High Nutrient Macro Algae/Sea Grass Reef

[vlangel]

Yes, I did mention adding some shoal grass to the display. I will wait for the seagrass to get well established in the fuge first. Doing that also means relocating the feather duster garden down into the left front corner so the shoal grass can have use of the DSB. I hate to disturb the feather dusters for now so this is probably a change that is a couple of years away yet.

However, today Dave and I started on an equipment change! We are adapting my 24" Coralife Quad T5 fixture to go over the refugium. I believe the shoal grass could do better with better light. The refugium is an extra tall tank and I do not think the cheap par 30 LEDs have enough intensity for the seagrass. They are fine for the macro algae but I decided to cater to the grass. I bought that fixture for that tank but now with the drain coming in it and my DIY overflow the Coralife fixture cannot use the legs to stand on the tank. We are adapting it to be suspended. My poor husband!

 

[vlangel]

Dave helped me take the fixture apart enough so that none of the wiring was damaged by the eye bolts.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Adding shoal grass to your display sounds way cool! They'll move nicely in the current. I could send you some more, as I'm thinking I need to thin mine out.

Great idea on the fixture upgrade. Slick setup! I think the shoal grass will enjoy that lighting a lot. Can't wait to see it up and running!

So much for couch time!

 

[vlangel]

No rest for the weary!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Nice job on the light. Is it hanging from the ceiling or an arm setup? Can we get a pic of how it looks in the tank?

 

[vlangel]

Nice job on the light. Is it hanging from the ceiling or an arm setup? Can we get a pic of how it looks in the tank?

Thanks Michael. It hangs from the ceiling. Dave had to put a 2 x 4 between joices to hang it. I am handy but this job was definitely one that I needed Dave's help.
Yes, when I clean the tank up I will take a pic of that too. It does not look as bright to my eye as I hoped but the bulbs are old. I hope to buy new ones even today.

Thank you for the offer of more shoal grass. I think when you are ready to thin out that I will take you up on the offer. I want to send you some photosynthetic sponge too, packaged better than before so you actually get some!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I know what you mean with old bulbs. I was looking at my tank yesterday and I noticed there were no glitter lines anymore. I'll try to remember to wipe down the bulb and reflector tonight after it turns off. It could also be water clarity. I haven't run charcoal in awhile, or done a water change in quite some time.

I'm on my second cup of tea to work up some gumption, so I may have some shoal grass to get rid of! I look forward to getting that sponge, but there's no rush.

I look forward to seeing how your fuge is doing!

 

[vlangel]

I look forward to showing lush seagrass.

 

[vlangel]

I order 3 new bulbs from Amazon which should be here Tuesday. I usually buy gift cards from our grocery store and get grocery/fuel incentives. I misjudged how much the bulbs would cost so could only buy 3, ha ha! Actually I should acclimate the plants and macros slowly anyway.

Like you Michael, I have not run carbon in probably a month and a half so I should probably do that too.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

That FTS really shows a bright, even distribution of light. Your Conch appears to be a different species from mine, which isn't surprising really. The Shoal Grass looks good. You need more! Those reds just keep on growing, don't they? Is that Gracilaria Hayi and Botriocladia? That tank is coming along nicely. I have no doubt you'll turn it into a showpiece. Great pics!

 

[ThePurple12]

Beautiful! Is there a story behind those bubble tip anemones in the fuge?

 

[vlangel]

That FTS really shows a bright, even distribution of light. Your Conch appears to be a different species from mine, which isn't surprising really. The Shoal Grass looks good. You need more! Those reds just keep on growing, don't they? Is that Gracilaria Hayi and Botriocladia? That tank is coming along nicely. I have no doubt you'll turn it into a showpiece. Great pics!

Yes, the lighting of T5s is always very evenly distributed and T5s are known to reflect back off the sand. Sadly they do not shimmer like LEDs or metal halide however. I bought this fixture just for that tank so it's a good fit.

This is my first conch ever so I am totally unfamiliar with the different species. How is my conch different?

Yes, I believe you are correct about what species of red macro I have. I am a bit concerned that the botriocladia will not fare as well with more light. It does not do as well in my display and I had decided that the more intense light was probably why. The grasilaria hayi will probably do fine however either way. I have had excellent luck with it, both in high and lower light.

I really want the shoal grass to thrive however. Do you think if I add a small power head for flow through the grass that that would help? The flow through the fuge is relatively slow, only about 400 gph. Rio makes both a 50 and a 90 gph power head that would add fairly gentle flow through the seagrass.

 

[vlangel]

Beautiful! Is there a story behind those bubble tip anemones in the fuge?

You have sharp eyes ThePurple! Yes, there is a story, LOL. When I added a single bubble tip nem to my display, I did not want it walking around stinging coral or inadvertantly finding my power head; so I placed it up on the tabling acro skeleton, (which just happened to be near the overflow). Much to my pleasure the BTA liked that placement and has stayed there. However as BTAs often do, it has divided a few times and the new BTAs have released and apparently got swept into the overflow and made their way down into the fuge. Yesterday I discovered that their is a 3rd one down there! Perhaps I should just move the original one down there too, as my captive bred occelaris clown has absolutely no interest in it anyway.

 

[ThePurple12]

I’ve also wondered about flow for seagrass. I assumed it doesn’t really matter, but I haven’t done anything to find out if that’s true.

 

[ThePurple12]

Wow, swept down the overflow!

 

[vlangel]

I’ve also wondered about flow for seagrass. I assumed it doesn’t really matter, but I haven’t done anything to find out if that’s true.

I just picture the seagrass swaying back and forth in the ocean, which is why I wondered.

And yeah, I am so grateful that the BTAs never clogged my drain or standpipe! My overflow is a HOB overflow box so no emergency drain. A clogging nem could be pretty bad. It would probably mean 5-10 gallons of saltwater overflowing the display onto the living room floor and carpet! Uhhhg, perish the thought!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Your Conch has different colored eyes and the shell looks more like a Queen Conch. But I don't think it is. I've seen several species of fighting conchs available. I've had mine for years and it's still under two inches. In general, I'd say yours is prettier!

Your experience with Botriocladia and G. hayi mirrors my own. So I'd say you are spot-on.

I don't think you need to add more flow for the shoal grass. My tank has much less flow than in v1, and the grasses are doing great. Honestly, I like it better this way, because the grasses grow more erect, rather than being blown sideways all the time. I don't think it would hurt them though, if you wanted to try it.

If you have an extra BTA, that would make for a good trade if you wanted more shoal grass and/or dove snails. Just a thought!

 

[vlangel]

Michael, I would be more than thrilled to send you a BTA! Mine are rainbow BTAs and have nice color. As soon as I look ahead and see a temperate time where the weather is not too extreme, I will plan to do that. This time of year it should not be too much longer.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Awesome! Thanks Dawn! I've kept BTAs before I like them a lot. The rainbow version sounds great. I'll have to go back and look at your pics! I'd be happy to send you some more grass and snails if you like. I love the trading thing!

Oh, I also wanted to mention that the back and forth motion is great with the grasses, so if you could find a small powerhead that had a start-stop mode, that might just the ticket!

 

[vlangel]

I am leaning toward cutting the coral spire that the BTA in the display is on. It will probably let go during transport but that way I do not risk injuring it's foot. Also I am thinking BTAs are better in my refugium than the display since at the moment the fuge does not have a power head. Even if I put a power head to sway the seagrass, it will be a small one and less of a threat to a nem.

A few snails might really help with the algae on the seagrass, too and I would be grateful.