Chaeto problems?

[Green'n'Gold]

I'm starting up a 90g tank with an ~30g sump. I've added about 20 pounds LR and will slowly increase this to about 100 pounds. No fish or inverts yet. The tank has been running about 3 weeks . . . I bought some chaeto about a week ago and keep it under a 45W halogen flood lamp that runs only at night for about 12 hours (opposite of my MH's/actinics). However, about 1/2 the chaeto has turned clear in the last 2 days and I can't figure out why it's dying. I've only heard that this macro algae is incredibly easy to keep, so what might be the problem?

My thoughts: 1. Since the tank is new, might there simply be too little organic material to support it's growth? I'm running an ASM skimmer that's pulling a lot of crude out - should I turn this off while my tank is cycling? 2. Is my light possibly burning the macro? I have the light about 8 inches above it.

Help please . . . thanks in advance.

 

[reeftreasure]

1st answer is correct. Your tank is still cycling and will take some time before you can start with this.

 

[reeftreasure]

Leave the skimmer alone this is your god send. This is the most important nutrient exporter that you have

 

[Playa-1]

You would be better off by saving the electricity and waiting until you have the funds to put all the live rock in at one time. Then cycle all the liverock together. Once the cycle is complete then clean up the tank, aquascape, and add a small cleanup crew. Allow the water parameters to stabilize, then begin a slow stocking process. That's about the time I would be looking to add Chaeto.

The route your going you will likely end up cycling the tank every time you add additional rock unless your adding completely cured rock.

Chaeto requires proper flow, nutrients, and light spectrum. I'm not sure that it's extremely easy to keep and it doesn't always out-compete other algae for nutrients. Sometimes that requires a little effort on your part.