Macro algae or Mangrove for nitrate reduction?

[nandan]

I have a 100g main tank with 35 g refugium. I wanted to know what is the best option macro algae or Mangrove?

 

[Revision17]

From people's comparative experiences, chaetomorpha seems to be the way to go these days for the purpose of nutrient sinking.

Plus it's really easy to manage, in terms of nutrient export (tearing off parts and throwing them away).

 

[RicksReefs]

personally, I still prefer Caulerpa algae over chaeto, but that's me..

as far as mangroves, they're cool for the coolness factor, but, IME, not much for nitrate uptake.

 

[nandan]

Thankyou for the information, how easy is Chaetomorpha to keep and do u regularly have to cut it?

 

[Chibils]

Chaetomorpha and Caulerpa are both great - however, Caulerpa has the potential to go sexual and nuke your tank. Mangroves are aesthetically great - I'm about to get some because I love them - but don't do too much for nutrients (they work on the ocean because there are dense forests of 100' trees).

 

[RicksReefs]

yup, and almost everything else we have/add to our tanks has the same potential to nuke it. from xenia crashes, flatworms, chemical overdose, power outages, etc...

at least with Caulerpa, it's an easily avoidable problem. it's really not that hard to grow and keep from going sexual. and at up to one inch of growth (on all fronts) a day, that equals some serious nutrient uptake. it also means proper pruning (for me about every three weeks) is essential.

nandan, yes you need to regularly pull chaeto apart to fluff it up and allow light to reach it all and harvest the excess.

 

[netranger29]

YOU KNOW,I HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH BROWN ALGAE....FIRST THING I DID WAS TO TURN MY WET/DRY FILTER INTO A SUMP....GOT RID OF ALL THE BIOBALLS AND PUT SOME CHAETOMORPHA AND 3 MANGROVES IN THERE.....ITS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND NO MORE ALGAE PROBLEMS!!!!
I ALSO TOOK THE SKIMMER OFF (DONT NEED IT) AND EVERYTHING IS GOING PERFECT.TRY IT IS NATURAL IS BETTER.

 

[nandan]

thank You guys!! what do you mean by it going sexual what happens when it does go (Caulerpa). do chaeomorpha go sexual too? what should be the water flow in the aquarium cos i have a slow flow, in fact there will be flow only at the top part..

 

[Fish_wiz2]

Caulerpa going sexual means the caulerpa turns white and releases stuff (i'm not sure what) to reproduce but no cheato does not go sexual (i'm using this and i is great) and people say you need a lot of flow but my flow is slow and it still grows fine so i don't think you need that much.

 

[crsswift70]

I think they say flow meaning to roll the chaeto around so it gets light all over. I'm sure you can find some threads on it. But, i've seen people make "spray bars" (under the surface) so their chaeto ball rolls around. I would not intentionally put any caulerpa in my tank, but of course.. it's in there.

 

[ramdan1000]

can i use bioballs chaetomorpha and mangrove plants together ?

 

[Chibils]

Yes, but mangroves won't do much. They work for the ocean because there are thousands of them... Dozens of feet tall.

 

[ramdan1000]

o.k.Do others feel the same.My mangroves are growing well and I am hesitant to remove them . I have space in sump for chaetomorpha or caulerpa .If I put them in then how long till they work and how many hours per day will they need light?