Refugium/chaeto

saltymike

saltymike

New member
Refugium/chaeto Help

So why is it that every time I try to grow some chaeto it all pretty much just disappears. I have a chamber setup in my sump that gets water from the over flow and then it pours into the return chamber. The flow is regulated with a valve so the majority of the water just goes through the sump side. What can I be doing wrong? The lighting? I took the hood from a 12 gal nano dx and put it over the fuge so that shouldn't be the problem. Should I be putting some type of supplement in? I just don't understand how people say that it grows like crazy and they have to give it away or flush it.
 
IMO, if you have great control of the nutrients in your tank AND run GFO/carbon, you may not be able to grow chaeto.

If you have algae in other portions of your tank, then there should be enough to grow chaeto.

I've found it grows best in moderate to high flow. I've never had mine tumble, but it gets the full flow of the sump running through it (2 Eheim 1260's).

Then adding iron supplement sometimes helps.
 
Yeah, that hood light might be overkill. If the light is too bright, the chaeto bleaches, just like corals and losses it's ability to absorb nutrients and will die. You can get a grow light from lowes or home depot. I got an LED PAR bulb from Lowes and it grows my chaeto like crazy. look for any LED bulb that's about 5000-6500 K and you'll be fine.
 
I keep mine in my fuge under 6500k LEDs and it grows like a weed. I don't even need to tumble it and it's been at least 3 weeks since I turned it. It's maybe 9" away from the lights which are on 24/7.
 
I picked up a 2 pack of 6500k CFL's from Walmart about a year ago for under $10! I'm still on my first one and, like you've heard before, it grows like CRAZY!

One thing that hasn't been touched on yet is the light cycle. Do you have your chaeto lighting on the INVERSE schedule of your tank lights? (on when off and off when on)
That helped tremendously for my growth.
 
DaveWF said:
I picked up a 2 pack of 6500k CFL's from Walmart about a year ago for under $10! I'm still on my first one and, like you've heard before, it grows like CRAZY!

One thing that hasn't been touched on yet is the light cycle. Do you have your chaeto lighting on the INVERSE schedule of your tank lights? (on when off and off when on)
That helped tremendously for my growth.
Click to expand...

Same here, 6500k cfl flood lamp in a clip on light. One difference is I noticed better growth and less cleaning glass when I leave my fuge light on 24/7. You need to have nutrients in your water to grow the chaeto as previously mentioned.

I agree with Walt, you should try chaeto from another source just to see what happens. Experimenting is part of the hobby!
 
FishBeard said:
Same here, 6500k cfl flood lamp in a clip on light. One difference is I noticed better growth and less cleaning glass when I leave my fuge light on 24/7. You need to have nutrients in your water to grow the chaeto as previously mentioned.

I agree with Walt, you should try chaeto from another source just to see what happens. Experimenting is part of the hobby!
Click to expand...

I was amazed at the difference when I finally got my fuge up and running. I used to HAVE to clean my glass everyday after work. At times I could barely see into my tank. The first day I dropped my first ball in there, I only had to do a light wipe of the tank once a week. It was like night and day.
 
I've never had good luck with chaeto. By lfs recommendation I use caulerpa now, and have awesome success with it. I know there is the chance it could go sexual, but if properly trimmed/lighted, it won't happen. My LFS has been doing it with amazing success for a very long time.

If you'd like some, I have some for harvest already. If you pick it up, it's free! I'll give you a decent size baggy full, and it's loaded with baby serpent stars and pods.
 
Caulerpa is great too. I wouldn't recommend using it though. It's just a liability sitting in your tank. I have read some real horror stories about Caulerpa getting out of hand and once it gets a foothold in your tank you are in for a uphill battle.

No disrespect to our members that use it.
 
FishBeard said:
Same here, 6500k cfl flood lamp in a clip on light. One difference is I noticed better growth and less cleaning glass when I leave my fuge light on 24/7. You need to have nutrients in your water to grow the chaeto as previously mentioned.

I agree with Walt, you should try chaeto from another source just to see what happens. Experimenting is part of the hobby!
Click to expand...


What wattage are you guys using for the 6500k cfl?
 
I searched a couple different lowes and home depots and all I could find was a 5000k. It's a 14 watt that's equivalent to a 60 watt bulb. Unfortunately My chaeto disappeared so I'm not sure if this bulb is gonna work or not. If anyone in my area is willing to give some up let me know.
 
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