How do you guys feel about buying Chaeto from random people here?

[mhills16]

Just bought some from someone on here, told my wife to just put it in the sump when it arrives. My question is, not knowing where it comes from or conditions, do you guys ever worry about hitchhikers or anything else? Will it be fine for her to just throw it in the sump in your opinion. Thanks, Mike.

 

[ameares8]

The best chaeto has hitchhikers in my opinion. My chaeto is full of snails, small starfish, and pods. I would throw it in the sump and let it do its thing. The only thing she may need to do is trim it back if it gets out of control huge.

 

[mhills16]

yes, of course i want the good hitchhikers, i just mean, are there any bad hitchhikers you can acquire from it as well, and what to watch out for. thanks.

 

[ameares8]

The only bad thing I can think of is whether or not you are comfortable with bristle worms. I do not mind them and I think they are good scavengers, but you will find mixed opinions on here about that. The other thing would be copper. If someone treated their tank with copper I wonder if the chaeto would be able to leach that out over time? I am not sure if that is even logical. That just poped into my mind, so maybe someone will have an answer for that.

 

[sandalscout]

Honestly, I suspect that most people who are at the level of using cheato probably no about copper and it shouldn't be an issue.

The only "bad" thing I've ever seen on cheato has been a little bit of hair algae, I get a small amount of growth if I had trimmed backed and rotated mine for a while. I think it will be okay.

 

[subielover]

Watch for flatworms.

 

[NeveSSL]

My only thought is someone should give you some, not sell it to ya!

Brandon

 

[MVlk]

+1 Brandon. I bet everyone who responded here would be happy to give it to you. Including me!

 

[graveyardworm]

The best way not to find out the hard way is to quarantine it. There are many pests that could potentially come in with chaeto, flatworms, aiptasia and other nuisance anemone's, fish disease, just to name a few.

 

[mhills16]

yeah, well, thanks everyone, atleast it was only $13 shipped. Cant wait to meet you guys at the meetings after i get back! mike