Fuge setup

[pettee86]

I'm putting together a fuge. What should I put in it? DSB (if so how deep)and LR (how much). Will have some macro. Would like to put mangroves in also. Fuge will be sitting next to display tank so want it to be interesting to look at as well as functional. Any ideas welcomed.

[graphixx]

if your gong to do a mangrove then you will have to have a deep sand bed with some mud . I would go at least 4" in that thing for the mangrove

[pettee86]

Pic of my fuge. Its been up about 3 weeks now. Pic just after setup.

[davejnz]

Mangroves are a poor choice for a fuge IMO.They require intense light and they grow slow.They don't export nutrients quickly like chaeto.

[KG]

No offense, but mangroves do not require intense light. Usually just the ambient light in a room is sufficient, but I do agree with you and have read an article that states that they do pull nitrates a lot slower out of the water than macros. I personally like Caulerpa racemosa the best.

KG

[pettee86]

Was looking at mangroves for looks more than anything else. I'm adding a little more rock and letting the macro grow. Have a nice light fixture over the fuge with a 120W grow light in it. Overall I don't think it looks bad.

[dakar]

We started growing mangroves in our fuge sometime last spring (need to really see) but we started with a dozen or so shoots, most of them sprouted and have huge root systems on them now. Total growth has been 4-6 large leaves and 6-8" overall growth under just PC Floodlights. Can't really claim they reduced nutrients as so many changes to the overall system have been made during the same time period. On a side note there are now a few of them in Angel's seahorse only tank and they love them as hitching posts.

[davejnz]

None taken KG,I live in a mangrove Biotope here in FL.They are all found in direct sunlight and muddy/mucky substrates.They grow inshore in nutrient rich water as well.I have no experience keeping them,just my own personal observations/assumptions.

[sticky]

Here is what mine looks like. I have calupra, cheato, mangroves, and small feather dusters in there as well as quite a bit of LR and LR Rubble.