Chaeto Algae Growth

[deputydawg88]

I got some chaeto algae for my refugium and within a few weeks the ball I got shrank considerably. It's now stable though a lot smaller, what can I do to encourage growth?

The cyanobacteria and diatoms I had in the DT burned themselves out and nitrates were fairly low (under 0.25 mg) until I removed a fair amount of the unsightly bubble algae that had taken their place. Is it just a case of removing competing algae like the bubble algae to give the chaeto chance to take the nutrients or can I do more to help the chaeto out?

I also have a small LED light (this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E4WTDJE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) but the white lights on it have failed and I have only been using blue lights for the past month or so, would upgrading to a higher (white light) wattage help?

 

[deputydawg88]

I'd also like to add, some of the live rock I have in the refugium came from one of my LFS's display tanks and originally had some lovely bright orange coralline algae on it, however this has died off and is now being replaced by the purple coralline algae I have in my DT. Is this also down to the light I have in the refugium?

 

[Green Chromis]

:fish1: Hi dawg88, the light spectrum in the refuge should be more for growing your algae's that you are trying to grow for nutrient export. Their are many hydroponic grow lights on the market, and most use a combination of red, blue, and sometimes white LED's. Blue alone is not a very good light source for growing nutrient exporting algae's, when you lost the white lights, this is what caused the algae to recede. Look in the sponsor forums or google hydroponic grow lights for marine algae. Good luck. :fish1: