macro and fish

[bubbles]

I am thinking of making a planted tank similar to those freshwater suncken gardens. I'm new to macros and read previous threads about them releasing toxins, do these toxins harm fish? I don't plan on having any corals (since I can't find any and can't import). What requirements are needed for macros to grow? Do they need CO2 injections like freshwater plants? Is this even a good idea?

[blackangler]

culurpa i know when it breeds releases toxins into the tank so if you have delicate fish then it would proubly hurt them. co2 cant hurt, i would love to see a planted tank as there are not many, also it would look good and cost alot less then a reef tank.

[FishinInTheDark]

Caulerpa is very hard to control. It has holdfast, or roots, and once it takes hold, you can hardly get rid of it. It overgrows quickly.

[bubbles]

Thanks everybody. I would rather start a reef tank, but it's just too hard to get corals in Hawaii. Pet shops don't sell them and neither do places that do aquaculture. It is illegal to gather them and also I don't want to damage anything trying.

[Matt.D]

i have a planted tank! :D Its a 55 gallon tank with 110watts of CF on one side of the tank (the other side is dark and full of driftwood for effect) and I have 40 Rasbora heteromorpha http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20040331221210/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/p_89920.jpg I dont have many plants right now simply because I just sold them all. I have a fully automated CO2 system with a 5lb co2 bottle. My filtration is an xp3 canister filter. My substrate is 80lbs of flourite and it does a good job. I laughed when people say planted tanks are cheaper then reefs. Well....yes and no. I know of alot that cost the same if not more then some reefs. It just all depends on what you want to keep and how well you want it to go smoothly. I'll tell you up front that i've spent a total of about 1300$ on my 55 gallon planted tank and I could have spend a butt load more......anyways plantedtank.net is a good website. Tell them pufferfreak sent ya lol

[dlopes]

Hi,

As a matter of fact you can have a planted reef aquarium! I had one a few ears ago... here´s a couple of photos:

http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_1829_25.jpg

http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_1829_26.jpg

http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_5181_6.jpg

Until now I couldn´t identify this macroalgae, and unfortunately when I moved my tank I couldn´t keept it!

But... at least is possible!

Cheers,
Diogo