Sea Lettuce - Ulva Lactuca

[Aquatic Dreams]

So I'm fairly certain this is what I have in my tank. I picked up a small frag of Crystal Coral a couple months back. I noticed a few weeks ago some leafy green coming from the bottom of the frag in the sandbed. I had noticed a green bubble algae outbreak and thought maybe it was from larger bubbles that had just broken open. (Although you'd think I would have noticed that when I got the frag --- DOH).

However now on each side of the frag there is a round thin transparent green leaf. After searching online I believe that it's Sea Lettuce. Is this a problem or should I just let it grow? Or should I pull it and put it with the other macroalgae in the back of my biocube? I'm assuming that it would help with nutrient export. I personally think it looks rather cool but certainly don't want it to get out of control.

I'll post a pic a bit later. Currently acclimating some snails and a new coral.

 

[heath]

did you google it and see the images of it... I would think that it could be a good thing, probly not in the tank tho...

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

did you google it and see the images of it... I would think that it could be a good thing, probly not in the tank tho...

Yup and most of the images looked very similar although in larger quantities. I only have a couple of leaves so far. I'll get a pic up soon an hopefully that will help. I read about Sea Lettuce on a couple of forums and found out several things. For some people it grows like crazy and overtakes their tank. Apparently Tangs and Rabbitfish like it. And I believe it's a type of seaweed that even people eat sometimes. (I don't think that I'll be eating it though. LOL)

But yeah ... it's growing from a frag plug in my Biocube. Just wanted to see if anybody here had any growing and if it was something I should be concerned about.

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Hey Heath ... I was just reading on another forum that some people grow it in their seahorse tanks. Apparently the pods love it and the seahorses love the pods. That's what they said anyways ... I have no clue about seahorses or pods really. LOL

Just thought I'd pass that along as I believe you keep seahorses so might be worth looking into.

 

[heath]

awesome, thanks for sharing.. I have the red microalgae in with them...if yours goes crazy maybe I will get some from you if not for the ponies but I know my tangs would love it...

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Absolutely ... I'll let you know. I was thinking that if it gets larger I'll likely put some in the back of my biocube that I'm using as a refugium of sorts. I currently have some red bush macro and a small piece of cheato in there.

 

[heath]

thank you and that is a really good plan.. nutrient export...