Best Macro Algae to lower No3

[wattson]

Curious to know what is the best macro algae to grow in fuge to lower No3..
Besides cheato and capulara varieties..

 

[Big G]

Clean Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca)


Sea Lettuce. is commonly found on shallow, rocky reefs worldwide. This delicate green algae prefers brightly lit waters with high nutrient levels. Thus, it can quickly reduce concentrations of dissolved nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate in marine aquarium systems. It is regarded as one of the more nutritious macroalgae and is readily accepted by many herbivorous fishes and invertebrates.

 

[AlexG]

Most species of macro algae will utilize nitrates. As mentioned cheato, calurpa, and ulva are good choices. How high are your nitrates and have you determined the source of the nitrates in your system?

 

[wattson]

No3 is 30-35..
After a Fluco treatment for byropsis in mid summer my No3 ended up this way,,
Just got a Red Sea No3 pro test kit ,,also my normal Salifert to compare results.
I do 10% water changes bi monthly and feed normal.very little fish load ..
all my corals are zoas and palys,,but still would like to lower No3 to around 10..
I run skimmer 1 day a week..
Po4 is .04 or less,,170 gallon system,,3 tanks on one sump.
trying to stay from carbon dosing if I can..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What do you mean by best?

Looks best?
Isn't eaten by your fish?
Grows fastest?
Won't become a pest in the display tank?
etc.

They all will take up roughly similar amounts of N per amount of tissue growth.

 

[wattson]

What do you mean by best?

Looks best?
Isn't eaten by your fish?
Grows fastest?
Won't become a pest in the display tank?
etc.

They all will take up roughly similar amounts of N per amount of tissue growth.

Best meaning ,,No3 consumption without going sexual or becoming invasive.

 

[AlexG]

No3 is 30-35..
After a Fluco treatment for byropsis in mid summer my No3 ended up this way,,
Just got a Red Sea No3 pro test kit ,,also my normal Salifert to compare results.
I do 10% water changes bi monthly and feed normal.very little fish load ..
all my corals are zoas and palys,,but still would like to lower No3 to around 10..
I run skimmer 1 day a week..
Po4 is .04 or less,,170 gallon system,,3 tanks on one sump.
trying to stay from carbon dosing if I can..

What is your filtration setup? Are you using filter pads, filter socks, or canister filters? Any reason you are not running the skimmer full time or for just part of everyday?

 

[wattson]

What is your filtration setup? Are you using filter pads, filter socks, or canister filters? Any reason you are not running the skimmer full time or for just part of everyday?

All my corals are zoas/palys,,so I keep the water a little dirty for say..
I dont have much algae in the tanks them self..
no pads,socks canisters on my system.
I have 75 tank as a sump/oversized skimmer and a 40 gallon tank on line for a refugium with a bunch of live rock but no Macro algae..
My tanks are 30gal/60gal/80gal/ frag tanks all on one sump.more live rock in the sump,,not much rock at all in any frag tanks.
My No3 is 32 per Red Sea no3 pro test kit and Salifert is very cherry red coloered in the test vial..
I would like to lower it naturally to around 10 or a little less..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Best meaning ,,No3 consumption without going sexual or becoming invasive.

I think Chaeto meets that criteria, hence the reason most people prefer it.

 

[AlexG]

All my corals are zoas/palys,,so I keep the water a little dirty for say..
I dont have much algae in the tanks them self..
no pads,socks canisters on my system.
I have 75 tank as a sump/oversized skimmer and a 40 gallon tank on line for a refugium with a bunch of live rock but no Macro algae..
My tanks are 30gal/60gal/80gal/ frag tanks all on one sump.more live rock in the sump,,not much rock at all in any frag tanks.
My No3 is 32 per Red Sea no3 pro test kit and Salifert is very cherry red coloered in the test vial..
I would like to lower it naturally to around 10 or a little less..

There are a few options that you could try. One try running the skimmer part time everyday or at least a more often then one day a week. The idea behind this is to remove waste before it can be broken down into nitrates. It might take a few weeks to see results. I have kept dirty tanks before but there is a balance that must be achieved that is just right to keep the water parameters at your target values. Option two I would blast the tanks with a power head or pump of some form and either perform a water change or temporarily install filter socks for a day or less to capture any detritus that is stirred up. Again this might take some time to show a change in nitrates. Macro algae of the kinds listed above will help the issue and can also be a stand alone solution. Just give it some time to work.

The front side of the nitrogen cycle is working to produce nitrates as intended in this case but there is not enough denitrification capacity available. It comes down to stopping nitrates at the source or increasing denitrification capacity to lower them at the back end of the nitrogen cycle. Both methods can work. Best to take it slow and monitor the solution you choose for a few weeks t0 see if you get your desired results.

 

[Koaleigh]

Crown of Flames Macro Algae (Gracilaria sp.)

Would like to try this macro algae myself too and intended on getting some in the near future, not only does it look good but apparently it is supposed to grow faster than chaeto. Herbivore fish are known to eat it too so clippings of it can also be a treat for them.