Would this work? Coral/Macro-algae setup

[Sea-agg09]

So I think I'm going to be moving, which is a great time to consider possibilities with new setups. My native tank is frankly more trouble than it's worth. I'm considering breaking down my 30 gallon and start something new. I'm thinking of making a macro-algae tank, and connecting it to a new 30-ish gallon coral tank. Basically having a 30 gallon coral tank, then using the algae tank as a large fuge.

Is this remotely possible? What are some concerns that pop into your head right away? It's ganna be a while before this even gets started, so I have time to work out any bugs.

[soymilk]

Cool a large display fuge. I've actually thought about doing this myself. It all depends on your corals and what type of macro algae you want I think.

There are some algae that will go sexual and cause a surge or po4 and no3. Depending on your bio load, it might not be enough for a full tank of micro algae.

[Sea-agg09]

I'm considering stocking the coral tank pretty heavy with fish and inverts. I also want to put fish in the macro-algae tank. Something like native gobies and pipefish, and possibly move my diamond killies after a LONG transition. My hardware plan has a drip biofilter in 1 of the sumps. Of course I can play with the depth of biomedia if my algae isn't growing, as long as the PO4 and NO3 are 0.

[snookfish]

It will work. But what do you mean by stock heavily? in a 30 gal there isn't too many fish that will work out. Are you going to run a skimmer? But it sounds like a good idea. Take lots of pictures while setting it up, post said pictures, then let everybody see the progress.

[tang-chaser]

Yeah not to many fish in a 30. But in algae tank you could house sea horse and pipe fish. I think the concept is a neat idea.

[Sea-agg09]

Yes I'm definately running a skimmer . My plan is to basically have all the filtration of a non-fuge setup, then back down as algal growth kicks off. A skimmer is probably the most critical part of salt water filtration. I'm working with some friends in the professional aquarium biz to optimize things. As for stocking, I obviously haven't finalized it. I'm looking at 2-ish open fish, like a 6-line wrasse and a Starki Damsel. A few demersal fish, like a pair of neon gobies or a pair of mandarins (reds), and a blenny to be on cleanup. If I could go heavier, i probably will, but I want to see how things go. I don't plan on crashing a coral tank by being overly ambitious. I attached a basic schematic of what I am thinking of. Of course comment as you think of anything.

[tang-chaser]

a small angel would be a better algae cleaner than a blenny, plus and open swimmer. May be to small for 2 mandarins. damsil and sixline are agressive, and if added should be added last. Let tank mature first, dont add all at once or go to fast or you will end up with no coral/fish and empty pockets.

[Sea-agg09]

My timeline is very drawn out for this. I'm going to set up the whole algae tank, probably with some oyster colonies, first. It will be on it's own system. I'm going to buy the coral tank and set it up about a month into the process. I'm debating whether to connect it right away or let the live rock cure on a separate system. 3 or 4 months into the curing, I will definitely connect the systems if they aren't already connected. Corals will go in first, about 4/5 months after curing started. The coral is going to be the star. I won't let the fish come first on this one. After I am confident about the setup, I'll add at most 2 fish a month. I was hoping to find a male and female mandarin, but I haven't done my research on them yet. I'm not sure if they stay a mated pair or if I need to separate them.

[tang-chaser]

Im telling you the mandarins are not for new or small tanks, unless your spending $$ every month buying live food. I have a 20 gal fuge with tons of pods that feed my 75 gal reef. I have had good and bad luck with dragonets, Green/blue/red whatever you wanna call them mandarins are picky. Sure some may be a lot easier than others due to being tank raised or what not. BUTTTTT MOST are not and will just slowly shrink in size and starve. Males seem to be the worst. The male i have had would just patrol 1/4th of my tank looking for food, and seemed lazy. I have also heard the same thing happen for another local reefer. His female is fine but the male died of starvation due to lack of hunting the whole tank. Also i would encourage you to buy fish that will help with algae issues or serve some sort of purpose in the tank. The more carnivores the more you deal with stealing food from corals.

[Sea-agg09]

Cool deal. I'll stay away from the mandarins. I've read they are territorial, so what you say makes alot of sense. If they aren't foraging the whole tank, that would create some problems. I do want to start a phytoplankton and a rotifer culture, but I don't plan on culturing brine or pods any time soon.
I'm worried that an angel would get too big. I've also read that they have a tendency to pick on inverts if they aren't getting the nutrition from algae.

[Sea-agg09]

Tang; I've been reading up on some damselfish. I can definately see where you are coming from about the aggression. I found one article from the October '09 copy of FW and Marine Aquarium Mag that was all about the writer's experiences with damsels. He definately confirmed that many of the common damsels are quite aggressive, including Jewel Damsels (Microspathodon chrysurus), Neoglyphidodon crossi, N. nigroris, and N. oxyodon. Most of these start out pretty, but as they get bigger turn into hormonal a-holes. He did talk about some very peaceful damsels, including Chrysipter hemicyanea, C. parasema, and C. starki. These don't harm inverts and will only eat zooplankton and algae. I've read similar things when I've done research on C. starki.

Does this line up with your experiences?

[tang-chaser]

yes there is some damsels that are less aggressive than others. Which i guess would be fine, but just be aware that adding a peaceful and easily intimidated fish in after it might become easily picked on and die. I started my tank with 2 yellow tails. (I HATED THEM) They would fight with my angel, with each other, with my clown and ended up killing a fire fish goby. Later my tank caught ich and good thing is they died. Now the most aggressive fish i have is a clown and he keeps to himself mostly. You should check out the cherub angel. Its a great fish to own and has character. It stays small and can hold his own if threaten but is not to aggressive. It will also eat algae of the live rock, and can be housed with a flame or rusty angel most of the time. 30 gal is to small for tangs which in my mind have the most character and are the best cleanup crews. I would just add with caution with the damsel. Once u get them in the tank their hard to fish out.

[soymilk]

The prob with angels/drawf angel is theres a chance it could go after your corals. Im not sure if you were doing fowlr or reef but it's something to keep in mind. One fish to consider would be a yellow assertor. Or firefish gobies. I like cardinalfish but seems like they are hit or miss.

I like my Lawnmower blenny. Outta all my fish he has the most personality. He spends half the day fighting his reflection. He's a hoot.

+1 on the mandarins. So far I've had good luck with mines in a 50g but I bought the Ora one that suppose to eat prepared food. Looking forward to your build thread. I need to update my post.

[Sea-agg09]

Soy, I'm definately doing a reef setup, which makes me second the concerns about angels, but I will definately research the angels. I've got a ton of time to do the work before I even get close to adding fish. I saw a magazine article on assessors, and i'll definitely take a look at them.

[soymilk]

Are you going for exotic fish or just reg. I think you should just start off with a pair is clowns til your tank stabilizes. 30 gallon is just way to small for majority of fishes.

There's a really good post on nano-reef about nano fish. You should take a look at that. I just ordered another yellow assessor. First one disappeared without a trace. I want to get some helfrechi firefish... Take a look at that if you're looking for something more exotic than the reg old stuff.