Azedenkae Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Hey guys.I'm in the process of setting up my tank again after a month away (see my tank journal http://sosofishy.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/tj-mini-sea-0.html'>here).I am planning to make it a mixed coral/macroalgae tank. It is a pretty small tank too, so can't get something too big.However, I am not too familiar with macroalgae. Any suggestions? Preferably something red? And obtainable in Australia? Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Go to the sea shore, go at low tide, go to the area never exposed to air, it should be loaded with red macro. Collect at will. Keep me posted of macro progress. Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Go to the sea shore, go at low tide, go to the area never exposed to air, it should be loaded with red macro. Collect at will. Keep me posted of macro progress. Ahahaha that was my other plan. XD I work at a research institute and have seen some brown macro before. Will do that. Why those parameters in particular tho? Do red macroalgae generally not like air? Or is that a macroalgae generalization? Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Also red macro needs bright light usually. Don't pick air exposed algae because many algae needs air exposure time to survive, thus its extremely difficult to keep in captivity. To be sure your water parameters are right, you have 2 options, collect gallons of water at the sea and periodically use it as water changes, or test all parameters of the ocean water and match them in your tank. I've seen some species of algae will melt away without the air. Link to comment
Pinner Reef Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Got2Envy is really good with macros http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/347917-got2envys-20g-macroalgaes-with-flower-power/ Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Got2Envy is really good with macros http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/347917-got2envys-20g-macroalgaes-with-flower-power/ Oh. Wow. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 A trip to the ocean at low tide in a rocky area can yield awesome results, where in Australia do you live? Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 A trip to the ocean at low tide in a rocky area can yield awesome results, where in Australia do you live? In the heart of Sydney. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 At least your ocean trips can be quite easy look along boat ports, or other areas with lots of rocks, it shouldn't be hard to find the right red macros Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 At least your ocean trips can be quite easy look along boat ports, or other areas with lots of rocks, it shouldn't be hard to find the right red macros I work/study at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, and there's a beach right next to it. So... walked along it and found some red macroalgae. Tossed it into my tank. Someone identified it as Gracilaria verrucosa. I'm pretty sure he is right, or if not, it is at least a Gracilaria species, but who knows, maybe you guys have other ideas. I have it posted in my tank journal http://sosofishy.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/tj-mini-sea-1.html'>here. Link to comment
pledosophy Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Here is mine from a few years back. 34g. I'd recommend getting one fast grower and the rest all slow growers. Then try to limit either nitrate or phosphate so you can control nuisance algaes. These tanks are not to hard to do. Great with LPS I find, not so good with sticks. http://s155.photobucket.com/user/pledosophy/media/091214FTSMacroAlgae.jpg.html'> Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Here is mine from a few years back. 34g. I'd recommend getting one fast grower and the rest all slow growers. Then try to limit either nitrate or phosphate so you can control nuisance algaes. These tanks are not to hard to do. Great with LPS I find, not so good with sticks. Wow that is awesome! Your aquarium is basically what I aspire mine to be like. XD Macroalgae and corals growing together, with the macroalgae taking care of a lot of the excess nutrients. I do like your idea of a fast grower and the rest being slow. The slow ones will take time, whilst I can keep pruning the fast one. As a form of nutrient export. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Pledosophy, I love your tank Azedenkae, once you test the parameters tell me. Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 http://sosofishy.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/tj-mini-sea-2.html'>Update. Ammonia: 0.25ppmNitrite: 0.25ppmNitrate: 20ppmPhosphate: 5.0ppm The above is what I got today. XD Ammonia and nitrite dropped pretty low over night (I am assuming). Nitrate and phosphate is high. Just added some more seafood mix in there today. Ammonia is starting to go up again. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Your tank looks like it needs a little more cycling time lol patience is the key to a successful tank. But there are a bunch of loopholes to that rule. Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Your tank looks like it needs a little more cycling time lol patience is the key to a successful tank. But there are a bunch of loopholes to that rule. Lol yeah, still cycling definitely. Not gonna add corals yet. Or fish. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 One loophole to cycling is get fresh ocean sand and water, usually there's only a few days to cycle instead of sometimes weeks. Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 One loophole to cycling is get fresh ocean sand and water, usually there's only a few days to cycle instead of sometimes weeks. That's something I did last time, forgot to do it again lol. Thanks for the reminder. To be honest cycling is easy, and should be very quick. XD So many things can help go through the initial cycle of a tank properly. No idea why some people subject themselves to months of pointless waiting. >.<" Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I have actually never done any cycling more than a week to any of my current tanks, then again they've been using mostly wild collected plants, sand etc. Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 I have actually never done any cycling more than a week to any of my current tanks, then again they've been using mostly wild collected plants, sand etc. The first time I set this tank up, I did add just a bit of sand from the beach (accidentally, byproduct of collecting water. Mostly though, I just go through a proper cycle with proper feeding. I used mixed seafood and fish food, the latter was also to introduce more bacteria in. Started with sand and Marine Pure. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What else do you plan for your tank, do you dive/snorkel? Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 What else do you plan for your tank, do you dive/snorkel? This one? More macroalgae (all red ones), a green hammer and an elegance. And fish. Nah I don't dive/snorkel. When I do and find some nice macroalgae, I might change it up. XD Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Take a trip to those piers, bring swim trunks, or bathing suit, or whatever you swim in. And a pair of goggles, look under the surface, you'll see a magical world at low tide so how's life like in Australia anyways? Link to comment
Azedenkae Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Take a trip to those piers, bring swim trunks, or bathing suit, or whatever you swim in. And a pair of goggles, look under the surface, you'll see a magical world at low tide so how's life like in Australia anyways? Australia is amazing. Best place ever. Also great place for the marine aquaria. Given that we get our corals straight from our reefs, it is cheap as. Relative to our earnings anyways. And since I work at a LFS, it is even cheaper. :3 People here are chill and the weather is great. Except it does get hot. My fish love it, but my corals didn't quite. Here is mine from a few years back. 34g. I'd recommend getting one fast grower and the rest all slow growers. Then try to limit either nitrate or phosphate so you can control nuisance algaes. These tanks are not to hard to do. Great with LPS I find, not so good with sticks. Hey pledo, btw did you have to 'plant' your algae down at all? Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Man I wish I could say that about Ohio lol, cold weather, high crime, lots of other badness. So they have no collection regulations in Australia? Link to comment
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