Pearls of the Antilles - Macro algae reef system

[jaidexl]

You will probably have more need for a chiller than the heaters, once you get all the equipment running and pumping in the heat. I'm west of you and have a hard time keeping my higher wattage tanks at 80F even with the AC set at 75. I never bothered with a chiller though, and most of my algae did just fine. The skimmer may be unnecessary as well, I know guys who have to dump dry nitrate into the tank weekly to keep the level up, just like a high tech FW planted tank your light level, livestock and 'plant'mass is going to dictate your nutrient consumption, and heavy water changes will exacerbate depletion.

The Acetabularia seems to pop in when it wants then promptly disappears, kind of like staghorn algae in a freshwater tank. Sealife Inc, Gulf Coast Ecosystems, and Reefcleaners (he has Halophila decipiens) are some good local online sources for algae. The best marine planted site I knew of converted to a full reef site then went completely out of commission, there were a bunch of us there concentrating on macroalgae aquascapes and propagation, sharing clippings, I miss that place. Reefcentral is a disgusting place, you're better off here with Tom if you're looking for good info. Good luck.

[lljdma06]

You will probably have more need for a chiller than the heaters, once you get all the equipment running and pumping in the heat. I'm west of you and have a hard time keeping my higher wattage tanks at 80F even with the AC set at 75. I never bothered with a chiller though, and most of my algae did just fine. The skimmer may be unnecessary as well, I know guys who have to dump dry nitrate into the tank weekly to keep the level up, just like a high tech FW planted tank your light level, livestock and 'plant'mass is going to dictate your nutrient consumption, and heavy water changes will exacerbate depletion.

The Acetabularia seems to pop in when it wants then promptly disappears, kind of like staghorn algae in a freshwater tank. Sealife Inc, Gulf Coast Ecosystems, and Reefcleaners (he has Halophila decipiens) are some good local online sources for algae. The best marine planted site I knew of converted to a full reef site then went completely out of commission, there were a bunch of us there concentrating on macroalgae aquascapes and propagation, sharing clippings, I miss that place. Reefcentral is a disgusting place, you're better off here with Tom if you're looking for good info. Good luck.

I have this journal in Nano-reef.com too, and it's a nice forum. A friend recommended it to me and my tank is still, after all, a nano. It's over at the biotope section. John Maloney from Reefcleaners (I think) has already found me and posted in it. Opted to not go to Reef Central though I've been a member for years. It's just too big and the macro section is more of an id section rather than a section devoted to their cultivation and use in scapes. To round it out, I've got in the general forum where I mod in and Aquascaping World. The skimmer was purchased because as an opera singer, I'll occasionally have to go away and do auditions and gigs. The skimmer may keep things cleaner while I'm away. I didn't even get one that was for the full capacity of my tank, but for a smaller system. If this is anything like planted tanks, I have a feeling I'm going to have to dose too. I will have to do a balancing act, though, as I am keeping corals. The encrusting Gorgonian being one of them. Geez, have to please everyone. Thanks for the good wishes. If I'm successful, I'd enjoy sharing clippiings with other hobbiests. I'm kind of surprised more of this isn't going on. It just seem such a natural extension to SW. I guess people are very coral-obsessed. Don't get me wrong, I love corals.

Test for dKH, Ca++, Mg++ and N and P. Salinity too obviously.

Hi Tom!

My master kits have Ca++, dKH, N, and P already, so the only one I'll need to buy extra is Mg++. Didn't you see the big picture of the refractometer I got? LOLOL... That thing is huge and very naughty looking, I might add.

I've been dealing with work lately and haven't been able to do my shoppping. Hopefully will make a dent in it this weekend.

Liz

[jaidexl]

Unless you've kept encrusting gorg before and have some fondness for it regardless of it's behavior, I'd advise not to keep it. It's a nasty weed of a coral and will cover ALL of your rock work. At most, keep it on an isolated rock and cut off any sand creepers. No special attention required, it only needs light. My wife has put that on her top 3 corals to never keep again once she eradicated them, right next to anthelia and mushrooms.

[jaidexl]

Strombus snails are going to undermine your attempt to grow shoal and paddle grass by digging extensively. Turbos may be a pain as well, I'm not sure if they're capable of munching large quantities of macro algae.

Petrolisthes armatus is an algae safe Caribbean / Atlantic crab but they hide most of the time, in heavy rock work you will hardly see them or be able to feed them. You could try adding a filter feeder cocktail daily but I'm not positive that will be enough. The Indonesian variety is definitely easier to keep IME, since they expose themselves more so are easy to feed pellets to.

[lljdma06]

Strombus snails are going to undermine your attempt to grow shoal and paddle grass by digging extensively. Turbos may be a pain as well, I'm not sure if they're capable of munching large quantities of macro algae.

