Hi guys - hope you are all keeping well. I have a question about the Gracilaria macro algae. I have a small 100 litre no sump tank and have struggled to grow chaeto in the back chambers of my tank. I understand with gracilaria that I can grow it in my display tank. Does it do the same thing as cheato? Act as a nutrient exporter? Given its a slow grower does it consume nitrates or does it hold them and only goes away when I cultivate it?
Hi. Thank you for your question.
Most macroalgae we recommend for the display tank. like the Gracilaria macroalgae you have mentioned, grow much slower than for example Chaetomorpha.
They still take out nutrients like Nitrate and Phosphate, but as they grow slower they will take out less than Chaeto would do at the same time.
Some reasons for Chaeto to struggle may be imitations of some nutrients and/or the used lighting. If you like us to have a look over this for you please kindly provide your current water parameters, especially Nitrate, Phosphate, Magnesium, Salinity, Alkalinity, PH and Temperature, plus the light you use for your back chamber.
Should some nitrate be the limiting growth factor for the macroalgae we recommend specialised macroalgae fertilizer like ChaetoGro from Brightwell, as it does not add any nitrate or phosphate, but all other elements macroalgae will need to grow.
They still take out nutrients like Nitrate and Phosphate, but as they grow slower they will take out less than Chaeto would do at the same time.
Some reasons for Chaeto to struggle may be imitations of some nutrients and/or the used lighting. If you like us to have a look over this for you please kindly provide your current water parameters, especially Nitrate, Phosphate, Magnesium, Salinity, Alkalinity, PH and Temperature, plus the light you use for your back chamber.
Should some nitrate be the limiting growth factor for the macroalgae we recommend specialised macroalgae fertilizer like ChaetoGro from Brightwell, as it does not add any nitrate or phosphate, but all other elements macroalgae will need to grow.
We hope this helps. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards
Manfred
Livealgae UK
Livealgae UK