Question for a grow out tank

garvin90

New member
I'm currently setting up a 10gal for my Red Gracilaria and I'd like to know whats the best way to grow this consistently? Will I need a sandbed or can it grow free? I'm wondering about flow as well. What's the best lighting for plants(10000k or in the 6000s?)
 
I have some red gracillaria. It's growing well under 65 watts pc 6500k, I am dosing iron, and KNO3 in a 35 gal refugium. Here's a pic to see if its the same stuff.

44187100_1369.jpg
 
Nope, mines the stuff from ipsf.com.

How about water also? When I change(and start up) this tanks water, should I use my main tanks water for the nutrients in it?
 
i had the red gracilaria from ipsf growing in a tank w/ no filter. just a powerhead tumbling the macro. grew extremely well for me. crushed coral sand bed. yes you can use the water from your main display. theres alot of nutrients in it :D hth
 
Since it would be the only thing in the 10gal tank, how often should I add new nutrient water? Just every week when I do the main display's water change or sooner than that?
 
the gracilaria will let you know. :D when the color doesn't look as vibrant, you'll know. i stopped propagating the red gracilaria from ipsf bc of its tendency to turn yellowish when it lacks nutrients. i replaced it w/ this other red gracilaria that doesn't lose color no matter the nutrient level.
 
You mentioned having it tumble in the current from the powerhead, yet you also mentioned the sandbed. Could you explain that a little better. Do you mean for some to be planted and some to roll end over end in the current?
 
sorry, to clarify things...

i used a crushed coral substrate bc it traps alot of the snail poop between the crushed coral (people who keep reefs call crushed coral sandbeds a nitrate factory) but for macro its excellent in generating nutrients.

in the 80g tank i kept one large return rio pump (don't recall the pump model off hand) it was placed on the top left side of the glass which pushes out tremendous amount of flow which causes the red gracilaria to tumble gently in a 80g tank.

a some what self sustaining system to grow some red gracilaria. you will need to either dose some nutrients to keep steady growth or regular pruning. IMO, its not worth trying to propagate that particular IPSF red gracilaria bc 1) it doesn't ship as well as other algaes 2) its one of the more challenging algaes to grow (needs alot of nutrients/flow to keep the continual growth & COLOR). i have tried growing it under low flow and it does not grow as fast as when its tumbled.
 
Ok thanks for the clarification.

As far as the propogation thing, I'm just trying to keep a established crop on hand for my Angel and Rabbitfish since they wont seem to eat nori. Do you have ideas on a better(but still nutritionally healthy) macro for them to eat that is easier to propogate?
 
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