Macroalgae ?

kvansloo · Aug 23, 2024

I have a 90 gallon tank and would like to grow some Macroalgae in it with fish and corals. I would like a few different varieties so my tangs can have it when ever. I don't want anything fast growing or hard to maintain. What would be some good choices?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 23, 2024

Did you look through the sticky threads at the top of the forum?

kvansloo · Aug 23, 2024

I am starting to. But figured I would get the conversation going, I am going to have questions about them.

shakacuz · Aug 23, 2024

ogo, lettuce, dragons breath/tongue, pom pom, caulerpa?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 23, 2024

kvansloo said:
I am starting to. But figured I would get the conversation going, I am going to have questions about them.

I understand, but it looks like some of your questions might already be answered

kvansloo · Aug 27, 2024

How long after I stop Carbon dosing should I wait to put Macroalgae in?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 27, 2024

The 2 aren't mutually exclusive

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 27, 2024

How long has your tank been running? What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

kvansloo · Aug 27, 2024

15 years Nitrate over 75.00 Phosphate I have not tested yet

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 27, 2024

kvansloo said:
15 years Nitrate over 75.00 Phosphate I have not tested yet

Why do you feel the need to lower it?
If you want macro as a decoration in the display, there's no reason to specifically lower nitrates... the algae will help consume them.

Unless there's an issue, I would target stability, not a particular level of N or P.

kvansloo · Aug 27, 2024

It is stable been up for 15 years, maybe I worded it wrong. All I have in my tank is fish, mushrooms, and live rock at this time. I am wanting to add copepods and start dosing phyto again. the algae will be for the pods and tang. Also to consume some of the nitrates and phosphate. I was under the impression that dosing carbon would hurt the macro algae as when I started dosing bio fuel my cheato died.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Aug 27, 2024

Well, carbon dosing is done to reduce nutrients, and algae needs "dirtier" water or it may starve...

kvansloo · Sep 16, 2024

What Caulerpa species would be the least invasive? or would ogo be better for copepods and tang? I don't want some thing that I have to be constantly on top of. Maybe start it off in sump and move to tank as it gets bigger so the tang will not devour it all over night.

twentyleagues · Sep 16, 2024

Ogo may be better received by the tangs. My tang wont touch my grape or feather caulerpa, it will eat the dragons breath though. In the past I had blade caulerpa that most of my tangs would nibble but not eat the whole thing. I have heard that ogo is well liked by tangs, I have not tried it myself.

Subsea · Sep 23, 2024

kvansloo said:
It is stable been up for 15 years, maybe I worded it wrong. All I have in my tank is fish, mushrooms, and live rock at this time. I am wanting to add copepods and start dosing phyto again. the algae will be for the pods and tang. Also to consume some of the nitrates and phosphate. I was under the impression that dosing carbon would hurt the macro algae as when I started dosing bio fuel my cheato died.

Carbon dosing grows bacteria which when removed by protein skimmers reduce nutrients.

If you grow macroalgae, best check your trace elements especially iron. When I grew Gracilaria Parvispora commercially, I added ammonia and Chaeto grow. Now, instead of ChaetoGrow, I use liquid kelp concentrate. When I sent Ogo to a regional agriculture lab, the N/P ratio was 30/1 and the K/N ratio was 5/1. So, your potassium to phosphate ratio is 150/1 when you grow Ogo.

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PS: Ogo does not display particularly well. I suggest you grow it in your sump as a refugium with the pods. For display in your tank, I suggest Gracilaria Hayi.

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Gracilaria Hayi

“This beautiful species of red gracilaria features a bright red coloration with rigid, irregular shaped lobes that form a tight symmetrical bush. This is one of the most beautiful and hardy species we offer. It grows in protected shallow estuaries that are nutrient rich. Due to its stiff and lightly calcified branches it’s not known to be very palatable to fish or invertebrates. You will receive 2-3 specimens that are approx 3-4" in diameter.”