Macro algae : Monistroma nitdum (Herbivorous feed, starter culture)

Monostroma nitdum (Herbivour feed algae starter)

THIS SPECIES SHOULD ONLY BE GROWN IF HERBIVOROUS FISH ARE RESIDENT IN THE AQUARIUM. Ideally you would grow a few colonies of it, keeping most away from the fish, in a sump or seperate holding tank then rotating them once your fish have cropped one down to the rock in their tank, to regrow.

CARE : Very Easy, undemanding under normal reef conditions

GROWTH : EXTREMELY FAST, once settled

INVASIVE? : This species is invasive, small fragments of it break off and form new colonies in high flow areas. If kept with herbivours such as tangs etc they will eat it extremely quickly and it will never really get to spread. Just providing them with their natural food source as per in the wild. However, kept in an aquarium without herbivours, due to its fast growing nature it will spread all over your rockwork eventually. We grow this algae in its own dedicated system away from other algae species.

LIGHTING : High to medium

FLOW: Any but faster growth is definately seen under high flow.

VARIATION : Higher light results in faster fresh growth, a lighter green colouration and larger sheet like fronds.

HOLDFAST ATTACHMENT TIME : Very fast (Days once settled)

NUTRIENT UPTAKE : Good

SPECIES INFORMATION:

This species is native to Australia and the Indo Pacific but localised distribution is also seen in the Indian ocean and tropical African waters. This is a TRUE TROPICAL SPECIES, it is NOT Ulva lactuca sometimes seen for sale online that has simply been collected from British 'rockpools' and is a temperate water species.

Monostroma spp. are one of the primary food sources of herbivorous reef fish such as tangs, fox face etc. They go wild for it! We are not about list the benefits of it as a food source here for your fish without any solid peer reviewed evidence! However the primary use of the species nowadays is in the human supplement market where it has been linked to cardio vascular health, reduced blood pressure and reduction of fatty liver disease amongst other things. We havent the foggiest if any if these claims are true! At the end of the day its a nice treat fir your fish!

 CUTTING INFORMATION:

This species establishes best from small fresh growth fronds, these are around 1cm square. You will recieve a small bag of these as per the photograph. Ideally grow these out onto individual surfaces, away from your fish use a thin elastic band, cotton or equivalent to hold in place whist it attaches. Then simply pop one in with your fish and put back in your "growout area" once they have cropped it back to the surface. This initial seeding can take a few weeks. However once the algae is seeded on a surface it will grow back from even the most microscopic layer (even white it seems the fish have eaten it all). 

We have found they absolute best surface to grow this on is plastic Aida, used for cross stitch, failing that very small holes egg crate or equivalent works well. It grows much faster on plastic than rockwork.