marine aquarium plants

[craneman]

Does anyone have any experience with keeping marine plants as part of a community tank?

[GSELLERS1245]

First off....WELCOME TO THE LOUNGE!!!
Secondly do you mean Macro algaes?

[pnut]

Yes welcome to the lounge. I have seen some people keep plants in their tanks but i prefer to see them in the refugium...not in the display.

[craneman]

No I meant rooted plantes. I thought, correct me if Im wrong that they would help to use up the organics and the uglys in the tank to help to lessen the need for skimming. I dont currently have a skimmer but plan to get one.

[Byeager14]

the rooted ones you are refering to could be mangrove plants. yes, they do lower nitrates and phosphates, but that is no excuse for not getting a skimmer.
i'd go with the remora skimmers. they're really effective and come in both hang-on styles and in-sump.

[craneman]

Is there a benefit to keeping them in a refugym rather than in the tank itself? currently i have a 100 gal fish only tank with a yellow tang 2 sm. perculas 3 green chromis and 2 blue damsels. A small amount of live rock and a large amount of bleached coral. Im planning to add more live rock later.

[Mike O'Brien]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/sl/index.php