Macro Algae Tank "Necessities"?

[RainsReef]

Hi everyone! I've kept macro algae in the past, but always felt I had a hint of nuisance algae that lingered. I'd love to see some successful macro algae dominant tanks, and what you feel are necessities for growing/ maintaining a successful macro algae tank.

I'd like to try a pico for algaes, but wonder if something under 5 gallons would be too small to truly appreciate them?

 

[lapin]

@Subsea @vlangel

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@Tigahboy

 

[vlangel]

This is my tanks.

 

[RainsReef]

This is my tanks.

Beautiful! Do you have more details om this tank? Is it the one in your build thread? I love the way the macros integrate in with the corals.

 

[vlangel]

Beautiful! Do you have more details om this tank? Is it the one in your build thread? I love the way the macros integrate in with the corals.

Aww thank you for the kind words.

"This tank" is actually 2 tanks. The first pic is from my 56g column tank (Dawn's high nutrient garden). In the middle of Sept. I transferred everything from my 56g tank and its 30g sump into a 75g aquarium (Lurking danger seadragon lair) with a canister filter so I showed pics from both tanks since both tanks have macros integrated in the display. Some macros are still settling from the transfer like the red gracilaria hayi. It can grow very fast and invasively once it settles, (which is great for nutrient uptake but requires diligent pruning to keep it in control! LOL). Right now my codium has never been nicer! I plan to buy more macros as soon as the weather in western PA is a bit more temperate.

It helps to have a small blue or red legged hermits to eat some of the nuisance algae off the macros.

 

[RainsReef]

Aww thank you for the kind words.

"This tank" is actually 2 tanks. The first pic is from my 56g column tank (Dawn's high nutrient garden). In the middle of Sept. I transferred everything from my 56g tank and its 30g sump into a 75g aquarium (Lurking danger seadragon lair) with a canister filter so I showed pics from both tanks since both tanks have macros integrated in the display. Some macros are still settling from the transfer like the red gracilaria hayi. It can grow very fast and invasively once it settles, (which is great for nutrient uptake but requires diligent pruning to keep it in control! LOL). Right now my codium has never been nicer! I plan to buy more macros as soon as the weather in western PA is a bit more temperate.

It helps to have a small blue or red legged hermits to eat some of the nuisance algae off the macros.

Codium is a fantastic looking algae! Thank you for the info Is there a particular place you prefer ordering from? What type of lighting do you use? I'd guess you likely prune the macros similarly to a freshwater scape when they get too unruly?

 

[Subsea]

Hi everyone! I've kept macro algae in the past, but always felt I had a hint of nuisance algae that lingered. I'd love to see some successful macro algae dominant tanks, and what you feel are necessities for growing/ maintaining a successful macro algae tank.

I'd like to try a pico for algaes, but wonder if something under 5 gallons would be too small to truly appreciate them?

Two weeks ago, I set up a macro lagoon in a 6G AIO tall tank. Apex predators are peppermint shrimp and black mollies adjusted to full strength. I dose ammonia every day after lights come on and twice a week I dose liquid kelp. Lower light intensity ( less than 100 PAR) is best for managing fast growing seaweeds. For corals, I have Green Star polyps & Silver Pulsing Xenia. At present, I am in the middle of moving & setting up a 55G. So work in progress.

 

[vlangel]

Codium is a fantastic looking algae! Thank you for the info Is there a particular place you prefer ordering from? What type of lighting do you use? I'd guess you likely prune the macros similarly to a freshwater scape when they get too unruly?

I have had the codium a long time but I am not sure where I got it. Most of my macros came from friends with reefs or online with Gulfcoast Ecosystem. Gulfcoast was fantastic but I think they have retired now. Patrick, @Subsea you know what happened to Gulfcoast Ecosystem don't you? I am planning on trying Mosaic Macros in 2026.

My lighting is a ReefBreeder Photon. I ramp up all the colors with the white channel being the highest intensity (75%) during my peak daylight hours. Macros like white light which also has other colors in it. I have the blue channels higher than the white channel in the morning and evening hours which is what the coral like. I use the red and green channels more sparingly just to make the tank look good to my eyes.

I have never had a planted freshwater tank but I am guessing you prune both the same. Once a macro takes off its almost impossible to prune it incorrectly because at that point they can recover from just about anything, LOL.

 

[Subsea]

Live-Plants/GCE was bought by Conch County Aquatics and have this website address.

live-plants.com

Gulf Coast Ecosystems (GCE), founded in 2003, is a trusted source for live marine macroalgae, gorgonians, sponges and invertebrates. From our Florida Keys and Tampa Bay stations, we hand-collect and culture high-quality specimens for hobbyists, reef tanks, public aquariums, universities, and...

gulfcoasteco.myshopify.com

Before Russ retired, he recommended Mosaic Macros as a preferred vendor.

