40g Long Naturally lit macro-algae tank

[CKS]

The macroalgae tank as of 17-Sep-2015

 

Converted a small part of the sump into ATS since there is a constant downward water-fall. Gave up on the solar powered light in favor of red plant-glow LED light. The NO3 is at 0ppm and PO4 at 0.025ppm. I have also been fighting cyanobacterial for about 2 months now and the haze is a blessing in disuse since it has stopped the growth of cyano XD

I'm currently dosing Seachem Flourish Nitrogen to increase the NO3 to bring the Redfield ratio to a balance. Iron is also added every 2 days.

 

Ending the update with close-up photos of the farm-bred seahorse, the Mandarin fish and hitch-hiker red tuxedo urchin

[pcw]

This is really nice!

[JMW]

I see the nice purple ochtodes, very rich color man!

hey, how do you keep the detritus from accumulating onto them? Mine's collecting gunk & has some nuisance algae growth on the insides of the clump 

[acidjc]

Very nice.. all these in your sump?? Can show a FTS of your sump?

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[CKS]

The sump is only the 2nd and 3rd photos. they're for the filter and 'refugium' for new macroalgae, currently there're some more macroalgae there not in the display tank. I learnt the hard lesson after i introduced new macroalgae directly into the display tank and got wipe out within few days I think it could those hitch hiker urchins!

Do you mean the ATS? i've some photos of them in the previous post. The only changes is the lighting for the sudden growth of those turf algae Currently using those red LED for plants.

The fishes and seahorses r all in the display tank.

 

Very nice.. all these in your sump?? Can show a FTS of your sump?

 

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Good flow bro, the expensive wave maker is really for these macroalgaes But sadly the red tux urchin decided to tear the big piece of ochtode apart and use them as camouflage. 

I see the nice purple ochtodes, very rich color man!

hey, how do you keep the detritus from accumulating onto them? Mine's collecting gunk & has some nuisance algae growth on the insides of the clump 

Thanks man!

This is really nice!

[Admiraltian]

I think bro Acidjc mean Fts as in front/full tank shot not ats.

[CKS]

I think bro Acidjc mean Fts as in front/full tank shot not ats.

LOL ic ic, they're in the 1st page. Too messy to show the current state in full now

[JMW]

The sump is only the 2nd and 3rd photos. they're for the filter and 'refugium' for new macroalgae, currently there're some more macroalgae there not in the display tank. I learnt the hard lesson after i introduced new macroalgae directly into the display tank and got wipe out within few days I think it could those hitch hiker urchins!

Do you mean the ATS? i've some photos of them in the previous post. The only changes is the lighting for the sudden growth of those turf algae Currently using those red LED for plants.

The fishes and seahorses r all in the display tank.

 

 

Good flow bro, the expensive wave maker is really for these macroalgaes But sadly the red tux urchin decided to tear the big piece of ochtode apart and use them as camouflage. 

 

Thanks man!

 

Thanks bro, will shift them to higher flow area... 

[CKS]

An update of the sump which is powered by 18w red LED, it has a bit of every macroalgae in the display tank as backup, also transfered some of the purple ochtodes because something is taking it apart in the display. The mandarin is there to recuperate from fierce fight

Also caught many brittle stars of different sizes while changing the filter floss, they've grown too much and are starting to be considered pest population in the tank, they snatched food from mandarin and seahorses. Otherwise they're pretty good clean-up crew, would anyone be interested in them?

 

[CKS]

1 month on, my tank has been overtaken by greens. Most of the Ochtodes got wipe out by unknown predator. Also added what i believe to be Gracilaria Hayi (dragon breath) available recently from MarineLife.

 

what is left of the Ochtodes

 

[tuajia]

Aiyah what a pity bro, the octodes are quite nice... Was it the urchin or maybe it just lost the competition from the greens?

