Anyone have a macro algae/mixed reef tank?

Schraufabagel

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I’m moving apartments in late March. I’m considering using the opportunity to attempt converting my tank to a macro algae mixed reef tank with mangroves. looking at either a 20 or 30 gallon tank at 2ft wide.

Anyone have experience with these kinds of tanks? And if you do, do you have any pictures? Lighting is the biggest question for me.
 
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The lighting would have to support soft corals and euphyllia alongside the macro algae and mangroves. The following are the lighting options that I would decide between

AI Prime 16HD on the right side and AI Prime Freshwater on the left side. Allowing for the corals on right and macro algae on left. I already have an AI Prime 16 H

Orphek OR3 Reef Day bars would allow me to supply greater spread and mix the corals in. But I can’t find if there are bars that also have red and green channels.

Alternatively I could use a Reef Breeders Photon 24. But this would be the most expensive lighting option.

Lastly, a Twinstar 600SP would be a great option for true full spectrum LED. I’m just not sure how well it would do at illuminating corals.
 
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For my mangrove lagoon, I use 6500k grow lights. I am not trying to get the corals to pop that I have in there, so no reef based lights. As long as they grow, that is all I am worried about.

For a tank that size, I would just do some AI prime HDs. one up high for the mangrove and one down low for the corals. I do not believe there is a need to do an FW one and a normal one.

@Tigahboy uses this setup on a mangrove/macro reef and it looks great.
 

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For my mangrove lagoon, I use 6500k grow lights. I am not trying to get the corals to pop that I have in there, so no reef based lights. As long as they grow, that is all I am worried about.

For a tank that size, I would just do some AI prime HDs. one up high for the mangrove and one down low for the corals. I do not believe there is a need to do an FW one and a normal one.

@Tigahboy uses this setup on a mangrove/macro reef and it looks great.
I like eagles
 

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Old thread lol but I use the orphek reef day bars and they do have red , although it’s only on one end weirdly not symmetrical , right under my mangrove is the red light
 

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Old thread lol but I use the orphek reef day bars and they do have red , although it’s only on one end weirdly not symmetrical , right under my mangrove is the red light
Is this your reef tank if so can you tell me if that's dragon breath and what other plants/algae you have the tank is gorgeous
 

dvgyfresh

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Is this your reef tank if so can you tell me if that's dragon breath and what other plants/algae you have the tank is gorgeous
Thanks man ye it’s mine , there isn’t much macro algae in the display , some caulerpa/mangrove it’s mostly softies like Xenia / anthelia / zoas and then anemones
 

Zoa_Fanatic

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I mean I grow Dragonsbreath in a biocube with stock lights. It grows like an absolute weed. It’s doubles in size every month and if I don’t trim it it becomes a forest
 

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