MosaicMacros - Saltwater Macroalgae for Sale for the Reef Tank

Saltwater macroalgae for sale! Shop for saltwater and marine macroalgae, plants, sponges, snails, and more! MosaicMacros has Caulerpa, Chaetomorpha, Ogo, Gracilaria, Botryocladia, Hypnea, and many more macroalgae for sale. Shop from over 70 species of macroalgae! Perfect for the macroalgae tank...

mosaicmacros.com

 

[vlangel]

Live-Plants/GCE was bought by Conch County Aquatics and have this website address.

live-plants.com

Gulf Coast Ecosystems (GCE), founded in 2003, is a trusted source for live marine macroalgae, gorgonians, sponges and invertebrates. From our Florida Keys and Tampa Bay stations, we hand-collect and culture high-quality specimens for hobbyists, reef tanks, public aquariums, universities, and...

gulfcoasteco.myshopify.com

Before Russ retired, he recommended Mosaic Macros as a preferred vendor.

MosaicMacros - Saltwater Macroalgae for Sale for the Reef Tank

Saltwater macroalgae for sale! Shop for saltwater and marine macroalgae, plants, sponges, snails, and more! MosaicMacros has Caulerpa, Chaetomorpha, Ogo, Gracilaria, Botryocladia, Hypnea, and many more macroalgae for sale. Shop from over 70 species of macroalgae! Perfect for the macroalgae tank...

mosaicmacros.com

Thanks Patrick!

 

[RainsReef]

Two weeks ago, I set up a macro lagoon in a 6G AIO tall tank. Apex predators are peppermint shrimp and black mollies adjusted to full strength. I dose ammonia every day after lights come on and twice a week I dose liquid kelp. Lower light intensity ( less than 100 PAR) is best for managing fast growing seaweeds. For corals, I have Green Star polyps & Silver Pulsing Xenia. At present, I am in the middle of moving & setting up a 55G. So work in progress.

A 6g or smaller would be my preferred tank size to start out / try the macro dedicated tank. Thank you for the dosing recommendations as well!

 

[RainsReef]

Do any of you with macro tanks think it would be at all beneficial to use "refugium mud" as the substrate? Maybe if I was hoping to add more substrate dwelling plants such as mangroves? There don't seem to be a whole lot of others that truly root and grab nutrients from the "soil" vs the water column / photosynthesis.

 

[RainsReef]

I have had the codium a long time but I am not sure where I got it. Most of my macros came from friends with reefs or online with Gulfcoast Ecosystem. Gulfcoast was fantastic but I think they have retired now. Patrick, @Subsea you know what happened to Gulfcoast Ecosystem don't you? I am planning on trying Mosaic Macros in 2026.

My lighting is a ReefBreeder Photon. I ramp up all the colors with the white channel being the highest intensity (75%) during my peak daylight hours. Macros like white light which also has other colors in it. I have the blue channels higher than the white channel in the morning and evening hours which is what the coral like. I use the red and green channels more sparingly just to make the tank look good to my eyes.

I have never had a planted freshwater tank but I am guessing you prune both the same. Once a macro takes off its almost impossible to prune it incorrectly because at that point they can recover from just about anything, LOL.

Thank you for your detailed response, I appreciate it!!

 

[Subsea]

Do any of you with macro tanks think it would be at all beneficial to use "refugium mud" as the substrate? Maybe if I was hoping to add more substrate dwelling plants such as mangroves? There don't seem to be a whole lot of others that truly root and grab nutrients from the "soil" vs the water column / photosynthesis.

For certain no mangroves in a nano tank.

Refugium mud would not help or hurt macroalgaes.

 

[zwalter38]

I have a 35g cube macro tank plumbed into my main reef display. I have got all my macros from MosaicMacros and cant say enough good things about them. They have to have the best selection at pretty good prices. I have ran into a few hurdles along the way including cyano, flatworms, and hair algae with my tank. For cyano the root cause was a lack of flow. Once i added an additional wavemaker the cyano slowly fizzled out. The flatworms i added a natural predator(ORA mandarin) and they have also fizzled out with time. As for the hair algae i have tiny cerith and trocus snails along with the smallest blue leg hermits i can find. These cleanup crew members are able to clean the algae without falling off it from being too heavy. All in all once the macro takes hold and you get some stability it will outcompete pest algae, at least that is my experience at this point.