Macro algae “display tank” as refugium?

[MoshJosh]

So this might be a dumb question. . . but

I’ve seen a lot of nice looking macro algae tanks, and was wondering. . . If you plumbed a reef tank and algae tank together somehow, would the nutrient export from algae growth and trimming said algae growth in any way provide the benefits of a “typical“ refugium?

 

[Ben Pedersen]

So this might be a dumb question. . . but

I’ve seen a lot of nice looking macro algae tanks, and was wondering. . . if you had a very well “planted” macro Tank, would the nutrient export from algae growth and trimming said algae growth in any way provide the benefits of a “typical“ refugium?

Yes... absolutely.

 

[MoshJosh]

Yes... absolutely.

Sorry, I meant to add, would act as a refugium if you plumbed it to your reef tank. I fixed my post above.

 

[Spare time]

I saw someone do something like this on YouTube

 

[Subsea]

So this might be a dumb question. . . but

I’ve seen a lot of nice looking macro algae tanks, and was wondering. . . If you plumbed a reef tank and algae tank together somehow, would the nutrient export from algae growth and trimming said algae growth in any way provide the benefits of a “typical“ refugium?

Any mature tank will recycle nutrients into their biomass. Most of my tanks are mixed garden lagoons. If I harvest coral for resale or compost tomatoes with harvested macros, it’s all nutrient recycling or nutrient export.

You do not need to match nutrients in with nutrients out because you are recycling nutrients into desirable biomass.

 

[Mhuq1197]

I use a macro algae tower in my display tank.

 

[MoshJosh]

I tried a shaving brush algae in my display, it kind of struggled along until it completely melted. . . any recommendations on care or other algae's to try that are "fool proof" but also appealing to the eye.

 

[Mhuq1197]

I replenish every 6 months or so. I buy from Rusalty, fire ball macro algae. Their quality and size to me seems better.

 

[Subsea]

I tried a shaving brush algae in my display, it kind of struggled along until it completely melted. . . any recommendations on care or other algae's to try that are "fool proof" but also appealing to the eye.

Gracilaria Hayi is a good option.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

Under low light, it has a burgundy color and under intense light, it takes on orange/yellow.

 

[Subsea]

Lights just came on in 25 yr mature tank. This G Hayi broke loose from bush on top.

 

[MoshJosh]

Lights just came on in 25 yr mature tank. This G Hayi broke loose from bush on top.

Thanks for the reply, and awesome Tank! I actually just received an order of that stuff and I’m pretty excited. I’m very glad to hear it’s not too hard to grow.

Excuse the mess of the tank. Everything is kinda just thrown in there for right now.

 

[SlugSnorter]

So this might be a dumb question. . . but

I’ve seen a lot of nice looking macro algae tanks, and was wondering. . . If you plumbed a reef tank and algae tank together somehow, would the nutrient export from algae growth and trimming said algae growth in any way provide the benefits of a “typical“ refugium?

yes, thats basically just what a fuge is. The pros may be offset if you have the macro tank stocked to capacity or something though.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks for the reply, and awesome Tank! I actually just received an order of that stuff and I’m pretty excited. I’m very glad to hear it’s not too hard to grow.

Excuse the mess of the tank. Everything is kinda just thrown in there for right now.

I looked for a tank thread to better understand your goals. Why bare bottomed for your display macro refugium? Also, what livestock is in your display to provide nutrients for macroalgae tank?

 

[SlugSnorter]

I looked for a tank thread to better understand your goals. Why bare bottomed for your display macro refugium? Also, what livestock is in your display to provide nutrients for macroalgae tank?

unless they are gonna be growing macros that need substrate its not needed (although personally I like the aesthetics). OP can also dose or phantom feed, livestock would help though yeah.

OP: maybe add some snails? most will leave the macro untouched and maybe even eat harmful algae that tries to overgrow it. Dwarf Trochus would be good, Ceriths would work but need sand.

 

[MoshJosh]

I was thinking about doing a display refugium next to my 5 gallon Fluval evo, I did end up setting up a refugium next to it, but I decided to go with a more “traditional” refugium, just using chaeto.

The tank I put the pom-pom algae in was supposed to be a soft coral only Tank. I went bare bottom just to try it out. I’ve done bare bottom in freshwater tanks before and really liked it so I figured why not.

that said I still have a huge interest in macroalgae‘s and I thought maybe if I grew them in this tank it would help with nutrient export considering it’s only running a hang on back filter. . .

so I guess my goal is to grow some decorative algae‘s next to my soft corals. Both to add interest to the Tank, and to provide a little bit of nutrient export.

EDIT: for live stock I have 2 clowns, 1 bicolor blenny, and 1 coral banded shrimp.