| Removing excess waste is one of the main | | | | presence. |
| challenges to a successful reef aquarium. It's often | | | | There is an abundance of choices of macroalgae that |
| easy for beginners to forget that corals are living | | | | include Chaetomorpha, Caulerpa, Gracilaria and Ulva. In |
| animals that excrete waste. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrates | | | | terms of phosphate and nitrate absorption, Caulerpa |
| and phosphates are problematic to corals, fishes, | | | | is the most aggressive and effective. However, |
| inverts and other animals. An increase in ammonia | | | | Caulerpa can be potentially dangerous. Caulerpa can |
| that is not quickly removed or converted can easily | | | | suddenly dissolve and release toxic elements and the |
| crash a reef aquarium. High amounts of nitrates and | | | | excess nutrients that were absorbed. This happens |
| phosphates can hinder coral growth and cause | | | | when Caulerpa is lacking light or nutrients. A second |
| discoloration. | | | | problem with Caulerpa is its hold fast roots. Caulerpa |
| Typical means of removing nitrates and phosphates | | | | has the ability to attach itself to hard objects making |
| involve water changes, skimmers and the use of | | | | removal extremely difficult. With these risks it's |
| macroalgae. All three are very effective but the use | | | | better to choose another macroalgae. |
| of macroalgae is the easiest and most economical. | | | | Chaetomorpha is an excellent and likely most popular |
| Skimmers are often expensive and require cleaning | | | | choice among reef aquarists for nutrient uptake. |
| few times a week. Water changes are time | | | | Although the nutrient absorption rate for |
| consuming and can get expensive for large reef | | | | Chaetomorpha is not as aggressive as Caulerpa, it |
| aquariums. Macroalgae can effectively absorb | | | | doesn't pose any risks that Caulerpa does. |
| phosphates and nitrates as long as a light source is | | | | Chaetomorpha will not dissolve suddenly when |
| present. The only maintenance required is pruning | | | | starved of nutrients or light. There will be plenty of |
| excess growth once a month. While skimmers and | | | | time and signs before Chaetomorpha dissolve. |
| water changes incur costs, excess trimmings of | | | | Chaetomorpha also lack the ability to attach to |
| macroalgae can often be sold. | | | | objects making removal very easy. |
| A side affect of excess nutrients is an increase of | | | | Long term control of excess nutrients is essential for |
| nuisance microalgae. Microalgae can ruin the beauty of | | | | a successful and beautiful reef aquarium. Although |
| a reef aquarium and suffocate corals. The good | | | | skimmers and frequent water changes are extremely |
| news is that macroalgae is able to able to starve | | | | effective in removing excess nutrients, macroalgae is |
| microalgae of nutrients and thus greatly reducing its | | | | the easiest way to remove excess nutrients. |