Adding Macro algae and plants to new Tank

[TANGOX4]

I set up my first saltwater aquarium the other day, just started the cycling process and someone had mentioned to use macro algae’s and I want to make sure before I make some purchases. Are they safe to put in my tank now? Traditionally I put my plants in, my freshwater tanks, as I’m building it. But I’m not sure it would be different with salt water. All I have in my tank currently is dry rock, live sand, and some frozen brine shrimp and microbacter7. That’s all I have so far, so please let me know! Thank you!

 

[Fish Fan]

Interesting question, I'd like to follow this!

I don't see any reason it shouldn't work like freshwater plants in new tanks.

#reefsqaud do any of you guys know for sure?

 

[Rocks reef]

I would wait until the the cycle is complete especially since you are using dry rock. You really need to let it stabilize a little, the first couple weeks it will be quite unstable. If you had actual live rock from say an established mature system or bought on line from places like TBS or Gulf Rock, I'd say go for it as the live rock already has a very healthy and beneficial bacteria colonization.

 

[TANGOX4]

I would wait until the the cycle is complete especially since you are using dry rock. You really need to let it stabilize a little, the first couple weeks it will be quite unstable. If you had actual live rock from say an established mature system or bought on line from places like TBS or Gulf Rock, I'd say go for it as the live rock already has a very healthy and beneficial bacteria colonization.

Got it, that makes sense. So let’s say later today I go buy some live rock from my LFS and it’s from one of their established tanks, give it another week and two and then proceed with some macro algae?

 

[Rocks reef]

You can, but just because a LFS says it's 'live rock', it may simply be rock that is in water. In order for it to be true live rock, it should come from a mature, established reef, an online live rock seller or a LFS/store that has seeded the rock and cured it properly.

 

[jabberwock]

Got it, that makes sense. So let’s say later today I go buy some live rock from my LFS and it’s from one of their established tanks, give it another week and two and then proceed with some macro algae?

Macros will consume nitrates. Do you have any nitrates yet? You should wait until your tank is more established.

 

[TANGOX4]

Macros will consume nitrates. Do you have any nitrates yet? You should wait until your tank is more established.

That tank looks awesome, that's the goal one day! Last I tested a couple days ago it was 0 Nitrates and I use API master reef test kit (I assume there are better testing kits out there, so recommendations are greatly appreciated). The Nitrate reading was at 0 and calcium was also 0 I am assuming, everything took a ton of drops to even get close to a reading. I assume since it was a brand new tank I won't get any good readings. So I plan to test it all again later this week. (I also assume I should be adding the bacteria daily? (microbacter7)) Thanks again for the help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You will want to keep up dosing N and P for the macroalgae, or it will potentially die, and while living, will drive nutrients down risking dinos.

 

[Euphyllia97]

I set up my first saltwater aquarium the other day, just started the cycling process and someone had mentioned to use macro algae’s and I want to make sure before I make some purchases. Are they safe to put in my tank now? Traditionally I put my plants in, my freshwater tanks, as I’m building it. But I’m not sure it would be different with salt water. All I have in my tank currently is dry rock, live sand, and some frozen brine shrimp and microbacter7. That’s all I have so far, so please let me know! Thank you!

Just an FYI! Have a good read on caulerpa going sexual before you consider putting it in your tank. I would advise to stay away from this macroalgae due to the risk of it ruining your tank…

 

[jabberwock]

That tank looks awesome, that's the goal one day! Last I tested a couple days ago it was 0 Nitrates and I use API master reef test kit (I assume there are better testing kits out there, so recommendations are greatly appreciated). The Nitrate reading was at 0 and calcium was also 0 I am assuming, everything took a ton of drops to even get close to a reading. I assume since it was a brand new tank I won't get any good readings. So I plan to test it all again later this week. (I also assume I should be adding the bacteria daily? (microbacter7)) Thanks again for the help

Thanks! My secret was to start with Real Ocean Live Rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. The macros came in on their Premium rock. Someone else mentioned Caulerpa going sexual. I had it for a while. It never went sexual, but I got tired of trimming it back. It was VERY prolific. Here it is streaking across the back of the tank.

