Is my Chaetomorpha healthy?

[villanid]

I added a fist size amount of Chaetomorpa to my refugium 4 weeks ago. I can't tell if it is doing ok or if it is possibly dieing. My concern is that if I subject it to a moderately high water flow it tends to break apart and release 1/2" to 2" strands that end up in my main tank. Is this normal? I've now reduced the water flow considerably so that the mass doesn't rotate at all in my ref but now I have to periodically flip it over so that it gets even lighting. Even when I do this gently it looses some pieces. It seems to be growing in size slightly and is still a healthy green color. What about the released strands...what will happen to them in the main tank? Is this a problem?

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rtrice1]

What type of lighting are you offering and how long is you photo period? Are you adding iron supplements? As long as you are offering a good amount of light (6700K) for 12hrs per day and add iron supplements, your chaeto will grow. There is not a need flip it, since you are also disturbing all of the little critters that will make a home in it.

 

[kmk2307]

villanid,

Does the chaeto feel limp compared to when you acquired it? I am also curious about your lighting. The pieces that broke off may begin to grow in your main tank but chaeto doesn't really make holdfasts so it won't attach to anything, it will just grow where it falls.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[villanid]

I am lighting with a 6500K fluorescent (home depot variety). Photoperiod is a good 12+ hours per day. The texture is actually very coarse and fairly stiff, which seems like a good thing. I'll stop rotating it although I don't mind the critters coming loose because they will go into my main tank.

Thanks for your help. Interested to hear more. Is it normal for strands to continuelly break loose or should the mass stay intact?

Dave

 

[villanid]

Couple other things. No I am not adding any iron. I didn't think this would be right for a reef tank. The texture of the chaeto when received was much limper than it is now. The strands are actually pretty wirey.

Dave

 

[kmk2307]

villanid,

What is the strength of the light you are using in watts? I dose the Kent Marine brand iron supplement marketed for reef tanks. They sell it at petwarehouse.com. I don't know if it would necessarily help in your situation.

Kevin

 

[villanid]

I believe the light is 65W. My tank is only 1 month old and is in the process of cycling. Would it be a good idea to start adding iron now or should I wait? There are lots of algae blooms that can occur during cycling and I am concerned about adding iron at this time. Right now my algae is pretty much under control.

Look forward to your reply.

Dave

 

[Red Reefet]

I have that same lighting setup in my fuge with chaeto. I didn't think it was growing at first, but I also was fighting the algae (cyano, I think )blooms and some of it was on it & the sand in the fuge. Since the algae has gone, it has really taken off. It does feel quite wirey. My tang didn't seem very interested in it when it had the other algae on it. Now he really schnarfs it up.

 

[Red Reefet]

I just realized I don't even have as much lighting as you do. I just have that single flood light type bulb from HD.

 

[villanid]

Red

Do you have the problem with small fragments breaking loose?

Is your chaeto tumbling in your ref or stationary?

Dave

 

[Red Reefet]

I sunk it with some barnacle pieces & rock I keep for pod homes in the fuge. Some of it does break off a grow into it's own cluster. It's strange stuff.

 

[villanid]

Definitely strange stuff..I haven't decided which of us is stranger though.