Advanced Aquarist Featured Aquarium: 'Suzy'

[liquid]

'Suzy' is the October 2006 Feature Aquarium for Advanced Aquarist. Take a look at Suzy's macroalgae tank:

You can read the whole article here:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/10/aquarium

Congratulations!

Reefs.org and Advanced Aquarist's Staff

 

[linderaberry]

Gorgeous -- but, hey, the algae species aren't listed! Isn't that a Caulerpa or two? I thought we were supposed to quit using those because they emit toxic chemicals...?

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much, Liquid! I am loving showing this at work!


Linderaberry, you have a very good eye! ID'ing algae is tricky, at best, because some species are so similar. I do believe the greens in this photo are of the genus Caulerpa. I have approx. 10 species which I believe are of that genus, and I do have to watch them, but once you know what to look for, they are easy to care for.

I think the genus Caulerpa has gained a bad reputation in the hobbyist world, because of it's tendencies to grow fast, utilize the available nutrients, then wait in a spore state for the famine conditions to reverse. In a display situation, it gives "hints" that it is about to cause trouble, but because I look at my tanks quite frequently, it does not happen....much...anymore....

But, any species will cause issues in a closed system when it dies, right? A large sarcophyton demise can cause a tank to have major issues, a large out break of flatworms dying suddenly will cause a deterioration in water quality. I think we can safely utilize the major benefits of Caulerpa if we do not allow a massive mass in a small system. I have many species, and each is a very small part of a large system.

I look at this tank as a bonus! I love my husband, but he is very interested in the amount of moola I invest into this hobby. I am not saying I purposefully hide things from him, but this tank really was a way to have another tank without actually getting another tank! It started in my sump.

I hope the idea of planted tanks catches on, so importers will begin to bring us more gorgeous specimens. I have a few books on marine algae. I see these pics and really believe they are equal in beauty to the other things our hobby offers. The brilliant reds, the subtle purples, the funky shapes and textures.

So, what's in your sump?

 

[linderaberry]

Nothing, yet -- I'm gathering info to get back into the hobby. I had tanks in the 70s and 80s with 70s equipment and I need to learn a lot before I can make the investment to start again. My tastes run to massive backgrounds of plants ond algae, a few interesting-shaped rocks, a robust cleanup crew, plus a few small fish of very high intensity colors. So my greenery won't be limited to the sump -- unless I decide to get corals or sponges that would not live well with the algae.

I thought it wasn't just the die-off of Caulerpas that caused trouble, but the toxins they secrete as they grow in a normalhealthy way? Or maybe they secrete toxins when you trim them?

 

[Anonymous]

I have read that they do have chemicals released, so I run carbon quite freq but I have not noticed that the chemical warfare that is supposed to keep other organisms in check actually works for them! They intermingle quite nicely.

But, if you are considering planted, consider all the other genus. There are thousands of green, red and brown marine algae species. I know in FW planteds, they use red as an accent or focal point, but we have so many more choices. Using the different hues and textures, our possibilities are endless for creating an aquascape with massive depth and interest.

I think Caulerpa is a great genus, with many species to assist with adding depth, but there are so many others to use as foreround, focal points, and framing species.

Watching and foo-fooing a reef tank is fun, but changes happen so slowly. I would not give up my reef for this tank, but having them together does give me the best of both worlds. Corals grow so slowly!

Plus, FW plants look a bit drab compared to marine algae! (I hope there aren't any FW people here)

Having the tanks together, I cannot grow bryopsis. I know that sounds weird, but I think it would be great to use it like the FW guys use moss. But, it will not grow at all. I've tried it 3 times. Sucks at competing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73WnJLnUNMc

 

[liquid]

Sweet, I didn't realize that you had a YouTube video of the tank. I'll add that to the article tonight.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Having the tanks together, I cannot grow bryopsis. I know that sounds weird, but I think it would be great to use it like the FW guys use moss. But, it will not grow at all. I've tried it 3 times. Sucks at competing..

Have you tried chlorodesmis (maiden's hair)? I imagine you could use it to fill a similiar niche.

 

[Anonymous]

I have! It is gorgeous! I lost it when I added a sleeper goby to clean the substrate and then left for a weekend trip. When I got back, it was buried and dead! Dumb blonde thing to do, I haven't been able to find another specimen thus far, but when I do, I might have to check my foreground substrate to rubble to encourage it to cover. That would look really hot, with it's light, lime green color!

Thanks for the suggestion!