Corals for use of nutrients export

LuckyFish

LuckyFish

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Guys, I need to pick your brains.

Which corals could be used best as nutrients exporter?

I can imagine xenia would be a good one.
What about rics?
What about star polyps?
Any other corals who suck nutrients out of the water?
 
I have wondered this as well... But bear in mind that corals have an active metabolism with waste products, so inherently not necessarily as good as plants in sequestering waste products.

Xenia grow incredibly fast, although I think star polyps - the encrusting gorgonian kind with the frilly tentacles, not the normal star polyps, would be your best best. I have never seen anything grow as quickly as the brown or green star polyps in my tank, frankly phenomenal.

I don't think you'd get the growth rates you'd like with rics. Maybe other shrooms tho? Thing about shrooms and pulsing xenia, a lot of their volume is liquid, which doesn't necessarily mean they are growing that much and sequestering nutrients....?
 
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Although not corals, Clams are excellent at filtering water, a bit expensive though as you would need a good few, also an 'aiptasia raceway' is very efficient, apparently.
 
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The idea is actually to use the wasted space of a broodstock system. I mean keeping two fish in a footprint of 400 x 500mm and 100 litre water is a waste. On top of it, these two fish eat such a huge amount of food and produce a lot of waste products. So co-culturing something attractive and maybe valuable as well, would make sense.
 
459b said:
xenia have been used before. They dont export as fast as macro algae though.
Rics are too slow growing to be of any use.
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I know, but selling macro algae or xenias is not fun at all.:(
 
I've actually read around on this topic and like the above posts said, algae is much more effective at removing nutrients.

The concept of having say a huge xenia colony in a system with say no sump and a hang on skimmer would obviously be beneficial and would probably be something you see in a freshwater tank that has been converted to marine.

May I ask what you are trying to achieve or is it simply just random thought? :D
 
459b said:
zoas might survive and thrive in your broodstock tanks.
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In mine at the moment, only fish will survive. But after the move, the broodstock system will be fine and I want to keep it that way. Macro algae I could try in anyway, but if I can co-culture something with some value, it would be better.;)
 
Turning "I want to save money" Into making some money will probably not be easy in such a system. Maybe find some blue xenias. At least they're a bit more rare and less demanding in terms of light etc compared to say... clams.
 
pXius said:
Turning "I want to save money" Into making some money will probably not be easy in such a system. Maybe find some blue xenias. At least they're a bit more rare and less demanding in terms of light etc compared to say... clams.
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Blue xenias sounds good. I also want the short white ones. They pump like mad.
 
i dont see clams being to hard, i think we under-rate their hardiness
and for a number of reasons i think you would be perfect for trying this in a total artificial environment
 
dallasg said:
i dont see clams being to hard, i think we under-rate their hardiness
and for a number of reasons i think you would be perfect for trying this in a total artificial environment
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Thanks for posting. Very good read and maybe worth a try.
What makes you think, I should be perfect to try this? I'm sure you considered culturing clams as well. Did you?
 
I have and maybe dec/jan will take it further

Well your passion, knowledge, perserverence and dedication is something i think could get you to be the first at aquacultured clams, instead of maricultured.
 
dallasg said:
I have and maybe dec/jan will take it further

Well your passion, knowledge, perserverence and dedication is something i think could get you to be the first at aquacultured clams, instead of maricultured.
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Thanks for the compliment, Dallas. Problem is, they can be sold only at the age of 1 to 2 years. On the other hand, once settled, they don't need much attention and could fill a couple of square meters of broodstock tanks.

I have so many ideas at this stage, I first need to get my passion back, my permits sorted out and some cash in.
 
Well ur passion got me setting up some tanks for banghais breeding

Shout if u need anything
 
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