Macroalgae tanks?

[lukelogic]

Hello everyone. I've been stalking the forums for awhile but I've only finally gotten a small tank for myself. So I figured might as well register and all of that. I started out wanting to make a reef tank, and still will probably get a few pieces of coral at some point if I can. But I have another idea now. It is a little odd maybe, but perhaps someone else does it in one way or another.

In addition to my new tank I'll be starting, I am thinking of making a worm farm. For the worm poop (use it in the garden). I read something that said if you just wash the salt water off of "sea weeds" you can put them in your worm farm. The article was talking to people who lived by the ocean.

So now I'm thinking, being a complete novice in both fields lol, that maybe it would be nice to have a macroalgae tank now, or at least a macroalgae dominated tank. Having to prune it would be a good thing, cause I could just wash off the trimmings and put them in my worm farm. From my limited understanding this would make the worm castings even more beneficial, as they would have a better variety of nutrients.

Anyone ever used the trimmings out of their refugium or anything to feed a worm farm?

 

[KSzegi]

Welcome to R2R! Can't be of much help on your worm farm question, but wanted to say welcome and give your question a bump!!

 

[fluffybeast]

I am new to reef but not new to worms. I would wash any algae off with freshwater before putting it in. I do not know if the worms would mind the salt in moderation, but your plants may be a little more sensitive.

If you were anticipating synergies between the two nascent hobbies, I do not think it would be very efficient. There are much cheaper sources of organic matter than SW macroalgae, and the benefit to the end result would be neglible for a good sized worm bin. For the worms, just give them a variety of foods, don't keep them too dry (or too wet - shouldn't be liquid leaking, that leachate is not compost tea), and toss in an eggshell or two for calcium so they can make baby worms.

If you would like to discuss worm composting in more detail, feel free to send me a message