Tigahboy's Macroalgae Tank(s)

[muffinmanXL]

Hey @Tigahboy , thanks for sharing! Haven’t the UNS 30A been around for a while? Or are you saying there’s a new version of it coming out..?

 

[Tigahboy]

Hey @Tigahboy , thanks for sharing! Haven’t the UNS 30A been around for a while? Or are you saying there’s a new version of it coming out..?

There’s 2 new versions coming out. One with a white background for freshwater and the other with a larger chamber that can accommodate UNS line saltwater add-ons such as protein skimmer, fuge reactor, etc. There are other upgrades and improvements as well such as a glass back wall instead of acrylic.

 

[rhizotron]

Really pleased to find @ Tigahboy 's work here. I have enjoyed following along on Instagram. That Hawaii aquascape is amazing!

 

[muffinmanXL]

There’s 2 new versions coming out. One with a white background for freshwater and the other with a larger chamber that can accommodate UNS line saltwater add-ons such as protein skimmer, fuge reactor, etc. There are other upgrades and improvements as well such as a glass back wall instead of acrylic.

Thank you! I love my UNS freshwater nano and am excited to hear they're making inroads into the salty side of things. Anticipated release date? I can't seem to find anything on the internet / on their website

 

[Tigahboy]

Really pleased to find @ Tigahboy 's work here. I have enjoyed following along on Instagram. That Hawaii aquascape is amazing!

Thank you! That was such a fun project!

Thank you! I love my UNS freshwater nano and am excited to hear they're making inroads into the salty side of things. Anticipated release date? I can't seem to find anything on the internet / on their website

Should be within the next couple months! They also have a full reef system line with sump and everything that will be released at the same time.

 

[Tigahboy]

Thank you! I love my UNS freshwater nano and am excited to hear they're making inroads into the salty side of things. Anticipated release date? I can't seem to find anything on the internet / on their website

I'm told there will be a page with more information coming out next week, so I'll be sure to add it here when it does.

 

[shred5]

Hello! This tank is cycling now.

Added a light bar made by ONF and moved over my ReefBreeders Photon 32 from my IM 30L over to this tank. Also using the ReefBreeders Fuge Pico V2 over the sump.

Another shot.

What is you setup and schedule for the reefbreeders? I have one over two macro tanks.

I have another macro tank coming online and considering lighting for it. I was considering a Twinstar or a Chihiros but I have a extra Kessil AP9X laying around too.. Really wanted to try a light for planted freshwater tanks though.
I also need some lights for my mangrove tank which has some seagrass and macros.

What do you prefer over macro tanks. A freshwater fixture for planted tanks or a reef light?

 

[Tigahboy]

What is you setup and schedule for the reefbreeders? I have one over two macro tanks.

I have another macro tank coming online and considering lighting for it. I was considering a Twinstar or a Chihiros but I have a extra Kessil AP9X laying around too.. Really wanted to try a light for planted freshwater tanks though.
I also need some lights for my mangrove tank which has some seagrass and macros.

What do you prefer over macro tanks. A freshwater fixture for planted tanks or a reef light?

Here's my schedule for my Reefbreeders Photon:

Photoperiod: 1pm - 10 pm
Violet: 15%
Deep Red: 25%
Green: 15%
Cool Blue: 35%
Royal Blue: 20%
White: 35%

I first adjusted based on just what I thought would be good for macros and how it looked to my naked eye, then little by little tweaked it over time. But this is where I landed and I've had good growth from my macroalgae.

I think macros can adjust to a variety of lighting so you could really go with what you think looks best and works for you in terms of control. I first started using all freshwater planted tank lights (with a lot of success -- they will grow macroalgae really well) but over time started moving towards reef lights that I can control with an app and that I'm able to adjust a bunch to get to close to planted tank light spectrum but with the option of adding more blue spectrum in case I wanted to add more coral.

 

[shred5]

Here's my schedule for my Reefbreeders Photon:

Photoperiod: 1pm - 10 pm
Violet: 15%
Deep Red: 25%
Green: 15%
Cool Blue: 35%
Royal Blue: 20%
White: 35%

I first adjusted based on just what I thought would be good for macros and how it looked to my naked eye, then little by little tweaked it over time. But this is where I landed and I've had good growth from my macroalgae.

I think macros can adjust to a variety of lighting so you could really go with what you think looks best and works for you in terms of control. I first started using all freshwater planted tank lights (with a lot of success -- they will grow macroalgae really well) but over time started moving towards reef lights that I can control with an app and that I'm able to adjust a bunch to get to close to planted tank light spectrum but with the option of adding more blue spectrum in case I wanted to add more coral.

Thank you.
Yea Twinstar really does not have much control but the Chihiros does. I hear you on the controllability and thought about it myself..

