Plants In A Saltwater Tank

[Lovesfish]

I've been wondering because I see plants on TV shows about the ocean but I didn't know if u could grow them in the sand of a home aquarium and keep them trimmed to help pull out phosphates and nitrates if u don't have a refugium. I think it would be cool to have plants in my tank as well to add to the scenery because I can't keep many corals so I was wondering. thanks in advance. dave

 

[Lynden]

By all means, do try it. Planted Marine tanks can be absolutely magnificent. Word fail to describe the beauty of this Japanese Tank, in particular. I also dug up an old thread, featuring Mr Miagi, Petpirate, and me (ChestnutMoray55). It provides a little information about Marine Planted tanks and sources of it. The thread can be found HERE.

If you look closely at the Japanese tank, you'll notice that they seem to have an astounding ability to support life. There is at least 4 species of animal that I could see in the tank (one of these is incredibly abundant) that are exceptionally difficult to keep. These include Shrimpfishes, a Moorish Idol, a Cleaner Wrasse (though these can be easy to keep; I have kept an individual successfully in the past and am also keeping one now) and even a Garden Eel.

-Lynden

 

[Lovesfish]

ah thanks a lot because I thought it would be cool to plant a few plants to pull out some of the phosphates and nitrates that sometimes build up and keep other algae at bay and I don't have a refugium because it's in the living room and that doesn't go over well with my parents so I thought planting a few plants in the sand would be pretty as long as I keep them trimmed and don't let them grow out of control to make up for not being able to keep lots of cool corals except like mushrooms and zoos and such. dave

 

[AMS]

You really can't keep vascular marine plants (seagrass) in a normal reef tank. They need a DSB at least 4" deep, at least 6" would provide better growth. Also, normal aragonite sand isn't a good substrate, something silty/muddy like mineral mud would be a lot better. They also need plenty of light, powercompacts won't cut it (most of the time). They also don't really appreciate lighting over 10K, 6700K (full spectrum, same kind in freshwater planted tanks) is ideal for growth.

See RC's Marine Plants and Macroalgae Forum for more information on seagrass.

 

[steelhealr]

Marine planted tanks can be gorgeous. You just have to understand that many marine plants form types of, well, rhizomes and WILL tend to overrun the LR. However, it won't really matter since this is your intention. That are many shapes and sizes that you could do...and intersting red macros. Shaving brush is interesting as well. You'd just have to be careful with the types you pick and try and avoid those that grow particularly quickly and invasively...and, IMO, those that will or can go 'asexual'. FIB