Shaving Brush Plant

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 10:50 AM

Has anybody ever had one of these? I was thinking of getting a few to help with nutrient export. I have plenty of room behind my LR to plant 4-5 of them. I have no refugium.

TIA,
Dave

skleek · 08/24/2009, 11:21 AM

I'd try out one and see what happens.

I had one for about a month. I liked the way they looked, found a perfect spot. A day later I see my hermits picking at it. I'm like ***? Are my hermits vegetarians? Over the course of a month they picked it clean to a stump and then some. So pretty much I spent 5 bucks on some hermit food.

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the reply...

Good to know, because the 10 hermits I have are considered "herbivores" by Liveaquaria, which I why I got them in order to save my snail population. How many hermits do you have?

Also, did you notice any change in your no3 or po4 levels? I'm fighting a nitrate problem and am getting to my wits end on a solution, so these looked like a possibility...

skleek · 08/24/2009, 11:45 AM

I have 2 black legs, 3 blue leg and a scarlett in a 30 gal.

I didn't really notice any level differences. But you have to figure if the plant growing its doing it job.

You can always get some chaeto and see if they eat it or if it will grow and see if it will suck up any nitrates.

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 11:55 AM

I thought about chaeto, but I don't have a refugium, the sump is in the dark so it would need to go in the main tank. How do you anchor it down? Tank has a lot flow. And finally, your hermits don't touch the chaeto?

Thanks,
Dave

skleek · 08/24/2009, 12:05 PM

Take a gladware container and drill a few holes on the sides. This lets a little flow passes through while it floats on the surface. Then stick some chaeto in it. I have a little frag area setup like that.

Or add some light to the sump. You can get a crappy PC bulb with a walmart desk light and clamp it on the sump and throw the chaeto in there.

They steered clear of the chaeto. Duno why?

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skleek
Take a gladware container and drill a few holes on the sides. This lets a little flow passes through while it floats on the surface. Then stick some chaeto in it. I have a little frag area setup like that. You can get a crappy PC bulb with a walmart desk light and clamp it on the sump and throw the chaeto in there.

Cool, that sounds easy enough. Kind of like a mini-fuge. Does yours grow well like that? No problem from the lights being so close?(I have MH)

That would be enough light for it in the sump?

Thanks,
Dave

skleek · 08/24/2009, 12:25 PM

For a temp test solution the gladware container is worth a shot. Not sure how hot the MH gets but you should be ok.

Yeah my friend has one of those lights for her sump/fuge.

moevilla · 08/24/2009, 12:29 PM

I owned 2 shaving brush plants but took them out after about 2 months. The problem with them is that they sprout new nubs rather quickly and each nub is attached to the parent via a root system. So, if you don't mind your sand bed with a weave of roots with baby sprouts growing everywhere then have at it.

Also, another idea that may work...I have a 25 gallon with no refugium or sump however the cheato that I do have is floating in a small HOB filter along with some mangroves. It's my HOB 'refugium'.

scuba guy ron · 08/24/2009, 12:38 PM

I would personally suggest against the shaving brush. I've collected them here locally a few years ago. they survive about a month or so in low nutrients then start to drop the brush releasing phosphates as they disintigrate. the tests showed a rise in this from undetectable to 20 ppm. Id avoid them IMO.

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moevilla
I owned 2 shaving brush plants but took them out after about 2 months. The problem with them is that they sprout new nubs rather quickly and each nub is attached to the parent via a root system. So, if you don't mind your sand bed with a weave of roots with baby sprouts growing everywhere then have at it.

Yeah, I'd prefer no to have them show. thanks for all the replies, I think i will look into the chaeto, either sump or tupper....

KillerReef · 08/24/2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scuba guy ron
I would personally suggest against the shaving brush. I've collected them here locally a few years ago. they survive about a month or so in low nutrients then start to drop the brush releasing phosphates as they disintigrate. the tests showed a rise in this from undetectable to 20 ppm. Id avoid them IMO.

definitely avoiding them now..

08/24/2009, 10:50 AM	#1
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	Shaving Brush Plant Has anybody ever had one of these? I was thinking of getting a few to help with nutrient export. I have plenty of room behind my LR to plant 4-5 of them. I have no refugium. TIA, Dave __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/24/2009, 11:28 AM	#3
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	Thanks for the reply... Good to know, because the 10 hermits I have are considered "herbivores" by Liveaquaria, which I why I got them in order to save my snail population. How many hermits do you have? Also, did you notice any change in your no3 or po4 levels? I'm fighting a nitrate problem and am getting to my wits end on a solution, so these looked like a possibility... __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/24/2009, 11:55 AM	#5
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	I thought about chaeto, but I don't have a refugium, the sump is in the dark so it would need to go in the main tank. How do you anchor it down? Tank has a lot flow. And finally, your hermits don't touch the chaeto? Thanks, Dave __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/24/2009, 12:29 PM	#9
moevilla IRS Benefactor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Aurora CO Posts: 387	I owned 2 shaving brush plants but took them out after about 2 months. The problem with them is that they sprout new nubs rather quickly and each nub is attached to the parent via a root system. So, if you don't mind your sand bed with a weave of roots with baby sprouts growing everywhere then have at it. Also, another idea that may work...I have a 25 gallon with no refugium or sump however the cheato that I do have is floating in a small HOB filter along with some mangroves. It's my HOB 'refugium'. __________________ It's never too late to become what you could have been...

08/24/2009, 12:38 PM	#10
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	I would personally suggest against the shaving brush. I've collected them here locally a few years ago. they survive about a month or so in low nutrients then start to drop the brush releasing phosphates as they disintigrate. the tests showed a rise in this from undetectable to 20 ppm. Id avoid them IMO. __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

08/24/2009, 11:21 AM	#2
skleek Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: fort lauderdale FL Posts: 149	I'd try out one and see what happens. I had one for about a month. I liked the way they looked, found a perfect spot. A day later I see my hermits picking at it. I'm like ***? Are my hermits vegetarians? Over the course of a month they picked it clean to a stump and then some. So pretty much I spent 5 bucks on some hermit food.

08/24/2009, 11:45 AM	#4
skleek Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: fort lauderdale FL Posts: 149	I have 2 black legs, 3 blue leg and a scarlett in a 30 gal. I didn't really notice any level differences. But you have to figure if the plant growing its doing it job. You can always get some chaeto and see if they eat it or if it will grow and see if it will suck up any nitrates.

08/24/2009, 12:05 PM	#6
skleek Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: fort lauderdale FL Posts: 149	Take a gladware container and drill a few holes on the sides. This lets a little flow passes through while it floats on the surface. Then stick some chaeto in it. I have a little frag area setup like that. Or add some light to the sump. You can get a crappy PC bulb with a walmart desk light and clamp it on the sump and throw the chaeto in there. They steered clear of the chaeto. Duno why?

08/24/2009, 12:25 PM	#8
skleek Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: fort lauderdale FL Posts: 149	For a temp test solution the gladware container is worth a shot. Not sure how hot the MH gets but you should be ok. Yeah my friend has one of those lights for her sump/fuge.