Originally posted by JoeJoe
Plant life? Can you give me a few examples as to what kind?
First of all and the most overlooked, the algaes, macros, and plants on your live rock.
SWF does have shaving brushes and blades so that is an option. I have very limited experience with those but the recent shipment of blades did arrive in good shape.
The most common and effective is the various caulperas. I have had the most success with the kelp like green caulpera prolifera (thnk that's right). Some can not be sent to california and other locations because it grows too good.
The tumble weed like gracilaria is another which my tang really enjoys.
A fav for refug is brillo pad. Mine has proven very hardy and is basically taking on the shop of my refug.
Some require higher lighting and calcium such as the money plant (halimeda).
Turtle grass is a true rooted marine plant. I have a few of those in my culture tank and they have survived and are growing. They also have not sent out runner though.
Plant life will consume ammonia, nitrAtes, phosphates and carbon dioxide. And in the process also filter out heavy ions such and iron, copper.
When you add plant life right from the beginning you get these things under control right from the start. If not then you may or may not have plant life on your live rock. If you additionally control your algae outbreaks through cleaner crews then you run the risk of basically the tank crashing and not being able to support livestock. We have had several people post here on how to control their hair algae and then 2-3 weeks later report they have controlled their algae but now have dead fish.
By using desirable plant life now you prevent or at least reduce the ugly algaes. Plus you system consumes the carbon dioxide from your future fish. And you do that regardless of the quality of the input water, amount of circulation, the other filtering in the system and so on. All with plain old normal output lighting.
