Why shouldn't macrogae be in your display?

[Tinnerito]

If you've read my posts, you know that all of my displays are macroalgae dominant, with little to no coral. I recently was told by some hobbyists that macroalgae does not belong in a display, especially caulerpa, and only should be in a sump or refugium. That also makes me realize that I know very few people online that actually have macroalgae in their display tanks. I assume many of you also keep your macros in a fuge, but why exactly? I want to read your standpoints. What experiences do you have with macro in your display? Good? Bad? My clownfish seem to love the softness and smoothness of my caulerpa, my clown gobys like perching on my textured, firm gracilarias, and macroalgae will keep nitrates low, make homes for my copepods, and are visually appealing. so I would imagine they're a positive contribution to a saltwater aquarium.

 

[vlangel]

Yeah just be careful with macros bothering the corals and signs of low nutrients.
The tank looks good.
Your tank, your style. A personal tank should reflect personal taste.

Thanks Faurek, that is so true on everything. My tank is 8 years old and has always run a bit on the high side of nutrients; NO3 around 30ppm and PO4 .15ppm or so. However about 2-3 months ago I randomly tested and nitrates were not even detectable. I thought that it had to be a mistake after so many years of running high so tested 2 more times. It wasn't so I bought 5 more fish which was the funnest way to increase the nutrients. It only worked temporarily until the tank adjusted to the new bioload. I have a deep sandbed which is probably also lowering my nitrates. I have potassium nitrate that I can dose so it's not a problem, more of an inconvenience to a free spirit reef keeper like me. But you are correct in that my tank reflects my personal style and tastes. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy it.

 

[Faurek]

Thanks Faurek, that is so true on everything. My tank is 8 years old and has always run a bit on the high side of nutrients; NO3 around 30ppm and PO4 .15ppm or so. However about 2-3 months ago I randomly tested and nitrates were not even detectable. I thought that it had to be a mistake after so many years of running high so tested 2 more times. It wasn't so I bought 5 more fish which was the funnest way to increase the nutrients. It only worked temporarily until the tank adjusted to the new bioload. I have a deep sandbed which is probably also lowering my nitrates. I have potassium nitrate that I can dose so it's not a problem, more of an inconvenience to a free spirit reef keeper like me. But you are correct in that my tank reflects my personal style and tastes. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy it.

Yeah, once they take off they really suck up nutrients, maybe try resetting the macro the same way people do with corals, take 90% off and let 10% in the aquarium.

 

[Tinnerito]

Yeah, once they take off they really suck up nutrients, maybe try resetting the macro the same way people do with corals, take 90% off and let 10% in the aquarium.

I dose nitrates to keep nutrients up, and macroalgaes happy :)

 

[Faurek]

I dose nitrates to keep nutrients up, and macroalgaes happy :)

I'm not saying not to dose, similar to corals a large quantity of macro takes up larger quantities of n and p, trimming it and resetting that "colony" once in a while will help with maintaining higher nutrients by keeping lower consumption.
Like in a tank full of acros resetting one specific acro colony by fragging and placing the small frag instead of the big colony.

 

[jabberwock]

Yeah just be careful with macros bothering the corals and signs of low nutrients.
The tank looks good.
Your tank, your style. A personal tank should reflect personal taste.

Agree, I had an AGGRESSIVE Caulerpa that bottomed out my nitrates. Had to remove it after a couple weeks.

 

[jabberwock]

The current FTS, just for fun... Anybody know what that dark red hairy blob left of center is?

 

[vlangel]

Yeah, once they take off they really suck up nutrients, maybe try resetting the macro the same way people do with corals, take 90% off and let 10% in the aquarium.

Yes, I am considering doing that. I need to test NO3 and PO4 to see where they are right now.