Macro Algae Recommendation for Stock Biocube Lighting

[jabberwock]

32 gallon biocube has been up for 9 months. Things are going well except for the murderous clown fish pair (they have been removed).

I have GHA. Been monitoring nutrients, manually removing GHA, it is getting better. Reducing lighting, reducing feeding, adding CUC (all the typical responses to GHA). It does not really bug me too much. I recognize it as part of the system. I am intrigued by macro algae as a "replacement/competitor".

Is this a reasonable idea?

What limitations do I have with the stock Biocube LEDs?

Can I do macro algae with the stock lighting?

 

[Goodair]

Do you have a sump? There arw different macro algaes, some are more cosmetic and other can be hidden and protected from getting eaten in a sump like chaeto.

Edit: As for your lights, some people have success with some macros and not high end lighting. There are other factors to growth like flow and trace elements.

 

[jabberwock]

No sump. I am thinking of macros suitable for the "display tank". I tend to do micro daily water changes which I think helps to keep up elements. I purchase premixed Red Sea water from the LFS. 14 gallons lasts me a month or more.

 

[Katrina71]

You might consider running an airstone opposite of your lighting schedule with macro.

 

[Katrina71]

Dragon's breath is very pretty.

 

[Musovski]

make sure you have nutrients!! Macro Algae needs nitrates and phosphates to grow, just like we need water and food to grow.

 

[DanInMichigan]

How would you get those nutrients without fish? ghost feed?

 

[jabberwock]

I have fish, and nutrients, the gha is, well, thriving...

 

[AlgaeBarn Verified Sponsor]

I would recommend pompom or dragons breathe