Getting Good Macro Algae Growth In Empty Display?

[xxBarneyxx]

We are planning on setting up a seahorse tank and have pretty much everything for it except the seahorses. We wont be getting these for at least a couple of months yet so I was thinking about setting the tank up now so it has time to settle and will give a good period of time to get a lot of pod growth.

Just wandering if anyone has any pointers on how to get good growth out of macro algae. I was considering treating it like a FW planted tank and dosing with CO2 and a low level fert dose (at least until I plan to start putting some life in there).

Also any suggestions for pretty macro algae's would be appreciated

 

[Anguilla82]

not sure on how to increase growth rates and would be wary about adding any suppliments meant for FW.

as for algae types, i quite like the look of Halimeda. I plan on getting some to put in an area of my tank.

Rob

 

[seffieuk]

Think we need Connor or Kelwoo to drop on by

Seffie x

 

[kelwoo]

Hi Barney

It just so happens i had the same thought a few months ago and did a bit of research. When i first put my algaes in the tank (may i recommend prolifera it grows well and has the look of seagrass) they seemed to grow well and fast, then they slowed down to the point of stopping. Since i use to have a heavily planted fresh water setup i wondered the same as you do the algaes need more than nitrates and phosphates?

I had a problem with my fresh water setup plants not growing - the answer to this was iron, there was not enough in my system. Iron is important in photosynthesis and when i brough an iron test kit and tested my SH tank there was no iron in it at all. The salt we use (as with most salt) only has trace amounts in it not enough to support a heavily planted tank. So an iron supplement for marine systems should be used, there is also so evidence to support the fact that added iron will also help prevent your algae going sexual and gives it an advantage over bad microalgaes. Co2 in the water should be sufficient and you'll need some nitrates in there too! (not a problem if your feeding 2-3 times daily with ff) From my research it is suggested that an iron level between 0.05 - 0.1 ppm is benefical.

Here is a link to a really good write up on algae growth
Iron and macroalgaes

The iron test kit i use is JBL, and the iron supplements i use are kent marine iron (also includes manganese) and the new one i found yesterday but haven't tried yet is Brightwell aquatics Ferrion (which is just iron on it's own).

It seems to have made a difference - the algae has new grow on it again and looks really healthy.

Hope this helps

Kelwoo.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks a lot for that Kelwoo, will have a good look at the links when I get home. I have got a load of dry ferts and trace mixes from when I had a planted FW tank, will check the trace mixes to make sure they dont contain copper (pretty sure they don't as my FW shrimp and snails where always ok with really heavy dosing).

Thanks for the suggestion Rob, I actually have a few small shoots of this growing in my reef tank so will transfer them over when I set up the nano.

Once of the few good things to come from the horrible ammonia spike and the prolonged high phosphates in my main tank is that I have had quite a lot of nice looking macro algae spring up from nowhere. A lot of it is starting to die off now so might get it into a separate tank and dose with potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate to see what happens. I will start with a very low dose and measure to see how quickly it gets taken up.