Chaeto options?

[JVManlius]

I have a 90 I've run for about 2 years and I'm finally ready to make full use of my refugium. I was originally just looking to raise pods for the main tank (and hoping to see a reduction in algae in the main tank). My research tells me chaeto is clearly the prefered option by reefers, and to stay away from caulerpa. I then discovered another macroalgae called gracilaria, which tangs apparently love to eat. Since I have 4 tangs in my tank, using gracilaria would have an obvious advantage over chaeto. Has anyone experimented with gracil? Any thoughts on trying to grow chaeto and gracil together? What do you do with the chaeto when your trimming it back, if you can't use it in the main tank?

And while I'm posting, I'd like to thank all you folks for the advice I've been getting in this forum. I don't post very oftern, but occassionally read various threads and have learned alot on the Upstate NY forum.

 

[alphaferret]

[welcome]

Some who cannot find anyone to donate their chaeto just throw it out. usually if you post here someone will p/u for ya. In the ideal conditions you may need to prune often. Gracilaria is very nice to look at although I have no experience w/ it other than that.

4 tangs? Of the smaller variety?

 

[block head]

i talked to local lfs about it, it's a pita to grow. my research leads me to believe macro works, but not that much.

 

[JVManlius]

I had a feeling someone would comment on the tangs. I have a yellow, hippo, power blue, and dejardin, and they all get along fine. I realize the dejardin may grow too big one day and will have to be removed. For now, they're a joy to watch. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[alphaferret]

ya some around here might go"tang police "on ya but I know what it's like to want a fish and then have to give it up. i t sucks but hey if it works for you and they are happy then go for it. I actually had some of that grac. in the salad days of my tank(actually my 29) if i remember it just wilted away to nothing. I wonder what it loves as far as nutrients and food/light? it is red right?

 

[JVManlius]

Gee, they're fat and happy and have plenty of room, they're all about 3 to 4 inches in length. I think the yellow is fully grown at 4 inches. Powder is 3, hippo is 4, desjardin is 4. Tell me I'm not breaking some rule!

 

[alphaferret]

Some would say so-but some are also putting vodka in their tanks, adding fish they don't want just to cycle the tank- so crazy stuff happens. As long as you know that someday at least one of those tangs will need to upgrade from condo to a full size home in the country.

 

[alphaferret]

2x post

 

[JVManlius]

Back on the subject on the gracil, I understand it comes in several colors, red being the most popular. Did you ever notice if the macroalgae ever helped you reduce your algae in the display tank?

 

[alphaferret]

yes-the nutrients are more readliy taken up by the easily grown chaeto rather than feeding the nuisance algaes that grow in maintank. After the chaeto has grown it looses its effectiveness and will tumble less in the fuge growing discolored on the edges-nuisance algae will begin to take hold-that's when it is time to prune and make sure the spaghetti algae is tumbling in the current in the fuge. Will you incorporate dsb(deep sand bed ) in your fuge? I have what some would call a display fuge-easily seen next to my main tank instead of the normal underneath. It can be a nice place to keep unruly fish or in my case overly clumsey high top snail(i hope the name is right)He would topple over my unsecured corals so he got banished. But a nice shrimp and goby combo would be nice in a display fuge & poss. help keep that clean at the same time.

 

[JVManlius]

So it's works, great. Have you successfully been able to raise pods for the display tank?

 

[JVManlius]

just planning on rubble and a few rocks, no sand bed for the refug. I'm a little worried about stirring it up too much during my weekly water changes. How is the dsb working out for you?

 

[alphaferret]

I don't really raise the pods but I do have a great amount of pods in main and fuge. I do not have any preds of pods so they do well, crawling all over everything at night when I go peeking in on them. I have considered a manderin. as far as raising them which you can do-I do not-I just let them grow and proliferate naturally.

 

[Johnny C]

Pods will readily reproduce in the cheato, and it's by far the most effective macro algae. Plus, it won't go sexual like some of the others.

PS- Yellow Tangs can (and will) get much larger than 4 inches. A good skimmer will help to keep up with the heavy bioload.

 

[alphaferret]

I actually am bb right now-I take waterchange from fuge-sucking up any unwanted detritus. I have 3 ph in there that keep most of it water column so as to be taken up by skimmer or sock.

 

[alphaferret]

Pods will readily reproduce in the cheato, and it's by far the most effective macro algae. Plus, it won't go sexual like some of the others.

PS- Yellow Tangs can (and will) get much larger than 4 inches. A good skimmer will help to keep up with the heavy bioload.

I second this as well-lots of wormies in mine as well!

I run my fuge lite 24 /7 but some say to go opposite of main tank to keep ph from spiking

 

[JVManlius]

I have a manderin in the main tank and that's one of reasons I want to "raise" pods in the refug. Plus they're cool to watch.

 

[JVManlius]

I plan on running it 12 hours at night, understand that helps keep the ph from spiking. Interesting comment on the yellow tank, because it was my first tang and I've had him for almost two years, never gotten any bigger than 4 inches...and he has been the dominant fish in my tank from the day he moved in.

 

[alphaferret]

Yes Manderin is one of the reefers favs! The colors are amazing whether you have spotted or psyhcodelic(sp) And the way they scoot around and perch on lr makes them a natural for most reef keepers fish list.

You can also boost your pods by buying them online or at your lfs.

 

[superkat]

i have two very fat and happy mandarins. Target and Psycho....love them.