Best plants/algae to house live food

krazedkazoo · 03/09/2010, 12:15 PM

I was thinking of buying a mandarin goby in the future and heard they are fairly picky eaters. I read someone's success story that explained they bought a bunch of plants that helped his amphipods and copepods' population explode (as opposed to just his live rock as shelter) that kept the goby happy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for good marine plants/macro algae that wouldn't muddy up my tank or generally cause big problems? I would prefer to have it growing behind my short wall of live rock so as not to obscure fish and coral viewing.

This is a 40g breeder tank with this ( http://www.saltysupply.com/ProductDe...ign=GoogleBase ) lighting fixture on it.

Thanks for any and all help!

CichlidMan@<3 · 03/10/2010, 09:45 AM

Whether you like it or not, the plants will grow and get into your viewing area. So you will have to do a lot of trimming if you plan on keeping plants in your display. I suggest starting a refugium. As far as plants go, shoot for some cheato or caulerpa.

krazedkazoo · 03/10/2010, 02:06 PM

I figured as much, but I heard some plants "go sexual" and cause more problems than others.

03/09/2010, 12:15 PM	#1
krazedkazoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 193	Best plants/algae to house live food I was thinking of buying a mandarin goby in the future and heard they are fairly picky eaters. I read someone's success story that explained they bought a bunch of plants that helped his amphipods and copepods' population explode (as opposed to just his live rock as shelter) that kept the goby happy. Does anyone have any suggestions for good marine plants/macro algae that wouldn't muddy up my tank or generally cause big problems? I would prefer to have it growing behind my short wall of live rock so as not to obscure fish and coral viewing. This is a 40g breeder tank with this ( http://www.saltysupply.com/ProductDe...ign=GoogleBase ) lighting fixture on it. Thanks for any and all help!

03/10/2010, 09:45 AM	#2
CichlidMan@<3 I'm Nuts Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 33625 Posts: 1,297	Whether you like it or not, the plants will grow and get into your viewing area. So you will have to do a lot of trimming if you plan on keeping plants in your display. I suggest starting a refugium. As far as plants go, shoot for some cheato or caulerpa.

03/10/2010, 02:06 PM	#3
krazedkazoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 193	I figured as much, but I heard some plants "go sexual" and cause more problems than others.