Chaeto not growing...links?
- Thread starter alten78
- Start date
Jeff
Premium Member
The fact that chaeto doesnt grow well in a stable reef with good lighting usually means that it doesnt have any nutrients to feed on. It also usually means that you are doing things right. I have always felt that the people that brag about massive chaeto growth are introducing massive amounts of nutrients into their reef systems.
I could be completely wrong though.
I could be completely wrong though.
Last edited:
ACBlinky
Premium Member
Mine has stopped growing as well, and lately has been fragmenting into tiny bits. It's under 80W of 10K PC light, and used to grow like crazy, but now it's very dark green (used to be lighter) and breaks easily.
I've done searches, and found a few things that may help us -- if Mg is low it can affect chaeto, along with other trace nutrients. I did a 15% water change, raised Ca, alk and Mg, and I'm adding iron. I hope that one of these things will spark some new growth.
The strange thing for me is that I've got some caulerpa that's growing fairly well. It's just a little, certainly not enough to outcompete the chaeto, but the same water, flow and lighting seem fine for the caulerpa and not the chaeto strikes me as somewhat strange.
I've done searches, and found a few things that may help us -- if Mg is low it can affect chaeto, along with other trace nutrients. I did a 15% water change, raised Ca, alk and Mg, and I'm adding iron. I hope that one of these things will spark some new growth.
The strange thing for me is that I've got some caulerpa that's growing fairly well. It's just a little, certainly not enough to outcompete the chaeto, but the same water, flow and lighting seem fine for the caulerpa and not the chaeto strikes me as somewhat strange.
Logzor
New member
Lack of chaeto growth and low nutrient tanks are a bad thing in my opinion. Most corals depend just as much on light as they do nutrients from the water column. If chaeto is not growing it may be a result of not feeding enough, over skimming, or competition from other algae.
I have seen some beautiful tanks that do not run skimmers but rely on large amounts of chaeto or RDSB.
I have seen some beautiful tanks that do not run skimmers but rely on large amounts of chaeto or RDSB.
good info. a buddy of mine gave me a small clump of this stuff. i have never used it before. it looked it was doing well for a little bit. then it started to turn white and die i guess. maybe not enough nutrients in the water like you guys say. cause the water quality is good.
fish_taste_good
Premium Member
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My 90 was dominated by Xenia and I had great growth of chaeto for a long time.
I harvested almost all the Xenia (to the tune of 700 in store credit) and now my rock is clean of xenia but hair algae has come on pretty strong.
Now my chaeto seems like it has reduced in size. You could be on the right path.
Logzor
New member
Some algae are voracious growers. I have really healthy corals but I have a problem with Dictyota algae. I have tried to stick in chaeto, it helps some but in areas of the tank Dictyota grows right over it.
I really wish I had a sump.
My point is that if you have the right amount of export it is almost impossible to over feed your tank while having extremely well fed corals. Since I turned my skimmer off (ive been out of town with others watching my tank, my skimmer is too finicky) the corals of my corals and even my fish have become much more vibrant.
People with plenty of fish have it much better because the waste is more effective at feeding sps corals.
The only downside is that each weekend I come home I have to siphon out massive amounts of algae before it encroaches on corals.
It is really a nice fall back though. Not having to worry about spiking phosphates or nitrates is a good thing, even if I have to deal with this stupid algae.
Just last weekend I stuffed in a ball of chaeto about the size of a soccer ball into my tank. The Dictyota growth has been very consistent so I am very curious how much of a different the chaeto will make.
I really wish I had a sump.
My point is that if you have the right amount of export it is almost impossible to over feed your tank while having extremely well fed corals. Since I turned my skimmer off (ive been out of town with others watching my tank, my skimmer is too finicky) the corals of my corals and even my fish have become much more vibrant.
People with plenty of fish have it much better because the waste is more effective at feeding sps corals.
The only downside is that each weekend I come home I have to siphon out massive amounts of algae before it encroaches on corals.
It is really a nice fall back though. Not having to worry about spiking phosphates or nitrates is a good thing, even if I have to deal with this stupid algae.
Just last weekend I stuffed in a ball of chaeto about the size of a soccer ball into my tank. The Dictyota growth has been very consistent so I am very curious how much of a different the chaeto will make.
droptine11
New member
Try putting a powerhead in the sump to tumble the chaeto. I have some that was just about dead. It was falling apart just like described. I put in a powerhead and now it is growing just fine. It grows very slow, but it is healthy and growing.
