new chaeto

[babyduke]

I recently purchased chaeto for my new refugium. It came in a moist zip-lock bag in a tight small egg form.

Am I supposed to pull on it to loosen it a bit or keep it tight?

Also it's really fine and soft compared to the coarse, almost plastic like chaeto I had a while back. Is this a different kind perhaps?

It's been a month but is not really growing even with 24/7 light. It's quite green so I don't think it's sick or dying.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Loosening it up a bit might help. I've noticed that younger bits are finer and softer, so you may just have a young clump of it. If it hasn't grown in a month, assuming its getting enough light, nutrient levels are not high enough.

If you have algae growing in your display, it is probably out-competing the chaeto for nutrients. Try removing as much as possible.