 

[TANGOX4]

That tank looks awesome, that's the goal one day! Last I tested a couple days ago it was 0 Nitrates and I use API master reef test kit (I assume there are better testing kits out there, so recommendations are greatly appreciated). The Nitrate reading was at 0 and calcium was also 0 I am assuming, everything took a ton of drops to even get close to a reading. I assume since it was a brand new tank I won't get any good readings. So I plan to test it all again later this week. (I also assume I should be adding the bacteria daily? (microbacter7)) Thanks again for the help

Thanks! My secret was to start with Real Ocean Live Rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. The macros came in on their Premium rock. Someone else mentioned Caulerpa going sexual. I had it for a while. It never went sexual, but I got tired of trimming it back. It was VERY prolific. Here it is streaking across the back of the tank.

Ok, ya I was looking at their website. I was debating ordering some of their “rubble rock” but I don’t want to get too much of it since I already have a decent chunk of space being used in the tank with my dry rock. I wish they had a smaller amount of rock to add in haha. Unless everyone thinks that would be a bad idea? Since I already added in the bacteria and food for them…. I was told to throw in a whole cube or frozen brine shrimp and let it sit for a week or two…

 

[jabberwock]

Check out their "Treasure Chests" https://tbsaltwater.com/collections/treasure-chests

I would also not be afraid to ditch some of that nasty dry rock to make room for the good stuff.

 

[TANGOX4]

Check out their "Treasure Chests" https://tbsaltwater.com/collections/treasure-chests

I would also not be afraid to ditch some of that nasty dry rock to make room for the good stuff.

Ok gotcha. So I’ll look into ordering some of their rock and when it gets here just swap some of their rocks out. Got any other tips for me? I plan to wait until I see some sort of algae growth before adding a clean up crew and then wait a couple more weeks after I add them to finally get some clowns

 

[jonelder68]

You will want to keep up dosing N and P for the macroalgae, or it will potentially die, and while living, will drive nutrients down risking dinos.

Agree with Randy as always. Yes you can add whenever but you need NO3 and PO4 present. Even if it’s present I would plan on having to dose both. Macros consume nutrients fast! So with that will require frequent testing to make sure you don’t crash them and have Dino’s move in like I did

 

[SaltyWalty]

I’ve added macros from day one, and the only real issue I came across was the growth of nuisance algaes, Dino’s, or bacteria’s smothering the macros. But if I did my due diligence and cleaned the macros daily or sometimes twice daily with stir or Turkey baster they pulled through and thrived once I added fish!
Side note freshwater mollies that are converted to saltwater make Great macro algae tank cleaners as they eat the ugly hair and film algaes but don’t eat the macros!

 

[jabberwock]

Ok gotcha. So I’ll look into ordering some of their rock and when it gets here just swap some of their rocks out. Got any other tips for me? I plan to wait until I see some sort of algae growth before adding a clean up crew and then wait a couple more weeks after I add them to finally get some clowns

If it were me, I would set up a small observation tank for the new TBS rocks to try and pull out some undesirable hitchhikers on the front end. Use some of your cycled dry rock to skip cycle the observation tank, and then add the TBS rock.

 

[TANGOX4]

Ok gotcha. So I’ll look into ordering some of their rock and when it gets here just swap some of their rocks out. Got any other tips for me? I plan to wait until I see some sort of algae growth before adding a clean up crew and then wait a couple more weeks after I add them to finally get some clowns

If it were me, I would set up a small observation tank for the new TBS rocks to try and pull out some undesirable hitchhikers on the front end. Use some of your cycled dry rock to skip cycle the observation tank, and then add the TBS rock.

Gotcha, well let’s just say I went to LFS and bought a couple small pieces of live rock… threw those in there and tested the water. Looks like the nitrogen cycle is rolling a bit now. Granted I’ll be waiting atleast a 3-4 weeks to add my first livestock which would be some crabs or snails or something.

 

[jabberwock]

Gotcha, well let’s just say I went to LFS and bought a couple small pieces of live rock… threw those in there and tested the water. Looks like the nitrogen cycle is rolling a bit now. Granted I’ll be waiting atleast a 3-4 weeks to add my first livestock which would be some crabs or snails or something.

Check my build thread for details on my live rock journey.