Macro algae tank/ marine planted tank

[Disher]

I've been wanting to do an all macro tank for so long! Fortunately, I live near the gulf so collecting macro won't be a problem.

Standard 10 gallon, 36w of T5 lighting- probably a 14k bulb plus a 6000k bulb

A nano koralia and a cheapo powerhead will provide the flow

Just setup!
http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934f9c-c144-7b9b.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934f9c-c15c-531b.jpg

The LR situation will change I just wanted to get the substrate seeded.

Any macro experts out there? I would love to get suggestions and ideas. I don't plan on keeping any fish, inverts only!

[Europhyllia]

I think macro can be very very beautiful. live-plants.com has been a great source for macro for me.
One thing I learned i the process is that macro competes with each other so unfortunately in the end you don't get the even assortment of stuff you put in there. The less spectacular stuff usually outgrows the really pretty stuff. lol

But it still will make a nice tank with color and movement. :)

[Disher]

Thanks a lot, I will check it out. What lighting did you go with?

[Europhyllia]

I have a DIY LED fixture but teh stuff really took off once I added a PAR 38 LED (with CREE!) bulb from Costco.

Here's my thread with some pics:
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?64428-60-Gallon-Reidi-Cube-FRY-SET-UP-last-page-with-questions!

[Disher]

That light is a little more than what I want to spend so close to the holidays. For now I have a dual 18w T5 and a random macro grow light I had laying around, should do the job! I ordered the refugium pack from GCE, it should be here by the end of the week(too cold to collect!). Excited to really get this tank moving along... The GHA battle is approaching soon! I'll bust out the test kits tomorrow to see where I'm at.

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-7120-6873.jpg

Dictyota and Halimeda are undergoing a survival test ha ha we will see what happens.

[Disher]

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-dec8-9197.jpg

Ammonia is spiking and it looks like I have a spike in nitrates. Shouldn't the nitrites spike before nitrates or did I miss that?

The refugium pack from gulf coast ecosystems should be here tomorrow but realistically Friday. My test algae seems to be doing just fine!

[StevenSeas]

did you use tap water or RO water? if tap that is about the values you will get from most tap sources.

[Disher]

I didn't think about that... Yeah, I prepared my SW with tap water I de-chlorinated and aerated for a few days. I also fed the tank on the first day with shrimp pellets and have been feeding it with oyster eggs and phyto feast to increase the nutrient levels. I don't want to over do it, though. Yesterday I dosed with ESV components 1 and 2 for the halimeda.

[Disher]

Excuse the cloudiness.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934f5c-6ca6-2ac4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934f5c-6cbb-bf81.jpg

My shipment came in yesterday and I was amazed at the quantity they gave me.

It came with Calerpa prolifera, Chaeto, Gracillaria, a small bit of brown scroll, tons of ulva, and a few I need to identify. Great buy for sure.

[BSJF]

Keep the prolifera well trimed so it doesn't overtake the others.

[Disher]

Thanks for the advice BSJF. I can't wait to see the growth of this stuff. I have noticed with other macro tanks that Calerpa will eventually take over if not properly trimmed like you said. Keeping a nice balance of the red and green macros is a point of mine so we'll see how it goes! Updated pictures of the tank coming soon, my last addition will be a few pieces of live rock.

[hobogato]

looking forward to seeing those pictures. great concept for a tank

[Disher]

I'm getting tired of my light setup, it's random lights I had laying around and looks crappy. Check this bulb out, I think it would be the perfect solution for this macro tank...What do y'all think?

http://www.needabulb.com/12W-LED-PAR38-Cool-White-6000K-Compare-to-75W-P575521C2203.aspx

I think the 6000K would be great for macros and it would simplify the look of my tank.

Also in need of some mechanical filtration, the dust doesn't want to settle and I have plant particles everywhere!

[Disher]

That bulb is on backorder for at least 6 weeks so that's out of the question for a while.

