chaeto in display tank?

Yeah, you can grow it in your display tank. Most people don't because its not appealing to look at. All you need is a clear flow through container to put the chaeto in and your tank lights will work to grow it as well. Make sure you put it in a good flow area as it needs to move some from the current to help it grow. You use a little soap dish holder from walmart or something to house your chaeto.
 
Go to your local pet mega store and buy a clear hamster ball. The Chaeto ball will roll and tumble slowly in your tank, adding flow to the "cage". Kinda "otherworldly" in the tank. Takes some getting used to,...like having power poles in your view. Not aesthetic, but seems to work. When it no longer moves...errr....just sinks, remove part of the algae.
 
There are other types of macro algae that would look better in the display and do the same job. Penicillus, Caulerpa, and Halimeda are a few that come to mind.
 
I have some in my mantis tank and it does fine. Some fish and inverts will eat it though.
 
I advise against letting any macro that has roots get a start in your rockwork, especially if you have a tank too small for anything that will eat it---as in, under about 100 gallons.
 
I have read that it can get a hold on to your LR then spread and become a nusiance. I kept a small ball in my 14 bio next to the intake, It did not grow fast but I kept it trimmed. My green goby liked to browse around it.
 
I've done it.. and plan to again

Here is where I got the idea :bounce3:

capn_hylinur said:
Soap Dishes:

These provide a great way of harbouring cheato macro without the cheato getting into the plumbing ect. If you don't have a refugium then you can instantly with one or two of these in your display tank

soapdishes.jpg
Click to expand...

came from Capns Log
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1786183&page=2
 
That idea is cool for a fuge or something normally hidden from view, but it'll look pretty ugly in plain sight in a nice reef tank.
 
The only problem I have had with cheato is when a small piece breaks off and starts to grow in a place before you notice it and it gets out of hand. The stuff is awesome for keeping good tank balance. Could do a aquaclear HOB filter mod. Keeps things clean looking.
 
I'm currently in the position of modding my back sump of my biocube 29 to house a fuge and a media basket. Decided to toss out the bio balls as I was running out of space to properly place my heater, protein skimmer, and filter floss. If you can grow it in a hang-on type container on the back of your tank with a little led light over it, that is your best bet.
 
The great thing about chaeto algae is you can contain it and prevent it from spreading through your tank. Stay away from caulerpa as it will overtake your display. Good luck!
 
kingfisher62 said:
One con is little pieces can start to clog powerheads and such. So keep an eye on that.
Click to expand...
That's the only problem I see with it, a little extra maintenance. In my experience chaeto is not hard to control and is not inclined to take a foot hold in the rock. Right now I have some in my display - I have it tucked between some rocks.
 
how does the soap dish for the chaeto attach to the tank wall? I have some coming in through fedex tomorrow with some crabs and a brittle star for my new tank set up 55 gal. I have a sump but I don't have lighting over the sump for the chaeto so I like the idea of keep it in the DT til I get the light for the sump but I'm not understanding how it's attached to the aquarium??
 
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