Cheato!!!

[Delphinus]

For nutrient removal, it's not so much about how much you have (per se), it's about how much it grows. Ie., it's the growth that causes your NO3 and PO4 to reduce. So pruning is necessary because infinite growth is eventually going to cause an issue with real-estate.

How much of it do you need, well that depends, you can prune it right down to a small amount and it will still come back, but a too small amount will certainly take a while to re-establish itself to a critical mass (ie where the nutrient uptake matches the rate of production).

Short answer is to tame the beast, you have to prune it and dispose (ie., give away, or put in the compost pile or whatever).

[Carmen]

You can separate the chaeto from the rest of the fuge area you are using for frags with a piece of eggcrate.

[my2rotties]

Thanks Tony and Carmen...

I did eggcrate and it just grew through it... I'm still scrubbing eggcrate in RO water. I moved everything around and its taking half of the fuge for now... I think it will need pruning pretty shortly though. I would give it away since it has so many pods in there, it would be a shame to throw it out. Too bad aboutn the bristle worms though they gross me out.

I feel all creepy crawly now. Time to shower.

[Jay180reef]

Is there a way to get all those pods out before pruning? I'm sure the fish would enjoy the snack!

[Delphinus]

Just shake it out in the tank, I give mine a good shake and a bit of a squeeze to encourage the pods to find more comfortable surroundings (ie., water as opposed to air, LOL).

[Jay180reef]

okay I'll give it a try