I have used mostly reef lights.
Reef lights are just so much more expensive. I really find flame algae likes more blue and not real bright. It frigen glows.
Some Flame algae under Kessil pretty blue:

One of my fuges temporarily holding some halimeda, shaving brush and flame algae.
This is under reef breeders not very blue.

This is some sargassum that grew out of some live rock.
Just under some cheap led strips. Just for scale that is a 20x20 cube aquarium.

 

[Tigahboy]

Thank you.
Yea Twinstar really does not have much control but the Chihiros does. I hear you on the controllability and thought about it myself..

I have used mostly reef lights.
Reef lights are just so much more expensive. I really find flame algae likes more blue and not real bright. It frigen glows.
Some Flame algae under Kessil pretty blue:

One of my fuges temporarily holding some halimeda, shaving brush and flame algae.
This is under reef breeders not very blue.

This is some sargassum that grew out of some live rock.
Just under some cheap led strips. Just for scale that is a 20x20 cube aquarium.

Totally agree that certain specifics of macroalgae that grow in deeper water, such as dragon's breath/halymenia like the one you have, definitely do better under more blues.

I'm curious did that sargassum grow from a tiny piece to that?? That's super impressive! What kind of cheap LED lights are you using? Please share your sargassum grow tips with us.

 

[shred5]

Totally agree that certain specifics of macroalgae that grow in deeper water, such as dragon's breath/halymenia like the one you have, definitely do better under more blues.

I'm curious did that sargassum grow from a tiny piece to that?? That's super impressive! What kind of cheap LED lights are you using? Please share your sargassum grow tips with us.

I had to look back and actually I was wrong. It grew out in my tub and was under T-5 there. This was awhile ago. It was actually much larger than in that picture and a chunk broke off moving it there. The tub had no filter just a heater and circulation. It was holding tank for my live rock, corals and fish till my system was finished. They were in the tub for a long time maybe even close too two years. I believed it did grow for a while in that aquarium pictured above before it was just to big.
I also think in that picture above it was under Evergrow strips and one or two t-5.

I never had issues growing sargassum but I have not ever had it under 100 percent led. I know freshwater planted people have issues with certain plants also under just led. I now need to get some and try under led.

Only real thing I do different is add silica to my tanks for sponges and diatoms.

It did grow off some rock from Gulf Live Rock. I love their rock. Just about every type of algae grows off their deco rock.

Here is a few pics of it. The first pic may actually be the piece of sargassum that grew into the picture above.
The large sponge, goni and leather were not from the rock.

I mean look at that rock and all the different algae that came in on it.

.

 

[Tigahboy]

Latest FTS of the 70g / UNS 90U (added a small BTA recently which is in nem prison in the upper left corner until I'm able to grow it out a little more)

An FTS from 7 months back for reference.

 

[rhizotron]

So awesome.

 

[Tigahboy]

So awesome.

Thank you!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Latest FTS of the 70g / UNS 90U (added a small BTA recently which is in nem prison in the upper left corner until I'm able to grow it out a little more)

An FTS from 7 months back for reference.

The growth of the tank is incredible!

 

[Tigahboy]

70g / UNS 90U was looking clean today so took a few shots.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

70g / UNS 90U was looking clean today so took a few shots.

Always love seeing new pictures of your tanks!

 

[Tigahboy]

Check out my ReefBuilders feature article that just came out yesterday!

Magnificent Macroalgae: The Sublime Scapes of Tigahboy.h2o | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Macroalgae is a growing sector of the saltwater aquarium hobby, and one of the pioneers of that movement is Macroalgae Scaper @tigahboy.h2o with his numerous sublime saltwater scapes. We asked the man…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Drewerd7]

Check out my ReefBuilders feature article that just came out yesterday!

Magnificent Macroalgae: The Sublime Scapes of Tigahboy.h2o | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Macroalgae is a growing sector of the saltwater aquarium hobby, and one of the pioneers of that movement is Macroalgae Scaper @tigahboy.h2o with his numerous sublime saltwater scapes. We asked the man…

reefbuilders.com

Thanks for always being open to share your knowledge and experience.
Your photo skills are also a joy to witness.

There is no magic formula, but everyone's sharing and willingness to contribute and discuss in this hobby keep it encouraging and inviting to newcomers.

I believe this shared knowledge is the main reason we have such wide success in this hobby.

 

[Tigahboy]

Got back from @Reef A Palooza Texas and was able to get this beautiful red macroalgae (with orange spots) - Halymenia stipitata - from a local reefer in a trade. I visited a wholesaler in Texas as well and I asked the owner if I could get some of the Dictyota (shown below to the left) that was growing randomly on one of the overflow boxes in a grow-out tank. He said that was a first for him and he gladly handed me a couple clumps.

I also had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with the one and only @revhtree. Check out the R2R's Instagram for a very quick interview I did with him.