My tank finally has some signs of cycling, brown algae has started to grow on everything including the macros. I ordered a CUC from reefcleaners and will be shipped on Monday. I'm still moving things around and finding appropriate places for the macros in there.

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-6ca9-fedf.jpg

Best place for my Chaeto and some ulva.
http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-6cd0-c3c5.jpg

[Europhyllia]

looks like a great start!

[Disher]

Updated pictures. The tank is coming along nicely. Hair algae was starting to choke out my C. mexicana but I am keeping a close eye on them. Some of my Gracillaria was dying, not sure why but maybe an iron deficiency. I added an hob filter for mechanical filtration and added flow and I'm glad I did! I have been doing water changes once a week with the water change water from my other two nanos and using tap water for topping off.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934f26-3595-16f2.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-36fb-542c.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/41246a8d-3716-606b.jpg

I had a feeling my ulva wasn't going to make it because of the intense lighting demands so it's slowly but surely withering away.

[Europhyllia]

I have a DIY LED fixture plus a warm white LED PAR 38 from Costco. The Costco PAR38 even has CREE lenses.

[BSJF]

The ulva may do better attached to a veggie clip or rock where the entire piece can get adequate flow and light. Problem is it may shade some of your other macros.

On the gracillaria, you might try pinching a small piece off of it to encourage it to grow. Or iron and iodine was well as a good bulb. I replace my bulbs any time I see less growth if they don't respond to the iron and iodine. The one Karin mentions is a good one. You might even want to use two of them.

[Disher]

I had it attached to a rock by a rubber band but the Ulva keeps falling apart. I eventually want to buy a pair of those par38 bulbs but not right now. They are much cleaner looking and energy efficient. I just ordered an iron test kit and supplement to help out my red macros.

I trimmed the Gracillaria so we'll see how much it helps. I noticed the Dictyota is starting to spot, but also showing new growth... Not sure what's causing that.

Thanks for all of the advice!

[BSJF]

Ulva has been one of the hardest macros for me.

I don't test for iron. I usually just dose a 1/2 of a dose of iron and very infrequently (only when nothing else has helped). I wouldn't dose it if you have phosphates because you can get an outbreak of bad algae, so testing for that is even more important.

If you ever find yourself in SA and want a few other macros, let me know. I have a few other red varieties of gracilaria from Live Aquaria. Gracilaria mammillarus and red bush. Both are aquacultured and grow well. I also bought some Cymopolia barbata (tufted joint algae), but I'm not sure it is going to make it.

[Disher]

A combination of high phosphate and iron=bad algae outbreak?

I appreciate the offer! I will def take you up on that. I have a two macros I'm trying to identify right now that are very interesting that I would be more than happy sharing with you. My codium is starting to grow, too.

I'll grab a phosphate test kit and see where I'm at.

[BSJF]

I would love some codium. I had some a few years ago and shared it all over the place and then it crashed on me.

I have some small leaf halimedia too. Whatever I have that you want, I'm sure I can spare a bit.

[Squiers007]

Disher! We need some new pictures!

[Disher]

Took off two of my power heads and picked up an MP10. It's working great I love being able to control the flow. Pics coming soon!

[Squiers007]

Update??

[Disher]

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246d4a-5b38-28ab.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246d4a-5b4e-92f2.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246d4a-5b6e-0a8a.jpg
- pretty sure this is a fire worm

http://img.tapatalk.com/41246d4a-5b97-8e05.jpg
-can you see the egg sacks?

This is such an easy tank to care for. I'm still topping off with de-chlorinated tap water and I've never done a fresh water change. I'm dosing an iron supplement and b-ionic for the calcareous macros.

[Disher]

Dictyota I collected over the summer and doing great.

[txg8gxp]

Looks great, good job...

Dictyota I collected over the summer and doing great.

[Squiers007]

Dictyota I collected over the summer and doing great.

Looking good man!

[Disher]

I caught these guys this weekend in Port A and added about 5 new species of macro, one of which has become snail food.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOYq97v2cX8