What's in your 'fuge?

[mabel_photo6]

I haven't been able to travel up to S.A. lately because of the holidays.
I've been wanting to put some marine plants in my 'fuge but I have no clue who would carry them.

Right now, I just have some live rock and some chaeto.
Buuuuuuuut I'm not a huge fan of it since it can over run my 'fuge.
So I wanted something that would still help in the cycle.

I really want my 'fuge to serve it's purpose well.
So let me know what you have in your 'fuge! :applause:
Aaaaaaaaand where'd you get the plants/algae?

[Mr Cob]

I have Chaetomorpha (you already know what this looks like) and ....

Shaving brush:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-26148-Christmas-Tree-Pla.jpg

Halimeda:
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/algae/algae_halimeda_s.jpg/variant/medium

some type of Gracilaria I think that's what it's called??
http://www.meerwasser-lexikon.de/images/M9JCb1nB4q.jpg

Caulerpa Prolifera:
http://www.meerwasser-lexikon.de/images/GyJu6KqLUw.jpg

[Pennies2Cents]

Chaeto & Culerpra... :) and a 4inch sand bed.

[allan]

I have the chaeto, culerpra, and culepra profilia. Got the Chaeto and the profila from Mr. Cob and I got the regular grape culepra from AD off of 281.

I wouldn't worry about it overrunning your fuge because part of the process of having macro in your fuge is the periodic trimming of the plant to actually export the nutrients. In fact of all the macros mentioned Chaeto is the only one that I know of that doesn't set up a root network. Culerpra and the and the culerpra profilia sets up roots of their own. In the sand no worries, in the rubble rock it becomes quite difficult to extract.

[rockmp]

does everyone just let everything grow together or do yall seperate it with some eggcrate?

[Europhyllia]

Right now, I just have some live rock and some chaeto.
Buuuuuuuut I'm not a huge fan of it since it can over run my 'fuge.
...
I really want my 'fuge to serve it's purpose well.


If it's growing that well, isn't it serving its purpose (grow, take up nutrients, prune, regrow, etc.)

I have cheato and mangroves. The mangroves are more for fun though since the chaeto of course is much more effective.
(if you want some mangroves you can have some of mine)

[justahobby]

Your complaints sound like good things lol. When you say the chaeto is overrunning your sump, do you mean pieces are breaking off and growing elsewhere?

My list includes several items that won't do much for nutrient exportation, but I like the look of diversity in a fuge.

Chaeto (Bstreep), caulerpa prolifera (bstreep), mermaid fans(kyle46n - no longer keeping a tank), halimeda (my LR) and some other unknown non invasive caulerpa (kyle46n). I also keep greenstars in my fuge.

The chaeto and mermaid are the only ones that seem effected by my vodka dosing. I have seen and read of people using xenia in their fuge to replace the algae lost to vodka. It appears to work.

[Mr Cob]

does everyone just let everything grow together or do yall seperate it with some eggcrate?

I let it all grow together and don't really separate anything...they naturally kind of grow in their own sections.

[Bill S]

I let it all grow together and don't really separate anything...they naturally kind of grow in their own sections.

What Rob said.

I also have TONS of feather dusters in mine.

[mabel_photo6]

Chaeto turns into a blob of strings all over. Mine didn't break off, it just grew in size.
Sort of like a ball. I do have to trip it every once in a while but that's the part that is messy and hope that the flying pieces get caught by the filter. Maybe I'll make a stop at Aquarium Designs... is that the store you meant?

I have no idea when the next trip will be but I would love some different plants other than just Chaeto. I like the looks of halimeda and mangrove plants. And Caulepra. :)

[Europhyllia]

Chaeto turns into a blob of strings all over. Mine didn't break off, it just grew in size.
Sort of like a ball. I do have to trip it every once in a while but that's the part that is messy and hope that the flying pieces get caught by the filter. :)
That's how it works. You lift the blob out of the tank, rip a big chunk off and dispose of it and put the smaller portion back in the tank. The trimming it is your export. ;)

[mabel_photo6]

Hmmm good to know... the ball of chaeto I put in there has grown about 4 times its size.
I bought some mangroves that my local Petland had. $3.99 each and I got 2.

Nothing to do with a 'fuge but I also bought a Foxface for my 100 gallon for $18.
And a Mandarine Goby for $10 each. One for my 100 gallon and another in my BioCube 29. :) Hope they do well!

I really would like my 'fuge to be pretty planted so I'm hoping to find me some marine plants when I get the chance to travel up to S.A.

Any suggestions of where I can find plants and/or algae?
Aquarium Design?

[hobogato]

i have red grape caulerpa and razor caulerpa that i can cut back at any time, next time you are in town, stop by and get some. i may have some halmeda also.

[mabel_photo6]

Nice! I'll most likely post here when I'll be making a drive up there.
My boyfriend and I will probably make some stops though just to check out what's available. :)

Where else besides Aquarium Design should I check?

[1fstlightning]

Try Texas Tropical or Reefs2U, they might have some. I know Jeramy had some Mangroves at his old shop, so He might still carry some.

[1fstlightning]

I need to start putting some of that stuff in my fuge as well

[mabel_photo6]

I know I'm lame 'cause I think I tried finding Reefs2U and I think it was one of the places I can't find.
To make me even lame-er, I have a GPS. lol
I can't remember what place it was that pretty much took me to the parking lot of UTSA.
We were like uhhhhhhhhhhh so we gave up on a store. Forgot which one it was. lol

[allan]

You shouldn't miss his shop, it's real nice. If you can find the Walmart across 1604 from the rolling oaks mall, it's to the west of the walmart building. Really nice setup and great selection.

[mabel_photo6]

lol Thanks Allen. Our time visiting is always quick so we give up easily if we can't find a place 'cause we have other places to go. I'll be sure to try again.
I've been wanting to as well. I try to visit every fish store I can.

If not in one visit, I'll try again in the future. :)

[allan]

Next time you and yours is up in this neck of the woods PM me for my cell number. If you can't find the store call me and I'll try to talk you through it... and really that only applies to R2U since I would get you lost anywhere but them and AD. :)

[jesserettele]

I don't have a tank up and running yet BUT I do have a live sand bed (thanks Kristy), Chaeto (thanks rockmp), T5 light hood (thanks ctcoral), 55 gallon 4' long temporary tank to start the sump/fuge media (thanks Double-O-Zilch), small skimmer (thanks rockmp), and power head (thanks ctcoral). At least I have something with 1.025 salinity even if it is this begining to a sump/fuge. It's funny how excited I got when it started it's first nitrogen cycle.

I had no idea that there were so many options for macro. This is a great thread.

I am guessing that no-one has posted pics since it takes a whole day to clean the fuge for the photo shoot? Google images just don't do justice for all the macro listed here in this thread though.

I have an extensive list of friendly MAAST members above that have helped me get started again which I appreciate. THANKS!