Macroalgae display/refugium

[cjtabares]

I have a 10 gal tank I am doing nothing with, and was thinking of cultivating copepods but was thinking maybe a marcoalgae display/refugium next to my tank would be cool. I would plumb it into my main 45gal display. It could be a refugium for copepods and be a cool display tank. I have a few question.
1. Does this seem like a good idea?
2. Any light suggestions for a 10gal?
3 Any algae’s I should look for or should stay away from? (Don’t want anything that would take over my other display tank)
4. Any suggestions for fish thank would be good for a tank like this?
5. Any good resources on requirements for a tank like this?

Thanks for any help.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have a 10 gal tank I am doing nothing with, and was thinking of cultivating copepods but was thinking maybe a marcoalgae display/refugium next to my tank would be cool. I would plumb it into my main 45gal display. It could be a refugium for copepods and be a cool display tank. I have a few question.
1. Does this seem like a good idea?
2. Any light suggestions for a 10gal?
3 Any algae’s I should look for or should stay away from? (Don’t want anything that would take over my other display tank)
4. Any suggestions for fish thank would be good for a tank like this?
5. Any good resources on requirements for a tank like this?

Thanks for any help.

Yes it can work great.
Any fresh water plant light will work if enough par. It will provide the correct spectrum to grow the macro while also allowing it to look nice. Try a fluval 3.0 I have one on my fuge now and the macro grows like crazy.
Dragons breath is always a given for me in the fuge, blade caulerpa, feather caulerpa, codium,
https://www.live-plants.com/ lots of good stuff with pics here.
If you are intending it to be a haven for pods i would not add any fish of the appropriate size for that tank they will most likely eat your pods.
Nothing I can think of. Some sand, rocks, macro, a way to get water into it and for that water to return to the sump, light, maybe a very small power head.

 

[cjtabares]

Yes it can work great.
Any fresh water plant light will work if enough par. It will provide the correct spectrum to grow the macro while also allowing it to look nice. Try a fluval 3.0 I have one on my fuge now and the macro grows like crazy.
Dragons breath is always a given for me in the fuge, blade caulerpa, feather caulerpa, codium,
https://www.live-plants.com/ lots of good stuff with pics here.
If you are intending it to be a haven for pods i would not add any fish of the appropriate size for that tank they will most likely eat your pods.
Nothing I can think of. Some sand, rocks, macro, a way to get water into it and for that water to return to the sump, light, maybe a very small power head.

Thanks, will take a look at that site. Didn’t even think of the fish eating the pods, main reason is to try and get more for a mandarin in the day.

 

[twentyleagues]

I typically stay away from the calcareous algaes but there are many that look nice at first. Not sure why but i have always had issues with those. Corals grow great but things like mermaids fan, shaving brush, pinecone always look like garbage for me in a few months.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

I really enjoy my string of pearls, they grow well and are easy to manage. Red fern is pretty too. You probably wouldn’t want red hex or halimeda because they use up calcium?

My favorite is blue hypnea. It’s gorgeous but it’s a little hard to trim without losing pieces around the tank and starting a new area of it (at least for me, a beginner). That said, it’s a perfect home for copepods because it’s a dense bed that they can colonize. I bought mine from @mosaic_macros and recommend them!!

 

[cjtabares]

Yeah, I will probably stay away from any calcareous algae’s, at least unless I find something I really like.