chaeto algae

[Freind]

Hi guys

Hope you all had a good thanksgiving.

Almost two weeks ago I added chaeto algae in my refugium. This is the first time I am setting up the refugium. My cheato looks different from the pictures online. Can you please please see the attached picture and advise if that is a chaeto algae or something else.
Thank you

 

[Tripod1404]

That looks more like a caulerpa algae to me and be some chaeto under it. Are you sure everything is connected to each other. I think you have two separate species of algae there. Maybe you got chaeto with a small strand of caulerpa tucked into it and it eventually grew.

 

[Freind]

That looks more like a caulerpa algae to me and be some chaeto under it. Are you sure everything is connected to each other. I think you have two separate species of algae there. Maybe you got chaeto with a small strand of caulerpa tucked into it and it eventually grew.

I don't know if they are connected or not
But are they both beneficial or I have to remove one.
Also the light: I am running around 10 hours 60w 5000k led bulb. Is it good.

 

[Tripod1404]

I think caulerpa can go sexual under certain conditions.

 

[SAT]

I agree... it looks like Caulerpa serrulata on top of Chaetomorpha. Both will aid nutrient export and may be considered beneficial. However, Caulerpa has a nasty habit of periodically and suddenly dying 90% off ("going sexual"), which can pollute the tank if there's too much of it. Caulerpa also has a reputation for "leaking" organics more than Chaeto does. I tolerate Caulerpa in my tank but only in small quantities.

 

[Freind]

Hi guys

Hope you all had a good thanksgiving.

Almost two weeks ago I added chaeto algae in my refugium. This is the first time I am setting up the refugium. My cheato looks different from the pictures online. Can you please please see the attached picture and advise if that is a chaeto algae or something else.
Thank you

I separated them
See the picture
I am so mad as I added pods day before yesterday
Any other comments or advise please
Also the light
60w 5000k led daylight is good for 10hrs at night?

 

[SAT]

It seems pretty common for some Caulerpa to be mixed in with Chaeto. No reason to be mad... I'm sure your pods are fine.

I run my refugium lights 16 hours on, 8 off.

 

[Freind]

It seems pretty common for some Caulerpa to be mixed in with Chaeto. No reason to be mad... I'm sure your pods are fine.

I run my refugium lights 16 hours on, 8 off.

Thanks,
What kind of bulb you using.
I am using 5000k 60w bulb, but I heard for refugium I need 6500k blub

 

[SAT]

I use a pair of Kessil 160 pendants, which is almost certainly overkill. I think 5000K (daylight) is fine for this. However, I assume you have a 60w-incandescent-equivalent LED, which is really only about 10w? That might be a little dim. See if it works... if you don't get the growth you want, try a bigger bulb or more than one.

 

[Freind]

I use a pair of Kessil 160 pendants, which is almost certainly overkill. I think 5000K (daylight) is fine for this. However, I assume you have a 60w-incandescent-equivalent LED, which is really only about 10w? That might be a little dim. See if it works... if you don't get the growth you want, try a bigger bulb or more than one.

You are correct
It is 9w
And it is kind of dim

 

[Freind]

I agree... it looks like Caulerpa serrulata on top of Chaetomorpha. Both will aid nutrient export and may be considered beneficial. However, Caulerpa has a nasty habit of periodically and suddenly dying 90% off ("going sexual"), which can pollute the tank if there's too much of it. Caulerpa also has a reputation for "leaking" organics more than Chaeto does. I tolerate Caulerpa in my tank but only in small quantities.

Just curious, is chaeto is a slow grower as compare to Caulerpa. Last week after separating them I don't see any growth in Chaeto but there are couple of 1-2 inch blooms in Caulerpa

 

[crawlerman]

I had both in my sump/refugium for 2 years without problem. used to add it to the display to feed the tangs. It grew faster in my setup too.

 

[SAT]

Just curious, is chaeto is a slow grower as compare to Caulerpa. Last week after separating them I don't see any growth in Chaeto but there are couple of 1-2 inch blooms in Caulerpa

When I started growing macro-algae, the Caulerpa would grow like crazy and the Chaeto didn't do anything. I then doubled the light and added a GFO reactor. The Chaeto started growing like crazy. I can't say whether it was the light, GFO, or both. However, I understand the Chaeto likes iron, so the GFO seems a plausible answer.