00W's AIO Smorgasbord

[cdemoss01]

I'm not really the one to ask about equipment... I run decent but inexpensive on most of my gear. Flow and lighting are the two most important in my opinion. With the right flow and lighting, you can grow corals. Those corals will help filter your water. If necessary, add a skimmer because it helps keep things aerated and removes nutrients.

I have a skimmer specifically and icecap. I have two kessil a160s

 

[JoJosReef]

Yes tang definitely. Not sure about an angel. No chaeto is not running I'm not sure how to keep it in the filter. I have the light rho

Would help to see how much coral and other "consumers" you have in the tank presently. From the build thread pic, seems like a lot of rock, a few nems and not too much coral, but it's very blue so I can't see it well. With a lot of GHA, you likely have massive amounts of nitrates and phosphates being produced daily (and being consumed by the GHA). Expanding CUC is good but an uphill battle. Expanding consumers is one strategy to bring the source of the algae problem down. Lots of other strategies too. If your tank could use some more consumers I'd be gunning for more corals and ornamental macros for Xmas!

 

[cdemoss01]

Would help to see how much coral and other "consumers" you have in the tank presently. From the build thread pic, seems like a lot of rock, a few nems and not too much coral, but it's very blue so I can't see it well. With a lot of GHA, you likely have massive amounts of nitrates and phosphates being produced daily (and being consumed by the GHA). Expanding CUC is good but an uphill battle. Expanding consumers is one strategy to bring the source of the algae problem down. Lots of other strategies too. If your tank could use some more consumers I'd be gunning for more corals and ornamental macros for Xmas!

Well all I've got now is a toadstool that won't grow for some reason and a leather coral.

 

[cdemoss01]

Should I get jebaos or something too? How should I keep my cheato in my filter?

 

[JoJosReef]

Well all I've got now is a toadstool that won't grow for some reason and a leather coral.

Definitely more coral then! LOTS more coral! Toadstools can be funny, but are usually bulletproof. I run carbon baggies in my filtration to help with their toxins. Perhaps could use a third light over your 48" tank.

I've had bad luck with chaeto, so I'll let others chime in with advice for your Tidal filter. However, I've had amazing luck with display macroalgae, sometimes too much luck. Pom Pom Gracilaria would be a good addition to your tank to compete with GHA, as would Codium. Both excellent growers (Codium, I understand, may be dependent on where it is harvested--I've gotten mine from ReefCleaners and it grows well in my tanks). Pom pom for me grows so fast (and actually look great) that if I don't trim it every couple of weeks it tanks my nutrients.

Some other softies might also help dial in the nutrients. I like waving hand Anthelias. Not as invasive as Xenia and looks great. Sinularia does well. And in my opinion, picking a soft coral to cover the back wall of your tank like GSP or a fast-growing paly works almost like an algae scrubber. My back wall is covered in green palys--maybe not advisable due to the amount of palytoxin these guys might produce--and I'm sure they are sucking up nutrients like crazy:

Please disregard all the aiptasia back there. I can't reach it.

 

[cdemoss01]

Wha

Definitely more coral then! LOTS more coral! Toadstools can be funny, but are usually bulletproof. I run carbon baggies in my filtration to help with their toxins. Perhaps could use a third light over your 48" tank.

I've had bad luck with chaeto, so I'll let others chime in with advice for your Tidal filter. However, I've had amazing luck with display macroalgae, sometimes too much luck. Pom Pom Gracilaria would be a good addition to your tank to compete with GHA, as would Codium. Both excellent growers (Codium, I understand, may be dependent on where it is harvested--I've gotten mine from ReefCleaners and it grows well in my tanks). Pom pom for me grows so fast (and actually look great) that if I don't trim it every couple of weeks it tanks my nutrients.

Some other softies might also help dial in the nutrients. I like waving hand Anthelias. Not as invasive as Xenia and looks great. Sinularia does well. And in my opinion, picking a soft coral to cover the back wall of your tank like GSP or a fast-growing paly works almost like an algae scrubber. My back wall is covered in green palys--maybe not advisable due to the amount of palytoxin these guys might produce--and I'm sure they are sucking up nutrients like crazy:

Please disregard all the aiptasia back there. I can't reach it

What light would you recommend? And would I put microalgae in the corner?

 

[JoJosReef]

Wha

What light would you recommend? And would I put microalgae in the corner?

