Macros to Grow in FOWLR DT

[Itchy Trigger]

I'd like to find a few types of macro that I could grow in a 330g FOWLR. Would like to keep it in the DT. There won't be any corals (possibly a leather or two only) in the tank. The lighting will be AI Hydras & Vegas. There will be a few tangs in the tank and possibly a fox face, so it needs to be algae that they won't completely decimate.

The tank is being set up in a few weeks, so I'm still in the planning stages. But I'd like to establish a lot of macro algae in the tank before I ever add any fish. Tangs would be among the last fish to be added so the algae would have a chance to really get a good head start.

I like the look of Halymenia for red and Halimeda and Penicilla for green... Can anyone help with some guidance on which would be the best choices? I'd like the algae to be both esthetically pleasing to look at in the tank - it needs to grow on rock, as I plan this to be a tank with no sand, only live rock (on rock lifts) - and also help with nutrient export.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[JLynn]

Ulva is good for nutrient export. Though opinions vary on whether or not it is good for a display tank. You should check out calcerous macro algae for options that tangs won't eat (at least I don't think they do...), though those don't do much for nutrient export as far as I know. Caulerpas are good choices for pretty algae that will grow faster than the tangs can eat it, and they are decent choices for nutrient export. I don't know about Chlorodesmis as far as nutrient export and speed of growth, but it is unique as an algae that looks a lot like grass. A tank filled with it would probably look a lot like a golf green, which I think is pretty cool.

 

[Itchy Trigger]

Thanks! Will look at the ones you mentioned. I've been communicating with John at Reef Cleaners, and he mentioned red titan, flame algae and fire fern as good choices too.

 

[FinzAquatics]

I guess Halimeda is the other obvious algae to try in this circumstance being a calcified algae

 

[Subsea]

The Rabbit will be much worse than a Tang. I would leave him out of the tank. Also the Rabbit is a mixed bag with its personality.

What you seek is nutrient recycling and to take some pressure off of the decorative macros like Dragons Breath. I will caution you in advance. At some point your grazing herbivores will seek a differrent flavor and much on what you wish to display. To what degree they munch, one never knows in advance.

There are several Feather Caulerpas that are attractive and fit for the purpose that you seek. I like Paspaloides. Go to live-plants.com Russ Kronwetter knows more about macro than anybody walking. Check out his reference book.

http://marineplantbook.com/

His store , Gulf Coast EcoSystem has Sertulariodes and Mexicana in stock right now.
Happy trails,
Patrick

 

[Itchy Trigger]

Thanks for the tips! Will skip the foxface and will drop Russ a line today.

 

[FinzAquatics]

I order from them as well. Great site for cheap macro.