Nutrient export properties of macro

[schiavonir]

In order to gain "nutrient export" via macro algae, do you have to actually remove the macro from your tank? In other words, do I grow a bunch of chaeto then throw it or give it away, or can I feed it to my tangs? (who are in the same tank, and actually do eat it) Or does recycling it just put those nutrients back into the water?

 

[ostrow]

Export = remove
feed = recycle

 

[schiavonir]

Makes sense. That's kinda what I thought. Thanks.

So is that what most people do? Grow it, trim it, and throw it out?

 

[ostrow]

Now you are asking the wrong person. Mine ain't growing. Chaeto stable, all other macros croak, nothing grows.

But, to answer your question, I think most people grow and prune.

 

[mbunaman]

The Chaeto is like any plant it takes in nutrients and turns them back into Oxygen when the light is on and Co2 when the lights are off. It does not leach nutrients back into the water. People prune it because it grows like crazy. Some people cant grow it and some people have it grow like crazy. Tangs dont eat it because it is very firm and they dont like it. I read somewhere someone's tang was eating eat. You never know. If you need more detail on this macro check the forum just for this stuff on here.

 

[schiavonir]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7281871#post7281871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbunaman
I read somewhere someone's tang was eating eat.

You may have read that in my original post. My tangs do eat it.

 

[BenjieC]

If you feed it to your tangs it is still kind of keeping it out of your system. The nutrients will either be in the algae, in the tang, or in the waste, which in turn would get taken back up by the algae again. So, you could definitely use it to feed your tangs, and just feed them less other food. You still might want to throw some chaeto out too, just to be on the safe side.

Benjie

 

[ostrow]

No, that keeps them in the system. Getting the nutrients out of the system means removing it, physically, from the system. Lots and lots and lots of information on this out there.

 

[svb57]

Ostrow,

A question for you. If you throw the Chaeto out and feed the tangs, some Chaeto from some ones else tank, you would still be at a zero sum gain, would't you? Unless you stop feeding the tangs that is.

Macro "recycling" is good way to go even if you use it to feed to your own tangs. What you need to do is "grow" more then you need to feed your tangs, that way your still exporting.

Thanks
Jim Mc

 

[ostrow]

Jim that would be zero sum. And kinda pointless.

I'm not against recycling. But it is not removing nutrients. If you feed some and dump more you are better off.

But I've never seen a tang eat chaeto.

And my chaeto ain't growing fast. Tempted to dump it all and start over with another source or two.

 

[svb57]

I would agree that chaeto is not the stuff to feed tnags!

Not sure what else is out there that would be good in a sump for export. I am in the process of setting up a 300/125 gallon set up with appro 600 gallons overall and am looking for lots info on sumps.

Thanks
Jim Mc

 

[Rod Buehler]

The fish eat the macro, then they poop it out, which feeds the corals, critters, and sand beds and also the skimmer. What isnt removed by the skimmer, critters, sand bed will be broken down and removed by the macros again, to be fed to the fish again...... Throwing some away is a good idea, but I beleive that feeding it to the fish (if they will eat it) is also a good idea.