Pearling Macros (Cheato) = growing macro

[chris melb]

Ok ive read here once and on some FW planted tank forums, that by turning off all your pumps (water movement) and waiting for an hour or so, if your plant is photosynthesising it will be realeasing tiny bubbles. This means that the plant is happy and healthy.

I have some cheato at the moment that is doing this but still shedding, it is placed in a high flow area, with micro bubbles, N03 is 30ppm P04 is .5ppm, Calc =400, Alk 2.54, i dose iron (kents iron). The cheato is floating, and in high flow 15-20X but not tumbling or moving, and is shedding. Is it normal for cheato to shedd when its growing. The string bits of cheato are continioulsy clogging up the pumps slowing the flow down. So annoying!!! Im confused as to why this is everyones prefered macro?

 

[Samala]

When you say "shedding" do you mean that the individual strands are breaking down into one or two cell segments? Or are larger strands, say a few inches in length, are breaking off the bigger wad?

Some breakage is normal in tanks with high flow even with well-growing Chaetomorpha. However.. if the strands are breaking down into small parts and self destructing, then you may have some trouble on your hands.

The easiest way I've found to keep Chaetomorpha happy is to provide a good growing conditions - which yours are practically perfect - and shake it up to dislodge biofilms. Also, loosen the strands of wad every few days but wiggling your fingers in it to keep the majority of the strands exposed to light.

>Sarah

 

[chris melb]

The strands comming off are about an inch to 2inches long, thanks Sarah, i though i was doing the right thing, i also forgot to mention that i have a 36W spiral compact 5,500k about 2inches from the macro, (as it floats) which should be plenty of light, i have been able to grow it better in the past i think when the cheato actually moved, but ive read that enough flow is all that is needed.

 

[Samala]

Well.... keep an eye on it. I suspect mechanical breakage more than an actual meltdown of your Chaetomorpha, but if you start to see individual cells being shed its time to do some more work.

If its floating, it may be collecting too many air bubbles inside the mat which could hamper growth. I wouldnt worry just yet, but I would try to fluff up the mat or split it up into smaller clumps to maximize the amount of light, flow, and water being spread across the full biomass of Chaetomorpha. Better to have it very free than a tightly balled clump full of bubbles.

>Sarah

 

[chris melb]

When you say individual cells what would they look like, i.e what would be the size of them?

 

[Samala]

Maybe half a centimeter. The "strands" will look segmented under good lighting. Those bands or lines along the strand actually mark out individual cells of the algae.

>Sarah

 

[ziggy222]

it does'nt have to tumble but if it gets to thick of a layer for the light to reach all of it,then it will start dying.you have to keep the layer thin,like a couple inches.