How to Tumble Cheato?

[trick440]

Whats a good design to tumble cheato algae in a BB sump?

Its only a 15g sump (12wideX19LongX15tall) and I only have 150gph of flow to a accomplish this.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Put a spray bar pointing down with the pipe blocking the water line all the way across the tank an inch or so in front of your overflow. You have to have enough flow to get water flow out of all of the holes, though.

 

[ludiNano]

you might have to get a bigger pump.

 

[das75]

my Chaeto doesn't tumble but still grows great.

 

[ludiNano]

Yea mine doesnt either and grows great. I just make sure to pull it apart into flat sheet, and flip it every couple days.

 

[Psychographic]

I think the idea that Cheato needs to tumble is another reefing myth. I have never tumbled mine.

 

[evoracer]

Agreed. I just prune (a lot!) every week out of my hang-on fuge, no fancy setups totumble just let it grow. I actually put a small tank next to the prop tank on the floor with an air stone and throw the pruned chaeto in there and it grows just as well.

 

[rezaktp]

I have a small powerhead in my fuge to keep the ball rolling works well!

 

[CookieJar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15698597#post15698597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rezaktp
I have a small powerhead in my fuge to keep the ball rolling works well!

+1
if you want it to tumble, this will do it and is low cost. It works great for me but the powerhead does get blocked by the floating cheato strands. I made a DIY acrylic shield that helps, but the PH still needs periodic cleaning to keep flow strong.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15698370#post15698370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psychographic
I think the idea that Cheato needs to tumble is another reefing myth. I have never tumbled mine.

It keeps it free of detritus and keeps the top from growing out of the water and dying.

Do you have to tumble it? No! But there is certainly some benefit.

 

[Psychographic]

I've never had any detritus problems with mine and once it grows to the top, IMO, it's time to harvest it.

 

[BeanAnimal]

It depends on where in the system the fuge is and if there is mechanical filtration, the size of the fuge, lighting intensity, etc. Tumbling is not a requirement, but can be beneficial.

 

[sjm817]

I agree. It is nice to do, but not required. My fuge is a 65G (36" x 18"). Its pretty much impossible to get chaeto to tumble. It seems to grow just fine anyway.

 

[dcroucher]

No tumbling required, mine sits there and I rotate and move around whenever I need to do something in the fuge.

 

[lordofthereef]

Reading this thread I take it we want to tumble it to make it grow better? Mine grows like a weed just sitting there. I can;t imagine what it would do tumbling LOL

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15746403#post15746403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lordofthereef
Reading this thread I take it we want to tumble it to make it grow better? Mine grows like a weed just sitting there. I can;t imagine what it would do tumbling LOL

as posted above...

It keeps it free of detritus and keeps the top from growing out of the water and dying.

Do you have to tumble it? No! But there is certainly some benefit.

 

[epstein]

If I may ......has anyone who does not tumble ever watch all the pods and various life forms just devour the sludge and detrius floating and caught in the chaeto?....If ya disturb or tumble it ....then you are void of this...so are you doing your sump and critters a disservice?

 

[BeanAnimal]

There will be no shortage of food for the various critters.

 

[tmz]

I don't tumble mine. It grows well. Harvewsting is key in my opinion. Low flow is a benefit in my opinion since it minimizes surface agitation and allows more highly oxygenated water to get to the tank during opposite photo periods before equilibrating with the air.