Macroalgae tank

[JoJosReef]

Codium requires cooler temperatures. The GOM collectors harvest it in the winter.

Mine grow like mad at 78F. Perhaps it would do better at a bit cooler? Unfortunately, it's a mixed reef, so wouldn't be a great compromise.

 

[JoJosReef]

These tank# are less than 30 days wet.

How is that flame scallop doing? And how long have you had it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

These tank# are less than 30 days wet.

How did you start them?

 

[knockout]

I recently started a macro algae tank - looking for Blue Hypnea Algae

 

[knockout]

 

[Fish_Fry]

I love the idea of a macro tank.

Just a warning about Botryocladia (Red Grape). As I understand it there are a bunch of similar species with different growth patterns. I was hoping to get a branching version and ended up with a spreading version.
It took over my tank and was a PIA to get rid of.

Good luck,

 

[vlangel]

Hi, I have a display tank with macroalgae, LPS and soft coral. I have red grape, halimeda hayi (red titan), ulva, codium, caulerpa cupressoides, and

cheato.

 

[JoJosReef]

Hi, I have a display tank with macroalgae, LPS and soft coral. I have red grape, halimeda hayi (red titan), ulva, codium, caulerpa cupressoides, and

cheato.

Always love seeing your tank. Especially that beatiful Tomini! How do you keep those macros going with the Tomini in there?

 

[twentyleagues]

Mine grow like mad at 78F. Perhaps it would do better at a bit cooler? Unfortunately, it's a mixed reef, so wouldn't be a great compromise.

Codium requires cooler temperatures. The GOM collectors harvest it in the winter.

Yeah I found out they like cooler temps and while mine didnt die it didnt grow real well for me either. It always looked nice though. I did tend to keep my reef a little on the cooler side 74ish, winter it may have dipped down to 72. The majority of the water was in the basement that was typically 68-70. Heating system for the reef was set at 72. A/c in the summer kept the upstairs at 74 ex would lose her mind if I set it lower.

 

[Subsea]

How did you start them?

I added dry aroggonite substrate and water and salt and circulated for 48 hours with no lights. Then mature live rock was added from established systems and photo cycle of 12 hrs on/off was started. At the same time, I added partial water change water from established systems > 25 years mature.

While I added no fish, there was abundant micro inverts and filter feeders on this rock. I then add ornamental macro algaes like Bortacladia & Gracilaria Hayi. With low light intensity < 100 PAR and temperature 72-75, I find these systems easy to maintain. Because of heavy consumption of nutrients by the seaweeds, I regularly add liquid seaweed concentrate.

 

[JoJosReef]

Yeah I found out they like cooler temps and while mine didnt die it didnt grow real well for me either. It always looked nice though. I did tend to keep my reef a little on the cooler side 74ish, winter it may have dipped down to 72. The majority of the water was in the basement that was typically 68-70. Heating system for the reef was set at 72. A/c in the summer kept the upstairs at 74 ex would lose her mind if I set it lower.

That's interesting. I've had about 4 different batches of codium. Two from ReefCleaners and two from locals. The most recent from ReefCleaners was thicker and longer-branched than the others and grows very slowly in my softie/macro tank, albeit, I have it in a shaded spot specifically so it will grow slower. Then I have another recent one from a local that is growing faster despite being in a shadier area (but not gangbusters), and that one is shorter-branched. But the one that grew the fastest and the longest was either the first ReefCleaners or the first local reefer batch, don't remember which, and that grew as fast as Gracilaria hayi at 78 under my AI prime/Noopsyche Mini in a mixed reef, and it was short-branched and grew very dense. @Subsea think we might be talking about species variation?

 

[twentyleagues]

That's interesting. I've had about 4 different batches of codium. Two from ReefCleaners and two from locals. The most recent from ReefCleaners was thicker and longer-branched than the others and grows very slowly in my softie/macro tank, albeit, I have it in a shaded spot specifically so it will grow slower. Then I have another recent one from a local that is growing faster despite being in a shadier area (but not gangbusters), and that one is shorter-branched. But the one that grew the fastest and the longest was either the first ReefCleaners or the first local reefer batch, don't remember which, and that grew as fast as Gracilaria hayi at 78 under my AI prime/Noopsyche Mini in a mixed reef, and it was short-branched and grew very dense. @Subsea think we might be talking about species variation?

I read somewhere it is best kept below 70, I dont remember the exact temps or all the details that was 15+ years ago. Is it possible it could adapt to warmer temps if cultured long enough?

 

[Subsea]

Yes, I think there are many species of Condium. @Paul B dives for it in Long Island Sound and only in cooler season does he find it. Russ Kronwetter, diver/owner of live-plants, only finds it in the cooler season here in the Gulf of Mexico.

Howerver, lights and currents will effect the shape of many macros as well as corals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I added dry aroggonite substrate and water and salt and circulated for 48 hours with no lights. Then mature live rock was added from established systems and photo cycle of 12 hrs on/off was started. At the same time, I added partial water change water from established systems > 25 years mature.

While I added no fish, there was abundant micro inverts and filter feeders on this rock. I then add ornamental macro algaes like Bortacladia & Gracilaria Hayi. With low light intensity < 100 PAR and temperature 72-75, I find these systems easy to maintain. Because of heavy consumption of nutrients by the seaweeds, I regularly add liquid seaweed concentrate.

Great, thanks.

 

[littlefoxx]

I've personally never understood the reason why it is reportedly desirable to wait. The only thing evolving to a great degree is, IMO, the microbiome, and I'm not sure that is a show stopper for starting a tank with, say, soft corals and macroalgae from day 1.

People are just so fish focused during cycling that it forces methods suitable for fish.

Ah makes sense. I just need to get it up for my clowns since they are living in an acclimation box in my big tank so my maroons dont kill them! But I was looking at pictures because I wanted to start a refrigum in my sump and wanted to re start the IM 15 gallon because it looked like crap, dinos and other weird stuff. So I figured I would try my hand at a tank dedicated to it just as long as my clowns will be okay in it!

 

[littlefoxx]

I love the idea of a macro tank.

Just a warning about Botryocladia (Red Grape). As I understand it there are a bunch of similar species with different growth patterns. I was hoping to get a branching version and ended up with a spreading version.
It took over my tank and was a PIA to get rid of.

Good luck,

Its cool looking! Lol Ill take that in mind. I actually want a mix of red and green colored algaes! I just need to do some more research on the suggested kinds before I get them. Thank you for the heads up!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, I think there are many species of Condium. @Paul B dives for it in Long Island Sound and only in cooler season does he find it. Russ Kronwetter, diver/owner of live-plants, o ly finds it in the cooler season here in the Gulf of Mexico.

Howerver, lights and currents will effect the shape of many macros as well as corals.

I collected some codium from the fairly cold water of Rockport Massachusetts in the summer, but it did not thrive in my tank.

 

[littlefoxx]

I have a reef breeders light, is that good for these algaes?

 

[JoJosReef]

I have a reef breeders light, is that good for these algaes?

Pico? I have G. hayi and short branch Codium under the pico in a 13.5g EVO at max (it is a QT/observation tank with some cuttings for natural decor). They are not growing at all, but also not withering. Strange for the G. hayi, because it grows to the point of trimming every 2 weeks.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have a reef breeders light, is that good for these algaes?

Pretty much any full spectrum white light with enough power will work. Currently I have a fluval 3.0 planted tank light on my fuge and stuff grows out of control. My fuge gets about 75 par at the bottom of 7500k light spectrum.