help with cheato and refugium

[panman]

I have had problems growing chaeto in my refugium. I originally had the led light from cadlights and all the chaeto slowly disappeared from the sump. I replaced the chaeto several times. So I decided it was a lighting issue and replaced the light with a 100 watt led equivalent, 6500 Kelvin, from home depot. Now the chaeto is still shrinking and turning grey. There is now a red brown bubble algae material growing on the surface of the water below the light. Any thoughts?

 

[erictorres0311]

To clean of a system ?

 

[SAKTEK]

To clean of a system ?

I was thinking the same thing! How old is your system?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lowbudget]

can you tell us more about your system?
how many fish, and what kind of fish
how much you feed
tank volume
how much wc.

 

[panman]

Tank is a 75 gallon glass with 25 gallon sump. has currently been up for 3 months. Was set up for 3 years prior but taken down due to a hydrogen sulfide crash caused by a non tumbling bio pellet reactor. Tank was empty for 8 months. Had trouble growing chaeto prior to crash, but red brown bubble algae on surface started after light change. 4 fish currently, yellow tang, yellow coris wrasse, melanarus wrasse and a maroon clown. A few lps, zoas and rtba.

 

[panman]

sorry can not seem to ever get photos to come upright

 

[watchguy123]

I think Chaeto basically needs light (which you have) and nutrients and if lots of algae growth some
Iron supplement. Check your nitrates and phosphates, no nitrate equals no growth. Flow may play a role with your nuisance algae as well as low nitrates. Cyano seems to do well in low nutrient environment

 

[lowbudget]

Tank is a 75 gallon glass with 25 gallon sump. has currently been up for 3 months. Was set up for 3 years prior but taken down due to a hydrogen sulfide crash caused by a non tumbling bio pellet reactor. Tank was empty for 8 months. Had trouble growing chaeto prior to crash, but red brown bubble algae on surface started after light change. 4 fish currently, yellow tang, yellow coris wrasse, melanarus wrasse and a maroon clown. A few lps, zoas and rtba.

not enough feeding ????

 

[panman]

Wanted to give more data in case any one has suggestions.
specific gravity 1.025
temp 79
nitrate 5-10 ppm
phosphate 0 to .25 ppm
kh 11
calcium 460
water used is rodi with o tds made at home
salt io reef crystals
dose ca and alk twice daily with doser pumps
low to moderate feeding
10 gallon water changes every 2 weeks
tank lighting is led with ascending descending schedule over 16 hours
refugium has a small power head for circulation and water flow

 

[Greaser9999]

I use a 30par 45watt bulb from home depot, run it about 10hr a night sometimes less when the chaeto is growing too much.

 

[BeanMachine]

The first thing I would do is add a powerhead to your fuge. **First suck all that gunk out... cyano?

What Po4 test kit are you using... as you know 0 to .25 is quite a wide range.

 

[panman]

cody, I am using the much disparaged api test. it has no color choice between 0 an .25. the color is somewhere in the middle. I already have a power head in the fuge. I am thinking maybe too much light. might try less powerfull light

 

[Scout]

I light my fuge 24/7 with a dual T5 high output light.

Trust, the light isn't killing your chaeto.

Do you have any other macros algae with the chaeto?

 

[Scout]

Also, are you tumbling your chaeto?

Tumbling your chaeto allows for equal distribution of light.

 

[BeanMachine]

^^I'm with Scout regarding the light, I think increasing the turnover through the fuge is going to help. Is your drain split into the fuge and the skimmer section?

 

[panman]

I rotate the cheato every day. but the big question is why and what is the red brown bubble algae floating on the fuge water surface? it does block the light if I do not remove it daily.

 

[BeanMachine]

Do you have any surface agitation in the sump? What return pump are you running? I think thats red slime / cyano from the looks of it.

 

[tennisstudrogie]

Do you have any surface agitation in the sump? What return pump are you running? I think thats red slime / cyano from the looks of it.

I would shut your fuge light off for a few days to help get rid of some of that.

 

[civicdemon]

This light is the Sh*t i used full spec Leds and CFL 65k bulb and the Full Spec leds did not work the CFL worked but grew slow, With this light it has taken off and grows like crazy.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydroponic-Ta...7384473&sr=8-1&keywords=taotronics+grow+light

 

[lowbudget]

^^I'm with Scout regarding the light, I think increasing the turnover through the fuge is going to help. Is your drain split into the fuge and the skimmer section?

dang that cheato area is filled with cyano.