Display macroalgae can go anywhere you like. Pom pom generally tolerates a wide range of light intensities, while I usually put Codium in medium-lower light spots. Botrycladia is another great one and very attractive. Caulerpas can become quite invasive, so careful with those--if you get them, best to keep them in an accessible place (like a rock island) so you can trim them before they jump rocks.

RE: lights, might as well stick to theme and get a third Kessil A180we, right? probably not too urgent, though, since you've got 2 running and only have nems and a few softies. But you'll probably want more light eventually.

 

[luis angel]

As much as I hate blue legs hermit crabs, there comes a point when you realize that the ecosystem needs them. It's not serious, but I have things growing in the tank that weren't there when the blue legs were there, so today I bought 10 blue legs and 10 cerith snails and more coming next week

 

[cdemoss01]

Display macroalgae can go anywhere you like. Pom pom generally tolerates a wide range of light intensities, while I usually put Codium in medium-lower light spots. Botrycladia is another great one and very attractive. Caulerpas can become quite invasive, so careful with those--if you get them, best to keep them in an accessible place (like a rock island) so you can trim them before they jump rocks.

RE: lights, might as well stick to theme and get a third Kessil A180we, right? probably not too urgent, though, since you've got 2 running and only have nems and a few softies. But you'll probably want more light eventually.

Got it I'll look into that.

 

[cdemoss01]

Display macroalgae can go anywhere you like. Pom pom generally tolerates a wide range of light intensities, while I usually put Codium in medium-lower light spots. Botrycladia is another great one and very attractive. Caulerpas can become quite invasive, so careful with those--if you get them, best to keep them in an accessible place (like a rock island) so you can trim them before they jump rocks.

RE: lights, might as well stick to theme and get a third Kessil A180we, right? probably not too urgent, though, since you've got 2 running and only have nems and a few softies. But you'll probably want more light eventually.

Can I put it on a clip or something? If so where can I get some at

 

[cdemoss01]

I found some 13$ pom pom on eBay is that good?

 

[JoJosReef]

Can I put it on a clip or something? If so where can I get some at

Favorite place so far for macros is live-plants.com. You can also get these sometimes from ReefCleaners. If you're interested in more specialized macros you can go to MosaicMacros or Macro Lady or Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy--these vary in terms of costs.

You can put the macros on a clip, but I find the best is to either wedge it between rocks or pieces or rubble or get some reef epoxy, and make a tight doughnut around a branch and squish it onto a piece of rubble so it stays put.

 

[JoJosReef]

I found some 13$ pom pom on eBay is that good?

Probably. Pom pom is easy to grow and anyone can grow it. I would be careful about pom pom from other hobbyists and inspect it for hithhikers. Aiptasia can latch onto branches, as can a few other undesireables. Bubble algae also likes to find spots on macroalgae branches. I've gotten plenty of macros from hobbyists, though, so not a reason to avoid them.

That said, you should even check it from the major vendors because I've gotten a stray Aiptasia from macro vendors as well. I also tend to get medusa worms from macro orders (which aren't really worms at all). Those are easy to remove if you don't want them. I don't dip macros and don't know if they would do well in a dip. I just rinse and inspect.

 

[cdemoss01]

Favorite place so far for macros is live-plants.com. You can also get these sometimes from ReefCleaners. If you're interested in more specialized macros you can go to MosaicMacros or Macro Lady or Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy--these vary in terms of costs.

You can put the macros on a clip, but I find the best is to either wedge it between rocks or pieces or rubble or get some reef epoxy, and make a tight doughnut around a branch and squish it onto a piece of rubble so it stays put.

Hmm ok. The one on eBay is half a cup of it for thirteen bucks. I want to put a clip on becuase I'm not sure if I wanna make it part of the display but I have an idea for it if I must.

 

[JoJosReef]

Hmm ok. The one on eBay is half a cup of it for thirteen bucks. I want to put a clip on becuase I'm not sure if I wanna make it part of the display but I have an idea for it if I must.

I think you'll like it!

 

[cdemoss01]

I think you'll like it!

I think I will to! I texted my mom the link. Where do I buy clips

 

[cdemoss01]

I think you'll like it!

Can you send some pictures of it

 

[JoJosReef]

I think I will to! I texted my mom the link. Where do I buy clips

I don't buy clips. I'm going to have to tag someone in, here.

 

[JoJosReef]

Can you send some pictures of it

 

[cdemoss01]

I don't buy clips. I'm going to have to tag someone in, here.

Don't