Hi,
I have a mixed reef with various softies, lps, and a few very chill SPS (pavona, cyphastrea). The tank is recently showing signs of finally being happy and stable. Corals that were receding are staying puffy again, and my torches have great polyp extension and my mandarin dragonet is still alive and very active 2 months in because of live rock I added.
I just recovered the tank from a salinity spike and phosphate stripping through unnecessary use of gfo. My phosphates are fine but my Nitrates are still above where I want them.
I am considering starting macro in my refugium, as I would like to provide food for my slate pencil urchin I banished to the sump and supplement an emerald crab that I plan on trying adding to assist me in finding any sprouted bubble algae.
I am worried the addition of algae will knock my nutrient levels too low again and make my corals mad. Right now I am dosing Redsea Ab+ and turning off my skimmer for the night, and broadcasting benepets.
I have a decent space for a refugium. The sump is a nano eshopps and it has a large vertical refugium space.
What would any experienced reefers with macro suggest is the best choice here? Something that might grow a bit slower? What would fit that bill and be palatable to my urchin? (I'm guessing any, he is an absolute pig) or an emerald crab?
Or, should I rule out anything macro related until my tank is fully mature?
Thanks for reading and your suggestions.
I have a mixed reef with various softies, lps, and a few very chill SPS (pavona, cyphastrea). The tank is recently showing signs of finally being happy and stable. Corals that were receding are staying puffy again, and my torches have great polyp extension and my mandarin dragonet is still alive and very active 2 months in because of live rock I added.
I just recovered the tank from a salinity spike and phosphate stripping through unnecessary use of gfo. My phosphates are fine but my Nitrates are still above where I want them.
I am considering starting macro in my refugium, as I would like to provide food for my slate pencil urchin I banished to the sump and supplement an emerald crab that I plan on trying adding to assist me in finding any sprouted bubble algae.
I am worried the addition of algae will knock my nutrient levels too low again and make my corals mad. Right now I am dosing Redsea Ab+ and turning off my skimmer for the night, and broadcasting benepets.
I have a decent space for a refugium. The sump is a nano eshopps and it has a large vertical refugium space.
What would any experienced reefers with macro suggest is the best choice here? Something that might grow a bit slower? What would fit that bill and be palatable to my urchin? (I'm guessing any, he is an absolute pig) or an emerald crab?
Or, should I rule out anything macro related until my tank is fully mature?
Thanks for reading and your suggestions.