Best Macroalgae for Main Tank?

[SkinnyPete]

I've grown increasingly fond of the way plants look in the main tank mixed with lots of live rock.

I'm getting pc lighting and do not intend to ever keep corals.

Can someone recommend any marine plant for the main tank? And I'm assuming there will be some stocking restrictions with macroalgae outside a fuge.

any help would be appreciated.

- Skins

 

[steve-s]

Stick with slow growing calcerous species in the main tank. No caulerpa's or fast growers. Best option would be Halimeda.

Cheers
Steve

 

[SkinnyPete]

Really? I've got a lot patches of Halimeda on the keys rock that I have in there now. Will that stuff spread? PC lighting will do them okay?

Thanks Steve.


- Skins

 

[steve-s]

PC lights are just fine for this type of macro. As far as spreading, yes but relative to the species. It is rather slow growing usually but in all honesty that's what you want for algae in the main display. Fast growing species would be a complete PITA eventually and something I can assure you you don't want.

Especially important with Halimeda is to maintain the chemistry. They depeosit CaCO3 similarly to corals. Alk 1.5-3 mEq/l and Ca 380-420 ppm.

Cheers
Steve