Newbie needs helps!!!

[kae]

Hi, I've been in this hobby for years but don't know much about seagrass/macroalgae tank. I want to set up this type of tank but don't know where to start. Would someone here please show me all the basics I need to know in this field? What article should I read?

Thank you for any helps.

 

[graveyardworm]

Welcome to the green forum.

Beyond the Refugium: A Macroalgae Primer

Beyond the Refugium: Seagrass Aquaria

Beautiful Seagrasses: Keeping True Flowering Plants in Your Marine Aquarium

Browse around the forum you'll find plenty of descriptions of people seagrass and macro tanks.

 

[kae]

Thank you David. My first silly question is what's the difference between seagrass and macroalgae?

 

[graveyardworm]

Seagrass is a true vascular plant, Macroalgae is a bunch of cells stuck together.

 

[kae]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9982834#post9982834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
Seagrass is a true vascular plant, Macroalgae is a bunch of cells stuck together.

What does that mean and are there any differences in their needs? Thanks.

 

[graveyardworm]

Their needs are basically the same, aside from the seagrasses having roots so they need a sandy substrate, whereas many macros will do just fine floating around.

Vascular plants have viens like trees and other terrestrial plants nutrients move through the plant.

Macroalgae are a bunch of individual cells stuck together which dont share.

 

[kae]

Caulerpa has roots. Is it considered to be seagrass? What type and what size of substrate is best for planted tank, why?

Thank you very much.

 

[graveyardworm]

Caulerpa has holdfasts. These are diffrent as they dont actively uptake and transport nutrients to the rest of the algae.

Remember macros are just a bunch of individual cells, this is why they can be so invasive, all it takes is a few cells and an entire new plant can be regenrated.

Seagrasses can live in many different substrates, silica sand, aragonite sand, silty mud, and in many different particle sizes of each as well. Really its up to your personal preference. I prefer a smaller size grain, and aragonite. because I'm also looking for a functioning DSB which happens to work better with a smaller grain, and aragonite carries with it some buffering ability.

 

[kae]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10027018#post10027018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
I prefer a smaller size grain, and aragonite. because I'm also looking for a functioning DSB which happens to work better with a smaller grain, and aragonite carries with it some buffering ability.

Why did you use DSB in planted tank? Does DSB compete with plants for NO3? Do you have to dose KNO3 in your tank?

Thank you for your inputs.

 

[graveyardworm]

The DSB is because the plants need a substrate to sink roots into. The DSB probably does compete for NO3 to a certain degree, but it also helps to bring nutrients to the roots as dissolved organics are transported into the substrate and broken down.

 

[kae]

I got this thing today. What type is it seagrass or macroalgae? What is its name?



Thank you.