help with macro growth

[kau_cinta_ku]

well i am sure i have some phosphate as there is a little alage growing in the main tank. it is just that my kit don't read to those lower levels.

 

[malsavant]

Macroalgae use much less phosphate than micro algae, nitrates are usually the limiting agent. I doubt his phosphates are exactly 0 especially if the nitrates are at 20 ppm.

 

[chris melb]

Hi malsavant

also having same problems - not melting but experiencing shedding. 2nd attempt also

N03 = 10ppm
P04 = .01ppm
Calc = 400ppm
Alk = 2.9
Ph = 8.3
Sal = 1.025
Temp = 24
Lighting spiral pc 6,700k
flow is 200l/hr in a 50litre tank - this maybe a bit low buti have the tank partitioned in half most flow is in the cheato side so 200 l/hr in a 25 litres
dose iron daily

Have only recently purchased it, previous owner had it on constant lighting, and used the zeovit, and was growing well.

My thoughts/future actions

* think i may have to provide simialr conidtions to previous owner - i.e 24hr lighting and gradually introduce dark cycle
* increase flow possibly
* stop dosing iron until it starts to grow
* shipping could have been stressful, may take a little while to adjust.

Other than that i have no idea, welcome any more suggestions.

Will post a pic tonight and continue posting any changes i notice.

 

[malsavant]

Why is the alk so low?

 

[chris melb]

Sorry the Alk is in meq/L.

Here are some pics of my chaeto as of 9th Jul 2007

Half tank shot

Full tank shot

Close up

Is it true that Chaeto may take some time (days-weeks) to acclimate to new conditions before it starts growing?

 

[malsavant]

Is that tank plumbed to something else or is that an only chaeto tank?

I forgot to mention earlier that I've noticed that chaeto grows better if it is floating near the surface. I think this is because it is able to absorb more co2 near the surface. That is just my theory which is based on observation of chaeto and freshwater plants like riccia fluitans.

 

[chris melb]

Only a Chaeto tank, i have about 3-4 pep shrimp so a Chaeto/pep tank, it is not plumbed to anything, its a shallow tank think 200-250mm high. I also have micro bubbles which help with gas exchange, i introduced a night cycle last night to check night PH, (before lights come on in the morning) only dropped to 8.0. Im really hoping i can get this to grow, i believe im doing the right things. welcome any suggestions

 

[Ralph ATL]

a vast amount of people have given up on Chaeto. It just melts away. Randy was one of those, too! I had to switch to the "dreaded" caulpera. No big problems yet!

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

chris you have nothing to feed your cheato if it is juse a tank with cheato and water and a few shrimp. you need some sort of nitrates and phosphates to feed it

 

[chris melb]

I do have Nitrates and Phosphates in the tank, i also dose Nitrates to keep it at 10ppm.

 

[malsavant]

A pure chaeto tank. Very interesting. What are your plans for the tank if you don't mind my asking?

What kind of flow do you have in there? It looks a little stale in there and also an air pump might help. I think the best set up for chaeto is if you can get it rolling like tumbleweed, but that is often a bit difficult to do. Putting in a fish might also help.

 

[chris melb]

At the moment im using it as QT tank, and experimenting with Chaeto growth atm. Have no real long term plans for it. It has 200l/hr flow through a powerhead, on the half of the sectioned off tank the chaeto is in (roughly 25L) so the flow isnt that bad, if in the right spot the chaeto will tumble, it does move around in the tank. the pics were taken using my phone camera so they arent all that good. I do have a bioload in there at, have a few pep shrimp which get fed everyday.

 

[sunfishh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10307183#post10307183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
chris you have nothing to feed your cheato if it is juse a tank with cheato and water and a few shrimp. you need some sort of nitrates and phosphates to feed it

I have to agree. Try adding a chromis damsel and see how if your cheato improves.

 

[chris melb]

Are you recomending i do, simply to increase my bioload cause?already have 3-4 Pep shrimp that are fed just as much as 3-4 damsels or chromis in 50l tank increasing my bioload anymore may be too much.

I have N03 10ppm
and PO4 is also present

 

[malsavant]

You may want to add another pump for surface agitation. Also what is the wattage of the light you are using?

 

[sunfishh]

Chris yes that was the idea. If you think that bioload provides enough food for the algae then I agree with mal. How many watts are your lights and what spectrum are they?

 

[chris melb]

i use a spiral compact 6,700K 24Watt, the tank is only 200mm high, i will add some more water flow see if that helps

 

[chris melb]

Just an update the Chaeto since increasing the water flow (2days ago) has constantly been tumbling (20 spins per minute), flow has been increased to 700lph. its looks alot more compacted, has formed a nice round ball, doesnt seem to be sheding. The lighting doesnt look as intense as before as i have angled the lighting to were the chaeto now spins (up the back).

 

[Plantbrain]

This assumes that the test kit is correct if that NO3 measure is from that.

If you do a massive water change and then dose a specific grams weight of KNO3, then you will have a preciselt, reference standard like concentration.

Or if you measure the NO3 test kit against and known standard.

Many hobbyists take it for granted that their test kit is accurate over the range of interest.

Many are not.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[chris melb]

Thanks Tom, it could be that my test kits arent accurate, and that i have no N03, if the chaeto doesnt start growing soon, i will do a 100% water change and dose a specific amount of N03. But using my test kits i have two (Salifert & Sera) both are showing an increase of N03 from 10ppm to around 15-20ppm, so im assuming for now that there is some N03 present in the water. For my chaeto to grow.