Petrolisthes armatus is an algae safe Caribbean / Atlantic crab but they hide most of the time, in heavy rock work you will hardly see them or be able to feed them. You could try adding a filter feeder cocktail daily but I'm not positive that will be enough. The Indonesian variety is definitely easier to keep IME, since they expose themselves more so are easy to feed pellets to.

Hahaha will make my strombus chowder if they try anything! I've been told about Petrolisthes species. I'll have corals, so a filter feeding cocktail is not out of the way to do. I just like the way the gorgonian looks like hair. Will exercise caution and keep it restrained. If I decide to keep it. I so far like Ricordea and mushrooms better. They look better to me.

Liz

[jaidexl]

Hahaha will make my strombus chowder if they try anything!

Well they're just doing what they do, it's up to us to understand their habits and put them in the right environment. You'll see a lot of them rooting through shoal beds here, but the impact in such a large system is obviously nothing like what they do in a 2 foot space. I watch my friends bring these home, they seem to get a kick out of adding them to their tank, but then complain when their rocks start to topple and sand bed gets heaped up, and they're not even trying to root grass. I don't remember if cerith and nassarius snails are on your list, but I had no trouble with them and they are diggers as well. Diggers are beneficial for the substrate IMO, just not the giant tanks of destruction.

[lljdma06]

Well they're just doing what they do, it's up to us to understand their habits and put them in the right environment. You'll see a lot of them rooting through shoal beds here, but the impact in such a large system is obviously nothing like what they do in a 2 foot space. I watch my friends bring these home, they seem to get a kick out of adding them to their tank, but then complain when their rocks start to topple and sand bed gets heaped up, and they're not even trying to root grass. I don't remember if cerith and nassarius snails are on your list, but I had no trouble with them and they are diggers as well. Diggers are beneficial for the substrate IMO, just not the giant tanks of destruction.

I'm joking, will not make conch chowder, though I love it. No, I had not added ceriths and nassarius. The source I had just said tropical seas under their profile, and when I was making my initial lists, I didn't included them at first, as I wanted to be sure that there were indeed Caribbean species. I really need to get a field guide. There was one on Amazon, I think I need to get it.

No, I don't keep species just to get a kick out of it. That's why I agonize over stock lists so much and that's why they go through several revisions before I make a final list.

[lljdma06]

Question, what salt mix do all of you use? Was leaning towards Red Sea Pro Coral salt as somebody mentioned that the Mag and Calcium levels are good. Would get the big tub.

Was also going to go with Seachem for dosing the chemicals, as its available everywhere in Miami. Just want to confirm that it's Ca++ and Carbonate that I need to dose. No Magnesium, or should I do that too? I figured with the waterchanges, trace is not needed. Nitrates down the road?

One more question, was curious. If I build up a LR scape so that it has some height, tank is 21" deep, doing a 50% waterchange will lower the water level significantly. I know when I do waterchanges that big in Planted tanks, that they plants are fine for a spell while I drain the water. But what about corals and macro-algae? I imagine the Macros may be ok, but the corals might not be. Will ricordea and shrooms be ok, or should I put them below the 50% mark? Or divide the waterchanges into two 25%?

I know weird question. Thanks.

[lljdma06]

Question, what salt mix do all of you use? Was leaning towards Red Sea Pro Coral salt as somebody mentioned that the Mag and Calcium levels are good. Would get the big tub.

Was also going to go with Seachem for dosing the chemicals, as its available everywhere in Miami. Just want to confirm that it's Ca++ and Carbonate that I need to dose. No Magnesium, or should I do that too? I figured with the waterchanges, trace is not needed. Nitrates down the road?

One more question, was curious. If I build up a LR scape so that it has some height, tank is 21" deep, doing a 50% waterchange will lower the water level significantly. I know when I do waterchanges that big in Planted tanks, that they plants are fine for a spell while I drain the water. But what about corals and macro-algae? I imagine the Macros may be ok, but the corals might not be. Will ricordea and shrooms be ok, or should I put them below the 50% mark? Or divide the waterchanges into two 25%?

I know weird question. Thanks.

I went shopping today and got some equipment.

A Net... so glamorous. I know some fish can't be netted, but I use it for herding purposes.



Gravel vacumn thingy, I use more for waterchanges more than anything.



Long-stemmed algae scraper with a blade.



In this picture... Two thermometers, measuring cups, and a great find at Kmart, vinyl gloves. See, I'm allergic to Latex, get a bad rash, but you need gloves in this hobby.



In this photo... The Mg test (last test I needed), A two fishes nano magnet (for algae), and a smaller heater to heat the waterchange water.



Finally, an important piece of equipment. An instrument to measure TDS.



Thanks for looking.

Oooooo, one more question, can I divide a 50% waterchange every two weeks into a 25% weekly if I then opt to dose Ca++ and Carbonate. Thanks Tom.

Liz

[JJ..Bequiet]

macro's,corals,ricordea ect,will be fine out of water during changes.
Salt everyone has a preference I use reef crystals.