Best Extractor?

[Fraggot]

Okay.

There are so many different macros to put in a fuge. I've had decent success with Chaetomorpha C. Mexicana and C. Racemosa, but which is the best macroalgae out there for nutrient extraction (Namely Nitrates) and which is the easiest to maintain?

Also, I've been having trouble with my Chaetomorpha. It's not growing at all. It's in an area with decent flow, 24-7 t5 lighting, and all the Nitrates it could ever want. Unfortunately. Any idea what's going on?

 

[graveyardworm]

Cheato probably tops the list for fast growing and easy to maintain. Try cutting back the lighting to about 16 on 8 off. Plants are better adapted to growing with a dark period, and there are some biological processes which the plant requires dark to perform efficiently.

 

[worlds under]

Fe makes it grow like crazy.
I would take a baceball size amount and in a week and a half I could fill half of a five gallon bucket.

 

[Fraggot]

Fe is iron, right?

 

[worlds under]

yep, I use seachem florish iron. works great for me. I dump one capfull right on the cheato. It makes the tank have a weird glow for a while but it goes away.

 

[THB]

I agree with Graveyardworm about cutting back the lighting. I was running 24/7 lights on chaeto for months with no growth whatsoever, then I read chaeto did better with a dark period. Changed to a reverse daylight scheme. Just two months later my chaeto has doubled in size. I haven't dosed iron but I think I will try that too.