Chaeto stopped growing

[fish head steve]

Several months ago my chaeto stopped growing. It used to grow pretty fast but now it seems to be breaking into small pieces that I find sucked up to the powerheads. Any suggestions?
I'm running an Orbit PC with 6700K/10,000K dual daylight and a dual actinic (420 & 460) on the other slot. At first I thought it was not getting any iron so I started supplementing but it has not helped the macro-just the algae. Snails are keeping that in check though. I do have some phosphate and some nitrate @ 10ppm (why I want it to grow!) but that does not seem to fuel the growth. Nitrite is undetectable. If I had to say anything was out of wack - it would be low pH at 7.8 and low KH @150 ppm

 

[DesertBandits]

seems like low alk may be the curprit. alges need high alk and good calcium to grow

 

[Samala]

Might be low alk.. which is where many macroalgaes get their carbon requirements along with free dissolved carbon dioxide in the column.

But.. fwiw.. I have also gone through cycles with Chaetomorpha sp. where they do well and then they fall off. None of the tank parameters really seem to change, and like you, I have readable phosphate and nitrate and dose iron and other considerations. Doesnt seem to help or hurt. I am currently finding small colonies of Chaeto in my display where they took off amid the Caulerpa fields after a fragmentation event a few weeks ago. (The infamous deal where it breaks apart into small peices.)

Another puzzle for us to pry apart.

>Sarah

 

[fish head steve]

Hi Sarah- I see you scuba dive. Do you know what the air pumps are called that you can used for shallow diving. I've seen some on TV that float and pump air down to one or two divers.

On the macro, I'm working on raising the Ca and Alk to see if that helps.

Thanks ~

PS - Fight the good fight on the lukemia. My ex-wife had thyroid cancer 11 years ago and has come through just fine.

 

[Samala]

I wonder if you mean Snuba? There are several companies that do Snuba tours around the world, one in Oahu if I remember, some in the Bahamas, the Keys, the Virgin Islands, and probably much more. Its an interesting twist on snorkeling.. a nice compromise.

That's the commercial stuff though. I dont know if I've seen one offered up for private use yet. Since you dont have to be a certified diver to use one.. it would be kinda dangerous I think to sell to individuals. Course, that doesnt mean they arent out there. The dive propolsion vehicles seemed to me to be pretty special use too.. and now lots of people have them, including my Dad.

PS: Thanks for the encouragement.. I'm getting better bit by bit, but its not fast enough for me.

>Sarah

 

[kmk2307]

Inorganic carbon may be the limiting factor. Raising your alk by adding a bicarbonate source should help this. Do you still dose iron? If you have lots of plant/algal growth it can be depleted quickly. I have heard of people dosing ethanol as a carbon source but I have never done this. There have been several discussions here about that topic.

GL,
Kevin

 

[fish head steve]

Are you telling me that I should tell my tank to belly up to the bar:beer: Any particular "favorites"? How much per gallon?

 

[fish head steve]

[QUOTEI wonder if you mean Snuba? [/B][/QUOTE]

Hey that looks like the ticket! Pretty cool!!

 

[kmk2307]

Steve,

Try searching RC for dosing ethanol. I believe if you are going to purchase an "ethanol source," I imagine Everclear would be your best bet (highest alcohol concentration). I think you can get pure ethanol from some sort of supplier. Be careful with this if you decide to do it. I would recommend getting your alk right before you attempt to supplement additional carbon via ethanol.

Kevin

 

[fish head steve]

Thanks. Will proceed with caution.

 

[charles matthews]

I've kept a Cheto refugium under many conditions. I suspect that establishment of cyano elsewhere in the system can quickly shut down chaeto growth. I've also seen it happen when adding vinegar or similar organic carbon source.

Recommend 1) check alkalinity 2) Make sure sufficient co2 (pH not climbing over 8.5) 2) If any cyano, blast/remove it. 3) Take out your chaeto and soak it in tapwater for two to five minutes- there may be deleterious epiphytic bacteria. (I have induced chaeto to quit growing by adding a probiotic preparation, associated with marked increase of biofilms). 4) If chaeto if fragmenting, a tapwater soak may remove something consuming it such as a nudabranch 5) do a water change and/or add trace elements besides just iron 6) If you havea a huge sand bed and it's forming a lot of bubbles, the chaeto may be outcompeted- try removing the sand bed or (more simply) increasing feeding until nitrates rise. 7) Increase water flow so that it tumbles. 8) You cant' give them too much light if co2 if nutrients are sufficient.



Charles Matthews

 

[AIMFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6417230#post6417230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Samala
I am currently finding small colonies of Chaeto in my display where they took off amid the Caulerpa fields after a fragmentation event a few weeks ago. (The infamous deal where it breaks apart into small peices.)

Another puzzle for us to pry apart.

Could this be chaeto's idea of going sexual? Not sporing out, but breaking into smaller pieces when times get lean and then "every small chaeto for himself"?!!:eek2:

 

[Samala]

AIM.. I think thats exactly what those fragmentation episodes are. At least it does spore on us, eh?

Charles, the biofilm advice is great. I like to rinse my chaeto mats out in tap water just as you suggested to get rid of biofilms. Those that grow chaeto in fuges to house mysids or lots of pods, might want to shake theirs out in saltwater first to free up the animals.

>Sarah