Okay, that’s what I thought. But wanted to make sureWhen I discarded macro algae, I composted tomatoes with Caulerpa. Similarly to recycling detritus (organic carbon) into the microbial loop.
Okay, that’s what I thought. But wanted to make sureWhen I discarded macro algae, I composted tomatoes with Caulerpa. Similarly to recycling detritus (organic carbon) into the microbial loop.
@kedar301INSPIRED from: Intelligent Design / Natural Filtration : All Natural self sufficient tank
hi all,
this is what i am planning as a staring point....
180cm Long x 75cm wide x 65cm tall tank (roughly 6ft L x 2.5ft W x 2ft T) with a Bean Animal overflow system. with a sump tank (multiple sumps possible) underneath being 160cm Long x 60cm wide x 65cm tall (roughly 5ft L x 2ft W x 2ft T).
At this time this is only an information gathering thread.
What I would also like suggestions on is....What should this setup contain as a self sufficient reef tank. I would love to make the sumps to be a display as well if possible.
List of equipments would also be nice to have.
Does this apply to all types of macro algae Tim? Specifically, chaetomorpha?FWIW, there's a lot of research showing macro alga can have a negative impact on corals.
As a generalization, soft macros leak more DOC in the form of glucose/sugar than firm macro like Catomorphy. However, Chaeto leaks some DOC, probably the least of all the macro algaes. @Timfish Have you ever seen a graph comparing exudates of differrent macro algae?Does this apply to all types of macro algae Tim? Specifically, chaetomorpha?
John,Does this apply to all types of macro algae Tim? Specifically, chaetomorpha?
If you understood the cryptic sponge cycle, your lighted refugium should feed DOC to cryptic zone Instead of cryptic zone feeding lighted cycle. Also, cryptic zone filtration does not need high flow.What i am thinking then is to have 3 sections in my 5x2x2 ft sump....1st cryptic section, 2nd lighted sump and then a tiny little return pump area.
Now for both cryptic and lighted sumps what do i need.....
Cryptic sump with lots of rock rubbles & lighted sump with DSB+macro algage? and a single plenum to under entire section covering both area of cryptic and lighted.
What are the thoughts?
Does this apply to all types of macro algae Tim? Specifically, chaetomorpha?
Thanks Tim.But to answer you question directly, cheato appears to produce far less labile DOC than hair algae or turf algae. Halimeda is somwwhere in the middle.
Does that not add salt to the soil?When I discarded macro algae, I composted tomatoes with Caulerpa. Similarly to recycling detritus (organic carbon) into the microbial loop.
Minerals and salts are lumped together and tomatoes grow with it. That’s why organic gardeners compost the soil,Does that not add salt to the soil?
Do you self collect sometimes like Paul does?Minerals and salts are lumped together and tomatoes grow with it.
While I do not scuba dive, I have collected in salt water marshes and also on the jetties when I attended Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston on Pelican Island. When I mentored Austin Reef Club, we did collection trip to Corpus Christie.Do you self collect sometimes like Paul does?
I always wonder after reading your posts what the correct proportion of skimmer (surf), cryptic (deep ocean?), shallow (macro algae and coral) and fish would be. I have never seen a post about simulating the platonic cycle in top water mid ocean that many things need to complete their lifecycle though.
Maybe if I win the lottery
My current setup lacks any of this. I have high flow throughout and the sumps stay clean. This was a side effect of not wanting the stock tanks to have surface files in them so I stuck wave makers in them to agitate the surface.While I do not scuba dive, I have collected in salt water marshes and also on the jetties when I attended Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston on Pelican Island. When I mentored Austin Reef Club, we did collection trip to Corpus Christie.
Mid ocean planktonic life cycle would require much energy, I focus on bottom of food chain beginning with pico plankton in detritus and “MULM”. Here is what @Paul B says about that:
"Mulm" in a reef tank
I think one of the most important, and least understood or mentioned things in a reef tank is "mulm". That stuff that grows in the dark portions of a tank if it is set up long enough. "Mulm" is a combination of algae, sponges, bacteria, pods, worms, detritus, poop and any thing else that can be p...wamas.org
My
My current setup lacks any of this. I have high flow throughout and the sumps stay clean. This was a side effect of not wanting the stock tanks to have surface files in them so I stuck wave makers in them to agitate the surface.