I'm a chaeto failure x 3

[squealy]

I have tried times so far to grow chaeto in my fuge/sump. I have a lightly stocked 150 gal FOWLR with about a 30 gal sump, the middle section of which has mineral mud, LR rubble, and a 6500 K light that's on opposite my main lighting. In my 3rd section of my sump I have a phosban and carbon reactor. Tank is about 3 months old. Nitrates are very low, about 5. Three times I've purchased a good size ball of good looking chaeto, and 3 times within about 2 weeks it curled up, turnd much darker green, and died. It seems that when I don't have chaeto I get red hair algae. Any ideas what is wrong? Thanks.

 

[reefnetworth]

chaeto feeds on nitrate (N03) and phosphate (P04) and needs plenty of light as well.
the mud, RR, and your reactors are removing the N03 & P04. so, your chaeto has no food more or less, even though it does seem to have adequate lighting, its starving.

 

[mg426]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13123433#post13123433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
chaeto feeds on nitrate (N03) and phosphate (P04) and needs plenty of light as well.
the mud, RR, and your reactors are removing the N03 & P04. so, your chaeto has no food more or less, even though it does seem to have adequate lighting, its starving.

This is something to consider !!

 

[IFbettas]

I agree that it is probably starving. But since your nitrates are at 5 the chaeto should still have some nutrients...

 

[squealy]

That makes sense, but why then do a lot of the more experienced reefers here have great chaeto? I would think that they would have low nitrates and phosphates as well.

 

[zack1a]

Where do you find the equalibrium?

 

[mg426]

This is truly a hard one to figure out. IME Chaeto is very effective when it is GROWING. It does however need nutrients to Grow. Look at your system. Do you have algae? If so then the Caeto should Rock because you have excess nutrients. No algae, no excess nutients, very little or perhaps no Chaeto growth. Your tank most likely will tell you what it wants.

 

[eb8919]

Yes it seems you may have SO much filtration that the chaeto can't properly grow and do its job....which i guess is a good thing because your water must be quite good but a bad thing if you want to maintain a chaeto fuge. You may have to scrap one form of filtration and put your faith in what you like best.

 

[inachu]

Perhaps setup your sump/fuge in a manner that the Chaeto get first pick then the water goes to the skimmer next.

 

[Saltz Creep]

Use a 5500K LIGHT like on Melev's site and adjust flow so your chaeto TUMBLES

 

[squealy]

Thanks for everyone's help

 

[Jandree22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13124457#post13124457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltz Creep
Use a 5500K LIGHT like on Melev's site and adjust flow so your chaeto TUMBLES

lol, WFT! Definately don't have your volume turned way up when you click the TUMBLES link :eek2: :lol:

(...and that was SO stupid!)