Cheato not growing well?
- Thread starter taflaw
- Start date
I would say the flow rate going through the sump area is low to moderate at best (i.e., slow enough to not wash off all the silt stuff that collects in the sump and on the macroalgae from the reef above). The system return pump for this 120 gallon system is a Mag 12.
My nitrate and phosphate levels are usually low and everything seems to be growing well (except the Cheato), like my mangroves and SPS corals. I figured if I had a nutrients problem, my Acropora corals would show signs of limited growth and stress, as opposed to the Cheato. Do you think doing major water changes and reducing food consumption to the fish/reef will help the growth of Cheato? I use RO/DI and do 10% water changes every two weeks. I have noticed lately that the red slime algae is back again, so maybe I do have a nutrients problem and/or it is time to replace the RO/DI filters.
Also, because I have mangroves, the 80 watts of PC light used for the sump is about 20 inches or so above the Cheato, so they may not be getting enough light as well?
JerseyReef
Premium Member
taflaw - sorry to hijack your thread. I have a similar problem.
I've had problems growing Cheato in my sump as well. I do have a nutrient problem (currently fighting a HA and Dino problem). I have very good flow through the sump (linear flow) and is light by a shop light (PC screw in bulb).
This is a second attempt for me. The last time I tried growing it was several years ago and all I got was dense ball of cheato that never grew. That was light by a 400W bulb, same sump setup.
Thoughts? What are the limiting factors. For some people, this stuff grows like a weed. For me, I can never get it to grow.
Thoughts?
I've had problems growing Cheato in my sump as well. I do have a nutrient problem (currently fighting a HA and Dino problem). I have very good flow through the sump (linear flow) and is light by a shop light (PC screw in bulb).
This is a second attempt for me. The last time I tried growing it was several years ago and all I got was dense ball of cheato that never grew. That was light by a 400W bulb, same sump setup.
Thoughts? What are the limiting factors. For some people, this stuff grows like a weed. For me, I can never get it to grow.
Thoughts?
I think sometimes it has a lot to do with where you get the macro algae (i.e., the source: wild vs. tank raised etc.). The chaetomorpha I purchased from a vendor in Florida just will not grow....it has been 6 months. I also had problems with a few mangrove pods from the same vendor, but they did not do a good job with shipping mangroves to begin with. However, I have no problems growing gracilaria from Hawaii, various caulerpa and other, unknown red macro algae that appears from time to time from my aqua cultured live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. I since removed the caulerpa because all my systems are dedicated to SPS corals, but like you, I just can't seem to grow chaetomorpha.
I would like to try some tank raised chaetomorpha to see if I have better results. My nitrate and phosphate levels are in check.....I use Aqua C EV240 skimmer which removes a lot of waste out of the water daily.
The growth rates for my mangroves is about an inch every few months with two or three new leaves, etc. I also have gracilaria in the sump, which is doing well. I added gracilaria a few months ago because the chaetomorpha was not growing at all. I have other unkown red plants from the Gulf in my sump as well.
Water appears fine as well (no nitrate problem)
Re: Re: Cheato not growing well?
Re: Re: Cheato not growing well?
Yes. I use a reverse photoperiod...12 hours daily w/ 80 watts of PC light over the sump (10k & 6700K bulbs).
I am thinking about moving the mangroves out and lowering the lights closer to the cheato. The mangroves are outgrowing the sump anyaway.
Re: Re: Cheato not growing well?
Yes. I use a reverse photoperiod...12 hours daily w/ 80 watts of PC light over the sump (10k & 6700K bulbs).
I am thinking about moving the mangroves out and lowering the lights closer to the cheato. The mangroves are outgrowing the sump anyaway.
JerseyReef
Premium Member
Well for me, it's been tank raised both times and nada. Just would like to grow the stuff...
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7230425#post7230425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JerseyReef
Well for me, it's been tank raised both times and nada. Just would like to grow the stuff...
What do you think about caulerpa? The fern type grows very well in most sumps (much easier than other macro I tried before).
JerseyReef
Premium Member
I've never gone down the caulerpa road before, mainly because of asexual reproduction concerns and I don't want to light the sump 24/7.
My neighbors already believe I grow marijuana with the blue lights coming from my basement
My neighbors already believe I grow marijuana with the blue lights coming from my basement
DouzeCordes
New member
Your cheato should grow much better if it is moved closer to your light source....."20 inches or so above the cheato" would be okay for metal halides, but not for power compacts.
Update: I removed the mangroves this evening, lowered my 80 watts of PC lighting to about 10 inches above the water line in my 40 gallon sump, and added more Cheato from a different source. Hopefully now I will see better growth results. Thanks for everyone who has replied so far.
Now My Cheato is growing like crazy!!!
Now My Cheato is growing like crazy!!!
A few weeks ago, my LFS gave me two large handfuls of cheato. After I lowered my lights to about 10 inches above the macroalgae, my new cheato is now growing like crazy (nearly doubled in size). I use two 40 watt PC lights (80 watts total 10k w/ 6700k).
In hindsight, I think removing the mangroves and lowering the PC lights about 12 inches closer to the cheato really made the difference. Now I have various types of good red macroalgae growing out of my liverock in the sump as well.
Some people use less watts growing cheato with great results. If you are interested in growing cheato, you can check out the link below as well (pictures included).
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
Now My Cheato is growing like crazy!!!
A few weeks ago, my LFS gave me two large handfuls of cheato. After I lowered my lights to about 10 inches above the macroalgae, my new cheato is now growing like crazy (nearly doubled in size). I use two 40 watt PC lights (80 watts total 10k w/ 6700k).
In hindsight, I think removing the mangroves and lowering the PC lights about 12 inches closer to the cheato really made the difference. Now I have various types of good red macroalgae growing out of my liverock in the sump as well.
Some people use less watts growing cheato with great results. If you are interested in growing cheato, you can check out the link below as well (pictures included).
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
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