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[CKS]

No idea bro, the octodes are quite palatable, i already removed all the urchins in the display tank to avoid anymore destruction to the macroalgae :|

This is my favorite part of the display tank now, Red coco worm + Galaxaura + Dragon breath

[CKS]

Recently, I experienced massive die-out of the Caulerpa Serrulata. Fortunately, there are still some small healthy strain in the sump. The now emptier space on the sand gives the dragon breath more space to flow freely and grow. Here is the tank on 22 Nov 2015.

A small piece of Ochtodes planted itself at the overflow seems to be growing well, maybe it prefers to be semi-submerged with good flow, it gets alot of direct sunlight too.

 

The Caulerpa polifera & the Ochtodes are growing well in the sump, i'm planning to populate the sandbed of the display tank with these polifera.

 

Also replaced the lighting setup with something much easier to replace, just 2 pieces of 5mm acrylic sheets. These are 40W of LED light for viewing at night. It is also much easier to change the lighting pattern now

[Guest]

I didn't know Marine planted tank can be so fun as well. Thanks for sharing

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[CKS]

its more fuss-free i think, cheaper and definitely more sustainable

[CKS]

Here are some photos taken today 17-Dec-2015 of new additions, new weeds i've just gotten from MarineLife today.

The skimmer has been turned off for 2 months already and i've still been dosing KNO3 to maintain NO3 at 10-20ppm. PO4 reads about 0.025 on the low range test kit. I've also started dosing Iodine on-top of Iron as i've read from multiple sources that the brown and red algae requires Iodine.

Close up of the new additions.

Dictoya (i think?)

Galaxaura

Spaghetti Weed - Liagora (i think?)

 

And an update of the back-up strain in the sump

 

The Ochtodes are growing really well in the overflow!

I never had luck with the grapes as the regal tang has taken a liking for this algae. However, i've discovered that by planting it where the strong return-pump current is, the tang would leave it alone These are one of the fastest growing algae in the sump too, so the tang does get some algae treat from time to time.

Lastly, a photo of our little garden where the tank sits

Edited December 17, 2015 by CKS

[tuajia]

Nice one bro, the new algae adds a good splash of color to the tank!

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[CKS]

Nice one bro, the new algae adds a good splash of color to the tank!

 

Thanks bro! Hopefully can generate enough interest locally so that one day we can have more people trading macroalgae for decorative purposes

[Patrick]

Hi bro CKS, beautiful tank. May I ask what macroaglae will not be eaten by Tangs? I want to have small macro algae like grass growing on the sandbed. What would be suitable? Thanks

[CKS]

Hi bro CKS, beautiful tank. May I ask what macroaglae will not be eaten by Tangs? I want to have small macro algae like grass growing on the sandbed. What would be suitable? Thanks

Thank you Patrick

So far i've had success with Caulerpa Serrulata (razor) which will root itself onto sandbed and my regal tang left it alone so far. Caulerpa Prolifera would look nicer (smoother looking) and look very nice on sandbed. I've tried planting them onto the sand but it got wiped out and i did not managed to witness what ate/destroyed it. They are very suitable for sandbed since they will root well and i'll try again when i've more steady supply of Prolifera. I'm growing them in the sump now.

Also, these are what i have been dosing weekly

Edited December 20, 2015 by CKS

[Patrick]

Bro thanks for sharing. Where did u buy the additives esp magic iodine n Magnesium? 

[CKS]

Bro thanks for sharing. Where did u buy the additives esp magic iodine n Magnesium? 

the Iron is from MarineLife and the other 2 is from PolyArt. Iodine is harder to find i think due to lower demand. That seachem product is meant for freshwater planted and im using that to maintain the NO3

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[xavin]

Nice

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[daveyy]

Bro! Let me know when u harvesting the dragon breath, cant find it in the local lfs

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[CKS]

Bro! Let me know when u harvesting the dragon breath, cant find it in the local lfs

 

 

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Sure bro, i've gotten them from MarineLife. These are Gracilaria Hayi I think which i mistakenly identified as dragon's breath (Halymenia)