What type of Plant life do you use in your refugium?

[jrodjordan]

I was wondering
What type of Macro or plant life do you all use in your refugium?
and why?

I have always used calurpa, but I am not all that impressed with it. I tried grape, but the calurpa took over.

I recently built a new sump/refugium/return and would like some of your suggestions. I have a 5 stage refugium, 3 of which I am dedicating to plants.
I was thinking of doing:
Plant STAGE 1: Red Feeder algea or Grape macro or kelp
Plant STAGE 2: Mangroves
Plant STAGE 3: Shaving brushs

 

[loismustdie]

cheato

 

[tomzpc]

chaetomorpha only. But I have a "very" small refugium.

 

[loismustdie]

oh... forgot why. Excellent at absorbing PO4. Doesn't go sexual like caleurpa. Loaded with pods. Find it to be easy maintenance when needed removal is done.
I'm no plant expert, but if I'm not mistaken, it takes a lot of mangroves to remove very little nutrients from the water. That fad seemed to die out a few years ago when people saw how little they really did and the maintenance wasn't worth it. One leaf falling into the tank that isn't removed will add more nutients than the plant will remove. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Always willing to learn something new.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Cheato here .lots of it too

 

[druluv]

I use chaetomorpha and Caulerpla. I find caulerpla grows faster though. I don't have any of the sexual proplems with caulerpla because I light my fuge 24/7.

 

[jrodjordan]

I use chaetomorpha and Caulerpla. I find caulerpla grows faster though. I don't have any of the sexual proplems with caulerpla because I light my fuge 24/7.

Interesting...
so do you have an issue w/ hair algea?

 

[jrodjordan]

oh... forgot why. Excellent at absorbing PO4. Doesn't go sexual like caleurpa. Loaded with pods. Find it to be easy maintenance when needed removal is done.
I'm no plant expert, but if I'm not mistaken, it takes a lot of mangroves to remove very little nutrients from the water. That fad seemed to die out a few years ago when people saw how little they really did and the maintenance wasn't worth it. One leaf falling into the tank that isn't removed will add more nutients than the plant will remove. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Always willing to learn something new.

Anybody else second this?
I know a bunch of you guys bought mangrove plants this past month...
have they helped?

or are mangroves are more trouble that what its worth?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I have red grape in my main tank as spare in case the pumping fails for my sump and act as food for my fish and snails. They look great in the main tank. Also growing a little of green grape as well. They are very different stuff though.

I also have dollar plant in the main display-did not see nor know if they do much about the PO4. I keep it there simply because it looks interesting.

I have chaeto, caulerpa in the sump. The caulerpa do grow much faster than the chaeto and never give the asexual issue even though I was not lighting it 24/7 in the past-now I do 24/7.

During one of the harvesting, one of my shrimp died. Not sure if it's because I stirred the sump's sand bed or cutting the caulerpa caused them to release some toxic stuff or......

Area where red grape grows have no hair algae-could be coincidence-no conclusive answers yet. I will try to plant the red grape right next to a coral where hair algae presents-let you know in a month what's the results.

 

[masterswimmer]

Chaetomorpha & turtle grass. I've recently found some feather caulerpa in my display. Looks nice and not invasive, YET.

I've heard similar things about mangroves. Also, you'll need a lot of room above the fuge for growth.

swimmer

 

[druluv]

Mangroves grow to slow to be of any help. If you have 24/7 fuge lighting go with caulperla, it is the fastest grower of all marine plants.