"Another" Chaeto question! :)

[JeffersonReef]

I just read an article by Anthony Calfo, in which he said that it is best to keep a fuge with chaeto in it bare bottom (no rubble or dsb) so it can tumble around. I have about 30lbs if lrr in my 30g fuge, and a 4" SB. Has anyone else had great success growing chaeto in similar conditions? I have about 120-180gph flowing through the fuge, so the MA is getting plenty of water flow... and im using a "daylight" fluroscent bulb. I have also started dosing iron... yet my chaeto just isnt growing well! Am I doing something wrong or not doing something? Or should I empty the fuge of all rock and sand and try a bare fuge with just chaeto?

-TJ

 

[JeffersonReef]

PS - here is exactly what Anthony said:

"Tip For culturing either genera is to insure strong enough waterflow in an open tank (keep no rocks or other objects on the tank bottom) so that the algae colonies grow in a constantly tumbling ball! This can be achieved or enhanced by sealing a small lip of glass or acrylic 5-8 cm wide just below the water surface (the length of the aquarium side wall) where the refugiums feed water jets into the tank. Thus, the incoming water is diffused along that slightly submerged lip and is forced to shoot across the tank surface, rather than at a deeper angle underneath. This causes a circular/rolling current of water (like an eddy in a swimming pool) to flow across the top of the tank, down the far side-wall and underneath across the bottom before coming back up again. A small starter colony of Chaetomorpha or Gracilaria will then begin to grow in a symmetrical ball and enjoy not only the benefit of evenly distributed water flow, but also the cyclic exposure of all parts of the colony to the bright light as the surface as it tumbles around!"

 

[fmuakkassa]

I have a similar setup like yours except the light is stronger (Just updated it to two 18 watts PC Flood lights). I also dose iron. Most of my overflow goes throught the refugium. I have read about Glacilaria needing a tumbling water effect. At times I have experimented with two powerheads blowing water back to cause surface turbulence. My problem is (I think) cyano growing on the cheato.

 

[bhdmc]

I am running a refuge with a 5" DSB, 317 gph water movement and T5 10K lighting. I also have some rumble LR in the first chamber of the refuge. No problems. Once a week I dose Iron(Kent Marine). My Chaeto does not tumble. Macro algae needs PO4 and NO3 to grow.

 

[Tang Salad]

I'd say keep the rock and sand in your refugium.
They will do more to benefit the tank, and removing them may only very slightly benefit the chaeto.

I have a DSB, LR pile, Chaeto and Caulerpa in my refugium. All are doing well.

 

[Tang Salad]

Forgot to ask: How long has the chaeto beein in your refugium?

Sometimes Chaeto will do nothing for weeks+ after first being put in, but then takes off some time afterwards.

 

[JeffersonReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8339580#post8339580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Forgot to ask: How long has the chaeto beein in your refugium?

Sometimes Chaeto will do nothing for weeks+ after first being put in, but then takes off some time afterwards.

I had some in there for like 2 mos, then it just died all of a sudden. Turned pale and withered away. I think it was the lighting I was using. I got some more a few weeks ago (maybe 4 weeks), and it isnt growing much at all. The cauerpa and tang heaven have taken off, though. Should I remove the caulerpa?

-TJ

 

[DrBegalke]

As long as you don't mind the risk of it going "sexual", no reason to remove the caulerpa.

You're chaeto probably didn't have enough light. I grow mine in a fuge with LS/LR, where it doesn't tumble, and it grows fast!

 

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8340458#post8340458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by antjefferson
and tang heaven have taken off, though. Should I remove the caulerpa?

-TJ

My tang heaven easily outcompetes the chaeto. It does not "tumble" but has room to flow around. Fuge has a 6" DSB.

 

[Roland Jacques]

what is tang heaven?

 

[Avast Marine]

graciliaria macro