Chaeto algae question

[Ucantwin]

I set up my tank a couple weeks ago but never got the chaeto for the refugium.
I went to my LFS and bought about a softball size but it looked like it was the last little bit they had. I noticed though that it was not really in a ball but more of just strands all over and they squished it into a ball. When I put it in my refugium it just kind of falls apart and goes into my return pump and in to the display.

Is this normally how it is when you buy and it just eventually clumps together? Any tips on keeping it together?

 

[frankv702]

It's definitely stringy. Do you have any type of foam filter or anything in between the baffle to keep it from going into your return chamber?

 

[Ucantwin]

Just bubble traps

 

[frankv702]

Just go to Petco or something and get a foam filter. One of the fluval ones. It'll keep it out of your return chamber. Put a decent light, some nutrients and it'll grow together.

 

[Breadman03]

Just go to Petco or something and get a foam filter. One of the fluval ones. It'll keep it out of your return chamber. Put a decent light, some nutrients and it'll grow together.

Yep. Every time I trim mine, lots of loose strands get into my powerhead. I just pull them out usually once a few hours later and maybe again the next day.

Keep in mind that your tank may not have enough nutrients in it to support the chaeto yet. If it dies off, I'd just wait a couple months and give it another shot. Get in touch with local reef clubs, because we all have to prune it pretty often and many of us will gladly toss it in a Ziplock for another reefer.