Best softy for nutrient export?

[Matt Carden]

I am building a sump that will have a 3'x1' area to grow some coral for nutrient export. Some softies grow faster some poison tank with chemical warfare. Mainly PO4 is what I'll be trying to export by fragging. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[DeniseAndy]

In a sump go with gsp or xenia.

 

[ScubaShane]

In a sump go with gsp or xenia.

+1

 

[jeffchapok]

Why not macroalgae instead?

 

[KrisReef]

When I think about your question it makes me wonder what soft corals would export P faster than nitrate?

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Honestly, I'm not sure why you'd use coral over algea. Algea produces oxygen as a waste product and takes in carbondioxide removing it from the water. It doesn't produce nitrates or phosphates as a natural by product of these functions. Using a coral, which eats, and poops, just like any animal, would seem like using animals to try and clean the air in place of trees, algea, grass, etc.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Algae is definately the way to go, but I get it, a coral fuge would be cool. Xenia is definately your best bet but I would be worried it would eventually make its way to your display tank

 

[Matt Carden]

Why not macroalgae instead?

I will also be using some macro maybe even an ATS. The reason behind the softies is that they are also filter feeders? My sump will start with a filter feeder zone to a DSB/macro then Cryptic sponge/sea squirt then back to DT. I was thinking to have some filter feeding photosynthetic coral on top of a "reef flat" with feather dusters or any other non photosynthetic filter feeders like Dendros or Gorgonians below the reef flat.

 

[AC1211]

Not a bad idea but algae grows faster than any coral. Thats why we have more pest algae than pest coral although pest coral do exist.

 

[Matt Carden]

Honestly, I'm not sure why you'd use coral over algea. Algea produces oxygen as a waste product and takes in carbondioxide removing it from the water. It doesn't produce nitrates or phosphates as a natural by product of these functions. Using a coral, which eats, and poops, just like any animal, would seem like using animals to try and clean the air in place of trees, algea, grass, etc.

Actually algae does produce Photosynthate which is similar to coral mucus so as far as net nutrient reduction goes they are arguably equal.

 

[ScubaShane]

Not a bad idea but algae grows faster than any coral. Thats why we have more pest algae than pest coral although pest coral do exist.

Nothing on this planet grows faster than xenia!

 

[Matt Carden]

Nothing on this planet grows faster than xenia!

Even faster than algae?!

 

[ScubaShane]

Even faster than algae?!

Ya, you got me! Nescience algae grows faster! But in the OPs case maybe a little faster than micro algae like chato.

 

[Shon]

 

[Matt Carden]

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Actually algae does produce Photosynthate which is similar to coral mucus so as far as net nutrient reduction goes they are arguably equal.

Sugar production would be in line with the dinoflagellates not the actual coral waste created from processing those sugars. At least that’s the way it would seem.

 

[Matt Carden]

I don't fully understand the processes in the microbiome but I am learning.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Nothing on this planet grows faster than xenia!

Kudzu: It grows so fast you can HEAR it.

 

[Matt Carden]

Does anyone know how much water depth Xenia would need? Also there are several species of Xenia, which would be best for it's apetite for filter feeding and growth which i suppose would be related?

I will have a sump depth of 16". I am planning on building 2" diameter rock rubble pillars cemented together to support a reef flat. Below the reef flat i will have bivalves, featherdusters, tunicates, NPS and anything else that will filter feed. This is the reason for the soft corals instead of algea, because Xenia will filter feed from the water column whereas Macro will not.

 

[DanConnor]

Are you sure xenia filter feeds? I'm not sure it does. but at any rate it will still absorb nutrients. One consideration might be how easy it is to harvest. The xenia i have with the fattest body is ruby red xenia; that stuff gets huge. Also the so-called giant or thick stem xenia gets massive. But your sump sounds deep enough to grow any of them.