thoughts on using chaeto in AIO

[RioReefr]

I had an original plan to add a refugium to my AIO tank, but never got around to doing the plumbing.

Any thoughts in just placing the chaeto into the 3rd back compartment and placing the plant LED light inside there? Right now, the only thing in the 3rd compartment is MarinePure and it is way down at the bottom.
I could probably shove a cup-worth's of chaeto down in there and DIY the LED light so there no light creep into other parts of the tank.

Just curious if approximately 2 fist-sized balls of Chaeto would do any good for nutrient export?

 

[Joe0813]

I did that with my wives tank. don't know if it worked or not, we bought her a redsea 170 with the sump

 

[AlSimmons]

Chaeto needs quite a bit of room to stretch out and grow to really be effective. You could try it, but I don't think you'll see much of a change. (if any) The pods will love it though.

 

[RioReefr]

The pods will love it though.

I bought one of those refugium packages...chaeto, copepods, amphipods. Right now, my "offline" refugium is thriving with pods.

I was thinking if this 3rd compartment had MarinePure, Chaeto....then that would give all those pods a safe-haven and actually do some good for the DT.

Right now, I have an airline in that offline refugium. Would it make sense to put this same airline into that 3rd compartment?

 

[Aquavaj]

I got maybe a gallon size ziplock bag of chaeto from a local reefer awhile back for free. Stuffed it down my compartment (5"x4") on top of a few Marinepure cubes. I'm not too diligent about testing so I can't really say if it's helping or not. I think it is growing because I see it overflow from the compartment now and then and I have to push it back down but it could just be the water current pushing it up. I don't know.

 

[mcgyvr]

I got maybe a gallon size ziplock bag of chaeto from a local reefer awhile back for free. Stuffed it down my compartment (5"x4") on top of a few Marinepure cubes. I'm not too diligent about testing so I can't really say if it's helping or not. I think it is growing because I see it overflow from the compartment now and then and I have to push it back down but it could just be the water current pushing it up. I don't know.

In one month a gallon of cheato thats growing "well" should very easily be nearly 5 gallons or more..

 

[AZReef13]

I have an IM 40, I put an InTank media basket, with the new IM cheato red light on chamber one. I don't see the growth that mcgyvr is stating, not sure enough water movement. I'm more using it to house pods for my Captive breed Mandrin who is thriving, and growing.

As for water I see good test result, but not sure its from cheato, or other media I'm using.

Not sure this helps?

 

[Joe0813]

my cheato doesn't grow at all for my 180 gallon. I just stays the same size

 

[RioReefr]

my cheato doesn't grow at all for my 180 gallon. I just stays the same size

my chaeto almost doubles in size every week. I am using this 24W LED Plant light:

https://www.amazon.com/ACKE-Fixtures-Seedlings-Hydroponics-Aeroponics/dp/B01N47QRHV/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1534632350&sr=8-17&keywords=plant+led+24w

I also run an airline hose (set at the lowest level) so it puts some bubbles into that tank.

https://www.amazon.com/Uniclife-Aquarium-Outlets-Accessories-Adjustable/dp/B01EBXI7PG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1534633025&sr=8-8&keywords=aquarium+air+pump+airline

Once a day,I turn the Chaeto over on its other side.

I have read that Chaeto needs to have some water movement either by manually turning it over or using a small pump to make it tumble.