sump light cycle

[DMBillies]

I've heard that you can grow chaeto on a 24 hour light cycle. Any truth to this? Anyone ever try it? Seems like, as long as they don't require a dark photoperiod, that keeping it lighted 24/7 could only be a good thing. Just wanted some opinions.

 

[gflat65]

I run 24 hours of light over my fuge with chaeto and caulerpas with no issues and the chaeto is growing nicely.

 

[c_stowers]

I run mine 24/7 and get pretty good growth.

 

[platax88]

me too 24/7.

Hey are your fuges nasty? i just have chaeto and some rubble but i get cyano and some hair algea growing in it and slimy stuff on the surface.

I am always freaking out and cleaning it, should i just leave it alone. If i put a powerhead in there to increase flow the chaeto seems to not like it and gets brittle not thick

any thoughts?

 

[c_stowers]

Mine is nasty and if I clean out the hair algae, my nutrient levels go up. I let everything run wild in my fuge. As long as it stays there (and it always has) then I am cool with it. I've never had a problem with cyano in there, but have always had the hair algae.

 

[fishdoc11]

Here is a good old thread on fuge flow, lighting etc...
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462212
Chris

 

[platax88]

thanks fishdoc11!

 

[fishdoc11]

 

[platax88]

after reading the document fishdoc referenced i made a few changes...

1. put the rock rubble in the dark slow flow corner for pods...
2. added a powerhead creating a circular flow in the sump...

The chaeto now floats around and tumbles. Hopefully that will fix the nasty cyano and help the chaeto grow faster.

also i trimmed all the brittle chaeto and kept just the thick real green portion. I think i need more chaeto to seed the sump now. mine is just the size of a baseball now.