Cannot get my chaeto to grow for the life of me!

[DKoKoMan]

Hey guys,

I'm hoping people can share their experiences with growing chaeto in their sumps. What has worked well, what does not work and how I can get this darn thing to grow! I swear every time I look at a new piece of chaeto it starts falling apart in annoying strands.

I have scoured the web and thought I was meeting the basic requirements however I'm getting no growth. Today be red macro algae in my sump was attached to my chaeto and looked nasty. When I went to spin the ball it was more of a sad looking mat. I always hear about people trinming chaeto, so clearly I'm doing something wrong.

As of right now I'm utilizing Foz Down and my chaeto as my PO4 control. I have at this time discontinued the use of GFO, may reconsider in the future.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Tyfighter]

What kind of lighting are you using and what are your parameters?

[DKoKoMan]

Currently tested yesterday at:

• Salinity - 1.026
• NO3 - 10 ppm
• PO4 - 0.06 ppm
• ALK - 8.9 dKH
• CAL - 450 ppm
• MAG - 1350 ppm

Currently using a clamp style lamp directly above the water with a CFL 100w spiral bulb. I added a maxi jet 400 in the chaeto section to provide more flow then the baffles alone from the overflow to the return. I thought maybe flow was lacking.

[Tyfighter]

I would try removing the foz down and replacing the light with a grow bulb.
I started off using a par 30 led spotlight and it grew ok but I switched to a 50w grow led from Amazon and the stuff grows like crazy. All I have for flow is the water running through my sump so I don't thing that is your problem.
Also fluconazole treatments always kills my chaeto so if you have using it that may also be the problem.

[Northern Reefer]

I have this light in my refugium and I can't keep up with the harvest. Its a great piece of equipment.


http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-st.../P/Nova-s2.jpg

[Animal-Chin]

I too am going lighting. A normal bulb didn't do it for me, I had an extra black box LED where only the white side works and I used that and now I cut off a large bowl full a week. It likes light for sure...

[JamRobo]

Are you using vibrant by chance?

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[Galizio]

I had never had problem growing chaeto with a simple clamp light and an led light from store, sure grow slower than if you use a grow light, but still growing. Let say double the size, in a 2 months period.
For me was most dealing with the flow, I find out in my case that more flow was better, but that just my experience...


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[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by Tyfighter

I would try removing the foz down and replacing the light with a grow bulb.
I started off using a par 30 led spotlight and it grew ok but I switched to a 50w grow led from Amazon and the stuff grows like crazy. All I have for flow is the water running through my sump so I don't thing that is your problem.
Also fluconazole treatments always kills my chaeto so if you have using it that may also be the problem.

I will discontinue the Foz Down and ordered a replacement bulb which is designed as a grow bulb. Do you think I can remove the maxijet from the live rock and chaeto compartment?

Originally Posted by Millepora_Maniac

Flow is not an issue, you don't need lots of flow. Just need water to pass through the mass.

I used a compact fluorescent clamp light myself, it worked fine. It looks like you have measurable nitrates and phosphates, so it should be growing.
Maybe try changing the bulb in that clamp light to something more plant spectrum (6500 k) Seems a little overkill to buy an expensive LED system just for chaeto. That little light should work.

Good luck dude!

Thanks for the advice. I thought the flow through the baffles to the return (fuge is in the Center) would be suffice for growth. I definitely am trying the grow bulb before purchasing an expensive led fixture.

Originally Posted by Galizio

I had never had problem growing chaeto with a simple clamp light and an led light from store, sure grow slower than if you use a grow light, but still growing. Let say double the size, in a 2 months period.
For me was most dealing with the flow, I find out in my case that more flow was better, but that just my experience...


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what are you using for flow besides the overflow and return pump?

[Galizio]

Also as TY already mention is probably a good thing to stop using the phos down, and see how it goes, in the mean time keep an eye to the po4 and see how the chaeto do


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