growing macro in main tank

[commodore]

If I don't have a fuge, can I successfully grow macro algae in my main tank. I know the fish will eat some types, but what about chaeto? if so, do you just let it float around, or do you confine it somehow? Thanks

 

[Konadog]

chaeto grows best if it can gently tumble with the water flow. You can grow it in the main tank, but remember, it floats along the top, blocking all the light going to your tank. That kind of defeats the purpose of having a reef tank.

Perhaps another type of macro algae that grows along the rocks.

 

[bergzy]

though this is chaeto is not in my main tank...

i made an eggcrate contaner tied together with zip ties to corral the chaeto in.

the chaeto receives a lot of flow with a seio 820 pointed at it and about another 1500gph from in tank circulation and powerheads on a wavemaker.

an idea could be to fab an eggcrate and perhaps prop it in a corner higher up near the light.

 

[Krudco]

I put some cheato and some live rock rubble in a small mesh bag tied the top off and lowered it into a hidden corner in the back of my tank.
seems to be working. when it grows to much I trim it and get credit from the lfs.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I keep a couple of different macros in my FOWLR including chaeto. I like the way it looks opposed to just having rock in the tank. Every couple of weeks I prune it back. The chaeto is stuck in a crevice on piece of kaelini and the calurpas grow attached to some of the other rocks.