Planted main tank?

[rob2]

I'm not a reefer, actually (can't afford it yet)... but I am interested in the refugia, lagoon concepts for filtration purposes.

My question is; What's to prevent you from keeping plants/macros in your main tank? (Such as Maidens hair (Chlorodesmis sp.), Halimeda, Caulerpa, etc.)

 

[Tremelle]

The main reason one would not keep macro algeas in the main tank would be that some fish would find the macro algea as a food source. If the macro algea is eaten by the fish, the nutrients absorbed by the macro algea would be released back into the tank via fish waste. That would defeat the purpose of exporting nutrients via macro aglea harvesting.

 

[rob2]

Thanks.

So I just need to find plants that fish won't eat. Know of any off-hand? I understand that some have toxins to deter the fish from eating them.

 

[dizzy]

You can keep plants in the main tank. Especially if you don't have fish like tangs. The dutch mini-reef tanks have tons of caulerpa and other macro algaes in them.

The problem is that if you keep a lot of plants it won't look like a typical reef area. The hebivors keep the reefs well groomed in a balanced situation. For a lagoon tank they are great. You can even keep certain coral species like Catalaphyllia (elegance) the Waikiki and other aquariums do it all the time.

 

[rob2]

Dizzy, thanks.

Yea, that's what I'm shooting for is a lagoon-style tank. I saw a tiny refugium set up this way and I fell in love!

I do have a Yellow Tang and a CB Angel. However, I've heard that some of these grasses and caulerpa contain toxins to deter fish from eating them. That's what I'm researching now.

Do you have any links to picks of these Dutch tanks/lagoon tanks you mention?

 

[dizzy]

Rob you can start at www.waikikiaquarium.com Have fun there and go to their links page. The dutch stuff is a bit dated. Perhaps some Dutch aquarist are listening and will chime in.

 

[rob2]

Thanks! That'll keep me busy...

 

[danmhippo]

I am not aware of any macro and micro algae yellow tangs doesn't eat.

 

[dizzy]

I am not aware of any macro and micro algae yellow tangs doesn't eat.

How about hair algae.

 

[danmhippo]

That depends. My ex-yellow tang eats a lot of green hair algae, It's the reason I bought him in the first place after seeing him picking on GHA in store. But I've also heard from other reefers report their yellow does not touch GHA.