LF Chaeto

[daveverdo]

If anyone is doing some trimming, I could use some to get my fuge going.

I have a basement sump, what type of lighting should I use for the chaeto? What about timing of the lights? Opposite the tank? 24/7? I have read a variety of opinions so a few more can't confuse things anymore.

Dave

 

[POSEIDOMORS]

i use pc's (dual daylight and dual actinic)on all of my fuge's(mainly because i had them laying around), as for lighting cycle they are ran 24/7. dont have any cheato, i have had better luck with caulerpa & mangroves. only down side i have noticed with my caulerpa is that it needs to be trimmed more often and smaller amounts harvested. to prevent it for going sexual.

 

[St.james of reefdom]

I have some chaeto you are welcome to.

 

[Bobtail1075]

Just to hitchhike in on the thread,, SORRY. When does one know when to trim the fuge? What does "going sexual" mean? I just want to find out when I should be trimming my fuge.

Jeremy

 

[Dave VG]

You trim cheato when it starts to grow out of the fuge. It does not go asexual. There are other kinds of micro algae that do I just can't remember there names. Someone will chime in on there names.

 

[daveverdo]

Caulerpa is a macro algae that "goes sexual". I am not sure of the details but it is a single cell plant that reproduces by dying and releasing some reproduction cells/matrials that can be overwhelmingly toxic to a tank. You need to prune it often to prevent this from happening. It grows faster than chaeto and therefore many feel it is better at removing nitrates. But it must not be allowed to grow to large because it will "go sexual" and potentially pollute a tank in minutes(?).

On a side note: It is also a weed in the sense that it will overgrow other species. It is illegal in many places and in California marine hobbyist are blamed for Caulerpa taking over certain areas of the coast where it is not native.

Dave

 

[EllieSuz]

I used to run my 'fuge lights 24/7, but found the Chaeto would "brown out" around the edges. Now I light it for 18 hrs. and turn off the light from noon to 6:00.