Growing Chaeto

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by wingedfish

+1 for toss it in and let it do it's thing.

I have a low flow 10G fuge and it grows top to bottom full in 2 weeks from a softball sized ball. I run a 23w daylight home depot compact florescent.

That's amazing. Have had mine for over a month, and it just won't grow. And I have 2 X 20W Florescent bulbs 13 hours per day.

[wingedfish]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

That's amazing. Have had mine for over a month, and it just won't grow. And I have 2 X 20W Florescent bulbs 13 hours per day.

I would imagine it has everything to do with nutrients. Nitrogen and phosphorous are needed in plant growth. If water and light are met, and your cheato isn't growing, consider it a good thing.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by wingedfish

I would imagine it has everything to do with nutrients. Nitrogen and phosphorous are needed in plant growth. If water and light are met, and your cheato isn't growing, consider it a good thing.

Yeah, but I do have some algae in my display tank. Not a lot, but enough to keep my Lawnmower Blenny, Yellow Tang, and Foxface grazing on the rocks.

So would have thought that means there would have been enough nutrients for the Chaeto. As I mentioned initially, I do have some Caulerpa P. also in the refugium, and it is growing, although maybe not as much as it should either. It is stringy with small leaves, but is definitely growing.

But not my Chaeto.

[AquaticFinatic]

You should be happy that it's not growin. I had some that wouldn't grow but my calurpa is growing like crazy. My nitrates etc are all testing zero so I'm happy. Did I make my point I think I lost it some where lol

[Wayne]

Hum my cheato isn't growing aswell. Assuming it does its natural thing and absorbs phosphates and nitrates should it all be removed before it leaches them back out? Or can it do that?

[wingedfish]

If it dies. The decomposition process will wind up putting it all back in your water. While it is alive, it is growing. A plant needs to carry out it's growing process to stay alive. So as long as it is green, (not dead) it is taking up nitrates and phosphates.

[Wayne]

Hum well thats good news for me! I guess I will leave mine in place for now