Display Refugium and Seeking Macros

[Dcal]

Prolifera absolutely lives up to its name. I started with literally like 2 or 3 half leaves and could probably fill up a 10 gallon tank with it already lol

also be super careful getting rid of it you have to make sure it is killed and sterilized before you throw it out (you're not supposed to even have it) and it absolutely wrecks the kelp forests down here. I have a couple friends studying/tracking it down for their theses and that growth is serious

 

[ReefHomieJon]

Hello all!

First post here on the forum, been in the shadows for a while though. Nice to meet you all!

I'm stocking a display refugium and this post is to a) show off, c) request specific IDs if anyone knows them, and b) find anyone in the Southern California area willing to sell, trade, or otherwise offload any ornamental macroalgae (Hopefully that's a question I'm allowed to ask?). Specifically, I am interested in any blue or calcareous macroalgae.

Here's the complete setup:

And here's a wide angle of the refugium:

Thus far I have managed to acquire:
Chaeto: if anyone knows the specific species name I'd love to have that information (I separated the caulerpa bits since taking this picture.)

Gracilaria: Hayi or possibly curtisssae, maybe even both if I could be so lucky. Bought together, unlabeled at LFS (or as red razor which is definitely incorrect.)

G. Parvispora?

G. sp? Came with what I think is parvisipora, might be more of the same. Labeled only as gracilaria at (different than above) LFS. Kindly disregard the chaeto bits.

Caulerpa prolifera (I'll do my best to be careful with this one)

Thanks for taking the time to look!

What LFS did you get these from? Ive been looking for somewhere to grab some display micros for my parents and in laws FOWLR tanks to aid their filtrAtion and add some movement and color

 

[Subsea]

I recently received 75lbs of diver collected uncured lI’ve rock from Gulf live rock. I now have many varieties of both utility macro & ornamental macro. C Prolifera &
C Paspoidies grow the fastest. After curing this rock for 30 days, I moved the best into 75G display. I happily harvest a meadow of Caulerpa Prolifera and thin it out to feed tangs in other tanks. So, Caulerpa is designated a utility macro, however I enjoy watching a meadow of emery green fronds undulating in the currents.

 

[JoannaCora]

shes down in sd she works or worked at an lfs down here

Awesome, thanks for the hot tip. I'll get in touch with her.

 

[JoannaCora]

I recently received 75lbs of diver collected uncured lI’ve rock from Gulf live rock. I now have many varieties of both utility macro & ornamental macro. C Prolifera &
C Paspoidies grow the fastest. After curing this rock for 30 days, I moved the best into 75G display. I happily harvest a meadow of Caulerpa Prolifera and thin it out to feed tangs in other tanks. So, Caulerpa is designated a utility macro, however I enjoy watching a meadow of emery green fronds undulating in the currents.

Looking fantastic! I got a great selection of macros on the rock I ordered from GLR as well, very happy with it. Now just trying to decide what to do with the rocks that don't fit well in my other tanks guess I'll need more tanks.

 

[Subsea]

Looking fantastic! I got a great selection of macros on the rock I ordered from GLR as well, very happy with it. Now just trying to decide what to do with the rocks that don't fit well in my other tanks guess I'll need more tanks.

More tanks! That makes you addicted.

A very important part of uncured live rock is cryptic sponges & other micro inverts. In the past, I opened up a canister filter to find abundent amphipods and numerous cryptic sponges.

I have taken the cryptic challenge in my 75G display that is twenty five yr old. I removed all Chaeto and filled second chamber of EcoSystem mud refugium with live rock on top of eggcrate to keep rock out of 1.5” mud filter. Just as the canister filter turned out to be hi flow cryptic refugium, the void in Plenum of display with UG filter is also a high flow cryptic refugium.

Because I now have a ready source of utility macro to feed tangs in 75G & 120G. I am managing to keep up with Hippo appetite and still display Caulerpa Prolifera, which I find attractive and herbivores say thanks for the food.

In first picture, Note Caulerpa Paspoidies has no feathers to see. Now we know which Caulerpa the Hippo likes best.

 

[JoannaCora]

More tanks! That makes you addicted.

I think it's safe to say I'm already well addicted. This is the first time I'm writing it all out, here we go.
125g cube FOWLR tank
40g dual display reef/planted biocubes
5g nano planted reef
40g+45g macroalgae grow out
55g coral grow out/daycare (friend is remodeling)
working on setting up an outdoor macro grow out, 30g frag tank + sump on rolling cart.

So, I'll be pushing 350 gallons salt across all systems pretty soon here. Plus a 40g breeder freshwater planted tank but we're not supposed to talk about that here.

I have taken the cryptic challenge in my 75G display that is twenty five yr old.

25 year old reef is an amazing feat in itself. Almost as old as... I wont finish the sentence but I assume you can figure out where it's headed lol

 

[Subsea]

I was recently surprised to see both Caulerpa Paspoidoides and Halymenia go sexual in 75G macro display lagoon.

Last picture is 3 month old 30G tank temporally set up on coffee table. Note Halymenia & Bortacladia crowding out Caulerpa Paspoidies

 

[Subsea]

I think it's safe to say I'm already well addicted. This is the first time I'm writing it all out, here we go.
125g cube FOWLR tank
40g dual display reef/planted biocubes
5g nano planted reef
40g+45g macroalgae grow out
55g coral grow out/daycare (friend is remodeling)
working on setting up an outdoor macro grow out, 30g frag tank + sump on rolling cart.

So, I'll be pushing 350 gallons salt across all systems pretty soon here. Plus a 40g breeder freshwater planted tank but we're not supposed to talk about that here.


25 year old reef is an amazing feat in itself. Almost as old as... I wont finish the sentence but I assume you can figure out where it's headed lol

yes, you are an addicted reefer. We have about the same volume indoors.

previously, AquaCulture Ranch had 10,000G in a 20’ by 40’ greenhouse and three 150G Rubbermade tubs buried in ground. Greenhouse system has been dismantled and greenhouse sits idle. I am considering hydroponic herb growout for the greenhouse. The three 150G tubs buried in ground are now housing water lilly and goldfish. Included in outside water garden is 1500G koi pond.