caulerpa alternatives

[mikechurch]

Hey guys I need some feedback here. I have a very simple 55 gal system. 90 lbs of LR , lots of coral ,few fish. I rarely do water changes (don't have to) I monitor my water quality and even my nitrates are unreadable by test kits i've purchased. I have had some problems in the past with phosphates. My skimmer works steadily no real spikes in skimmate production...just steady. I have no refugium, and don't really want to set one up. I have no room in my main tank for caulerpa, and i'm sorry but chaetomorpha is some of the ugliest stuff i've ever seen. My question is this I have tons of anthelia (600-700 polyps) and this stuff grows like ...well like caulerpa. Why can't i use this stuff for nutrient export. Wouldn't it be better to have a coral doing the work for you instead of caulerpa that can spawn and wreck a tank (happened to me a few years back). I'd appreciate any feedback on this matter.

[crvz]

The idea of macro algae is to export nitrate and phosphate... anthelia is not going to provide this function, especially at the same rate that a macro algae can.