Sea Grass

[Anonymous]

Hi, I would like to add some seagrass to my tank as I find that some of it is quite attractive. I've heard that people are having some success these days, whats the secret? I would also like to try some Turtle Grass, what sort of lighting is needed for this?

 

[KensReef]

Seagrass requires quite strong lighting. It is actually a marine plant, not an algae and it requires a nutrient rich substrate. I believe by turtle grass you mean Thalassia testudinum? If so, this is a type of seagrass and as stated above requires strong lighting and a nutrient rich substrate.

 

[Len]

FWIW: I find turtle grass pretty difficult to sustain in "common" reef systems. I would expect them to do well in "mud" systems, but I've never been able to keep them alive for extended periods of time in either aragonite-sand substrate or bare bottom tanks.

 

[KensReef]

Thats right Len, I believe you need a nutrient rich substrate such as mud. I don't think it can use nutrients from the water to the same degree as nutrients from the substrate. I don't believe most reef tank systems would be able to sustain it for a long period of time.

 

[Anonymous]

Yah, i realized that sea grass wasn't going to work for me as it barely grew in one tank (with only PC lights) and in the other tank with MH bulbs that probably had strong enough lighting also contained a foxface which made quick work of the grass right to the stump.