best way to grow chaeto?

[CTaylor]

Hi
I asked this in a different forum, but didnt get an exact answer, as to the light I need. Was good info, but I didnt get enough info to actually get the right light.
I've seen the video by BRS. But I have just about a 5-7 gallon area for my fuge in my sump. It's enough to grow a good chunk of chaeto.

So I think the Kessil $300 grow light would be overkill. If a chaeto reactor like the one put out by skims will do the job and somehow prevent other types of algae from taking over the reactor, I'm willing to consider that, as it seems it might grow it best (?). OR, just a basic CFL fixture. If a CFL is best, then if someone can send a link to a specific fixture from, say Homedepot, that I can easily mount in my stand over the refug. I'm not great at DIY, so 'turn key' as possible . (therefore the reactor idea also as an option ).

I currently can not get my chaeto to take off.. it's dwindled down since having it since November. The light(s) I have now are a 25watt (approx) finnext strip LED and a magna fuge. the Magna is actually intense because the lights (LED) sit right on the side acrylic wall of the glass. When I used it for caulerpa, I got a VERY dense matt of it on the acrylic. But I do NOT want to insfest this tank with caulerpa. And for some reason the Chaeto is not taking a liking to the light combo I have now. And if it'

The cheato I have is permeated with green algae also. I cant get the green algae off with out totally shredding up the chaeto. So if I there was a way to 'clean it up' and start fresh with the right light that would be great.

I even test now for FE and dose it (I had 0 until 2 weeks ago).

So if it's not the light and not the Fe, then I dont know what it is. I generally test in single digits PPBILLION total Phosphate. and single digits like 2 nitrate, which may be too low for chaeto. Its prob that low because of all the film algae all over my live rock and green algae thick in spots on my sand.

My tank is also 'new' and I'm sure going through 'cycle'. It's been up since sept '17. I already have some acros doing well in it, as well as some maricultured LPS like hammer and elegance, doing great. My birdsnest another story (hmph). NOt sure if all that matters to grow cheato though!.

Someone please tell me exactly what to do! Because my tank would be amazing if I can just get nice chaeto going

Thanks!!!

 

[cgw0008]

So I built a chateo reactor for like $50. I looked at the ones for sale and they were all crazy expensive and thought, "well I could do that..." I took a cheap media reactor, wrapped it in grow light LEDs from Amazon and duct tape, hung it on the back of my 20 gallon, and boom! Chaeto growing like crazy, soaks up all the nitrates. Went to 0 very quickly. You don't have to be super DIY, took like 20 minutes. Tank much healthier now. These things are so easy and a very relatively cheap option no one talks about.

 

[Hentz]

I scored one from my LFS for a decent price. It was $200 but well worth that compared to the ARID ones..

Realized it’s been off for the past few months (my fault). So I added new Chaeto to it and measured my phosphates at a whopping 1.5 about 3 days ago. Last night it sat at 1.27. Making pretty decent progress without any water changes or chemicals added to the tank.

 

[ca1ore]

So I built a chateo reactor for like $50. I looked at the ones for sale and they were all crazy expensive and thought, "well I could do that..." I took a cheap media reactor, wrapped it in grow light LEDs from Amazon and duct tape, hung it on the back of my 20 gallon, and boom! Chaeto growing like crazy, soaks up all the nitrates. Went to 0 very quickly. You don't have to be super DIY, took like 20 minutes. Tank much healthier now. These things are so easy and a very relatively cheap option no one talks about.

I built one like that as well. Worked fine, except added quite a bit of heat to the tank. OK in the Winter, not so much in the Summer.

 

[HBtank]

Reactors seem to be the most efficient. I grew it for years in my refugium, but honestly a reactor (have one now) are just better in many ways other than needing another pump (I personally have one pump split to all reactors I need, so not for me).

Not only do they seem to grow it quicker, but also keep light from growing algae all over your sump, help control chaeto fragments from floating everywhere, and free up your refugium from being devoted to a ball of algae.

I went with a design that has very low wattage and the lights are in a center tube, pictured below. I could see the ones wrapped in lights being worse.

 

[Pslreefer]

I bought a grow light and a hone depot clip on reflector and I've doubled or tripled the amount of growth over the course of a week.

EnerEco 54w LED Grow Light Bulb with UV/IR, E27 Screw Base, Full Spectrum, AC 85~265V, Perfect Lighting for Greenhouse Hydroponics and Indoor Garden Plant Flowering Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013DU1E5I?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

 

[CTaylor]

I saw the replies super late! . CGW : great idea.. but i'm scared of hang on back to leaks, etc.. i'm on 4th floor apt. So i really rahter have in tank. But good idea.
HB.. really good idea also..and in sump. Which lights did you use? and which reactor housing?
**UPDATE on mine. I Found that higher flow really got my chaeto growing. I got rid of the other batch of chaeot I had as much as I could and bought a new batch from Live Aquaira. it was HUGE. but I turned up the flow. and it's definitely growing now. I have to take some out, so i'm very happy about that. I always had 0 nitrates and phosphates (0 ppBILLION on hanna very low range). But I tink it's a good idea to have a fuge with chaeto. I know I have tons of pods because there is always a lot I try to save lol when I take out the filter sock every few days.
Thanks again I'll probably keep it as it is until I get my tank more stcoked, it's still at maybe 15% stocking load of corals. though i do feed the fish I have heavily -- trigger eats a lot.