Chaeto Question

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#1
For some reason my chaeto isn't growing (or if it is its extremely slow). I've had my refugium up and running for about a month now.I use a CFL bulb with a rating of 5100k about 4 inches above the water. The fuge has flow that allows the chaeto to tumble. Instead of the chaeto growing there is a browinish algae that has been growing on the walls and floor at a steady pace.. Im not sure what i'm doing wrong here. Any pointers or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
20,540
Likes
67
Points
0
Location
Gardena
#2
I would use a pc that had a blue and white light. 24 watt. Also about 4" from chaetto. Low flow, just touching it gently.

If I had to guess your light is the issue. My buddy has an led with white and blues and his chaetto took off crazy. His growth is pretty ridiculous.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
1,058
Likes
21
Points
0
Location
Staples Center
#3
I also use an LED light (Nano-Glo by JBJ) and the chaeto has taken off like crazy as well. The chaeto is so dense that there's no light penetration on certain parts, so I'm kinda surprised. I'm guessing most of its growth is from high nutrient levels.
 

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#4
Hmmm okay. Another problem could be the fact that I only have one sea hare in the tank at the moment and possibly have low nutrients. I initially set up the fuge with cfl because I read that the best type of light to use dir chaeto. I do have an extra 24 watt pc light I can use and of that doesn't work ill have to look around for an LED light. Thanks for the input.
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
411
Likes
2
Points
18
Location
Canyon Lake
#5
I also use an LED light (Nano-Glo by JBJ) and the chaeto has taken off like crazy as well. The chaeto is so dense that there's no light penetration on certain parts, so I'm kinda surprised. I'm guessing most of its growth is from high nutrient levels.
I also use this on mine and I get pretty good growth.
 
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
2,426
Likes
17
Points
38
Location
Bellflower, Ca
#6
I also run the JBJ nano-glo on my refugium for my 20g nano. I started with a baseball size of cheato and ended up chopping off about 4 soft ball sizes.
 

5ft24

New member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
1,248
Likes
10
Points
0
Location
Bellingham
#8
Using a Home Depot 23 watt daylight flood light (CFL inside a standard flood light looking bulb) Works great!
 

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#9
Thanks for all the input everyone. Im playing around with different cfl's at the moment. If that doesn't wor ill most likely look into the jbj nano glo light.
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
1,058
Likes
21
Points
0
Location
Staples Center
#10
Just wondering, how are your nitrate and phosphate levels? And is there any algae growth in the display tank? Are you concurrently running bio-pellets or vodka dosing?
 

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#11
My phosphate and nitrate levels read 0 according to an API test kit. I am only running a phosphate reacter with no bio pellets or vodka dosing. My tank has just finished its cycle about 2 weeks ago. I do have some hair algae and possibly cyano growth in the DT. The refugium also has a brown redish growth on the walls.
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
1,058
Likes
21
Points
0
Location
Staples Center
#12
Ah, your new tank is still finding its balance. In time, the chaeto should out-compete the hair algae. Once bio-load and nutrient levels are higher from fish, the chaeto should take off.
 

wickedfish

New member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
20,540
Likes
67
Points
0
Location
Gardena
#13
My phosphate and nitrate levels read 0 according to an API test kit. I am only running a phosphate reacter with no bio pellets or vodka dosing. My tank has just finished its cycle about 2 weeks ago. I do have some hair algae and possibly cyano growth in the DT. The refugium also has a brown redish growth on the walls.
Leave the light on 24/7! I would not let that other crap out compete your macro.

Get some Mexican turbos and some margarita snails for the hair algae. I had 6 turbos mow all hair algae off of Edwins rocks in like 4 days. It was like 90 solid pounds of nasty rock. Just the tops were hairy but those snails were dang hungry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#14
Ah, your new tank is still finding its balance. In time, the chaeto should out-compete the hair algae. Once bio-load and nutrient levels are higher from fish, the chaeto should take off.
So should i be okay starting to add fish slowly? Or i guess i can add fish food to increase bio-load and fish food. I'm just afraid that the DT algae will take off too much. I was planning to take care of all the algae in the DT before adding fish. Any suggestions?


Leave the light on 24/7! I would not let that other crap out compete your macro.

Get some Mexican turbos and some margarita snails for the hair algae. I had 6 turbos mow all hair algae off of Edwins rocks in like 4 days. It was like 90 solid pounds of nasty rock. Just the tops were hairy but those snails were dang hungry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Are you saying to leave the refugium light on 24/7? I've heard of shutting the DT lights off for a couple days. I did try that a while back but i can always try it again. I have a sea hare that's doing a good job on the hair algae but i'm sure a few Mexican turbo snails wouldn't hurt.
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
1,058
Likes
21
Points
0
Location
Staples Center
#15
I would slowly add hardy fish, as I assume ammonia and nitrites are also at 0. I also run the refugium lights 24/7, mostly because I don't have an extra timer lying around =P.
 
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
20,540
Likes
67
Points
0
Location
Gardena
#17
Why wouldnt you leave it on 24/7 if you have poor growth? It's like a certain plant that people grow and sell. Those people leave the light on as long as they can too reach maximum growth in the shortest amount of time, amirite?

Well you want the bad stuff removed as quickly as possible. Larger growth means just that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wasian8

New member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
85
Likes
1
Points
8
Location
Temple City
#18
Thanks alot guys. Fuge light is now on 24/7 and i picked up some hungry Mexican turbo snails. Going to add my first couple fish within the next week.
 
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
2,682
Likes
41
Points
48
Location
.
#20
whats everybodys opinion about incorporating red light into fuge lighting?
Ive been using powerful red-orange-blue LEDs (mostly red) on my 90g fuge for 3months now and the results are surprising. Ill post on my fuge thread soon.
 

Latest posts

Top