Whats new growth on cheato look like?

[ASommers]

I have a small piece of chaeto about the size of a softball thats been in my fuge for almost a month. All the new growth looks like roots, short skinny and brown and kinda fuzzy feeling. Is this right or do I need more light or current or something?

 

[coachfraley]

Sounds like something is wrong. New chaeto growth should look like old chaeto growth.

In my old tank, I had a problem with my chaeto not getting enough flow through, due to a poor baffle design. My chaeto started to turn brown and "melt". I dumped the chaeto, added a baffle, put in new chaeto, and it worked fine. IME, once chaeto gets messed up, it doesn't recover really well.

 

[glOckcOma]

+1 yeah new cheato growth just looks like more cheato, if your getting something thats looking lighter it sounds like die off.

How long do you run the lights and is there some flow in your fuge?

 

[ASommers]

I have a 600gal/hr PH and run my lights 24hr for about 3days then off during 1 day, don't have it on a timer so it's when I think about turning them off. It's not die off, this is growing from the edges and the rest is still a nice green. I'm using a 6500k 23W screw in flouresent bulb in a clip on fixture now, Was originally a 2700k bulb so maybe that had something to do with it. I heard this should be enough light for chaeto.

 

[Clam]

I wasn't getting much growth and then I switched my lights. I now throw handfuls out all the time because it grows so much. I run my lights for about 12 hours in the evening.

 

[ASommers]

bump for any more ideas

 

[reef_doug]

bump for any more ideas

You could add a small powerhead to get it tumbling.
What lighting are you using?

When your nutrients are low Chaeto will start to fade. A good thing, it's doing or done what it is supposed to. But make sure it's not fading from lack of flow or light first.

Dosing alittle iron can help but becareful if you have any yellow corals, then may turn greenish.

 

[bbehring]

Yep the brown root stuff is die off. I had very minimal growth until I switched my lighting to the melevesreef type lighting.

http://melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

My cheato growth exploded. I have to thin out about every 3 weeks. I too have been throwing it out. I fish out all the live life, such as mini brittle stars and bristle worms and then toss the cheato. If anyone is interested in my excess cheato let me know.

 

[ASommers]

Should I cut off the brown areas or just let it be?