Chaeto is dying

[gregzz4]

I'm askin' this kinda sheepishly as I feel, with all that I have learned here, I should know the answer to this ...
My chaeto is dying ...
My alk has been low for a week or so, but I'm currently bringing it back up due to the addition of some montis
The Alk was 5 ish and I didn't know

I am assuming my chaeto is dying as there is not enough PO4 for it to live off of ??? and it has nothing to do with the Alk or Ca ?

I've also been told to run my chaeto light 24/7 instead of 12-12
What's your thought on that ?

Thanks for your help ( I think my chaeto is going to die out )
Greg

[wmcinnes]

When I first started up my tank, I couldnt keep up with the Cheato growth hauling out a football sized chunk every week, and now recently it has stopped completely and is beginning to die off. I guess its kind of a good thing.. means you have a very low nutrient system!

[Enigma]

I think you need to get your tank stocked . . . If only to save your chaeto.

It is probably starving.

[gregzz4]

So it has nothing to do with the Alk or Ca then ?

Originally Posted by Enigma

I think you need to get your tank stocked . . . If only to save your chaeto.

It is probably starving.

I'm workin' on it

I plan on putting a couple fishies in the QT very soon

[reefy]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I'm askin' this kinda sheepishly as I feel, with all that I have learned here, I should know the answer to this ...
My chaeto is dying ...
My alk has been low for a week or so, but I'm currently bringing it back up due to the addition of some montis
The Alk was 5 ish and I didn't know

I am assuming my chaeto is dying as there is not enough PO4 for it to live off of ??? and it has nothing to do with the Alk or Ca ?

I've also been told to run my chaeto light 24/7 instead of 12-12
What's your thought on that ?

Thanks for your help ( I think my chaeto is going to die out )
Greg

Hi Greg,
how is your Chaeto? I am assuming that you have an answer by now since it was 3 years ago lol.. well.. my chaeto is turning brown, diatoms are growing on it or it is acting as a filter and detritus from your tank is sticking to it. I just rinsed it off. save 1/4 of it. my Nitrate is undetectable, PO4 is 0, Alk is 11, skimmer cup almost clear... 8 hours of light. so I dont know what am I doing wrong? no nutrient?

[gregzz4]

I never tried any after that. My tank was too new to support it. Then I decided I didn't want the mess of it getting into the DT.