Combining macroalgaes in refugium??

[Brandon Rush]

Was getting ready to setup a 30 gallon refugium and have experience with chaeto. My question is would you mix macro algaes or just stick with chaeto. I wanted to try some new macros this time around but have no idea how to proceed. Any advice is welcomed!

 

[Halal Hotdog]

So I have never successfully mixed macro algae. Typically what happens is one starts growing well and eliminates the other. I have also read posts about macroalgae releasing chemicals that hinder the growth of other algae.

 

[Brandon Rush]

So I have never successfully mixed macro algae. Typically what happens is one starts growing well and eliminates the other. I have also read posts about macroalgae releasing chemicals that hinder the growth of other algae.

Interesting take, appreciate the feedback.

 

[jandlms]

Yet there are several threads showing very successful (and beautiful) macroalgae tanks that combine numerous species of macroalgae. It seems that many of these very successful macro tanks have neither chaetomorpha or very many (often none) of the cauldron species.
It’s been thirty years since my Algae class in college so I am more than a bit out of date but maybe success can be had by combining the more exotic types in the refugium in lieu of Cheeto and caulerpa.I am currently in the planning stages for a system with a large macro refugium as much for the interest I have in macroalgae as for their filtering capabilities.
i will be watching this thread with great interest.

 

[SMSREEF]

I mix in mine. But it really depends what you are going for.
If it’s a hidden fuge with a sole purpose of reducing nutrients, I would go with just Chaeto.
If it’s a display fuge that you view, and you are less interested in reducing nutrients then mixed is great option because the different macros look amazing.

 

[WvAquatics]

I tried to mix mine. The sea lettuce and red pom pom out competed the cheato and cheato melted

 

[AlgaeBarn]

What can certainly happen is if you ad a slow growing macro in with a fast one, the fast one will out compete and kill the other. This can be avoided as long as you know which elements your tank needs and keep up with them ~Shaun K.

 

[frank10]

I'm having good luck with a variety of macros and it's a lot of fun. My tangs enjoy having a variety of macro to much on.

 

[vlangel]

I also have a variety of macro algae in my tank, along with shoal seagrass. It can be a bit tricky balancing the more vigorous macro algae with the slower growth varieties. I have feather caulerpa, red titan ( a halimeda variety) codium and red grape caulerpa. The reds and greens together is stunning. The feather caulerpa is my tricky macro and I prune it regularly to both keep it in check but also to keep it from going sexual. I add iron and occasionally iodide as macros do better with those elements being dosed. I also dose coral bite. Finally I feed my heavy bio load of fish generously so that they poop and fertilize the seagrass and macros.

 

[vlangel]

Shared album from Dawn ð¸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

Here is a pic of my fuge. As you can see feather caulerpa is the most dominant macro with red grape caulerpa and red titan next. My codium which is on the sandbed is the slowest grower but it is growing. The shoal seagrass has only been added 2 weeks ago and has had a lot of die off but there are still green blades so I am hopeful that it will get established.