - 09:57 PM

Sorry about that--It's a sponge. I goofed when I made the original post and haven't figured a way to edit it.

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#14 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 09 November 2009 - 07:39 PM

just some advice, sponges should never be exposed to sir, as air can get trapped inside the sponge and it will smother to death. Thats probably why the first one didnt fair out as well.
So how is it doing?

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#15 Guest_Piscator_*

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Posted 09 November 2009 - 11:03 PM

It is slowly dying. The tips are all brown. Still some healthy-looking red areas, but I don't know how to reverse the die-off, or if that's possible. Going full marine rather than brackish would probably help.