When to start....

[saltaholic]

I have a fuge going right now minus the plants. My question would be when is the sand or the entire system ready to support some plants. Or is anytime fine? I knew that I wanted to have a fuge becasue of the benifits I just have to know reasearch how to actually support one, some good direction would get me going.



Joe :bounce1:

 

[piercho]

Unless you are going to try to grow seagrass, my answer would be anytime. Algaes, even algaes that appear to "root", don't take nutrients up from the soil, as far as I know. Seagrasses are true rooted plants and require a rich, deep substrate. I can provide you with some links and other references if you are interested in keeping seagrasses.

Caulerpa is not my favorite algae, and better (more controllable, less toxic) alternatives are out there. E. Borneman has suggested Chaetomorpha (Spaghetti algae). I like Gracillaria (Tang Heaven), and you can feed this one to herbivorous fish. Inland Aquatics ships a macroalgae kit with a selection of algaes that they have selected as being useful in refugiums.

 

[saltaholic]

As right now i will stick with the easier of the bunch, I wouldnt mind still having some links though as someday with more expierence I want try for that pefect reef tank.

As for the kit that sounds nice I will have to check that out, thanks!:rollface:

 

[piercho]

Seagrass habitats: http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Seagrass_Habitat.htm The links at the bottom will take you to specie descriptions. The Adey/Loveland book "Dynamic Aquaria", 1st Rev, discusses seagrass habitats.

 

[saltaholic]

Thanks