Where to place Chaeto?

[SteveNMegz]

Hey guys, were going to be picking up some chaeto (for our algae problem) and wondering where would be the best place to put it.

Can we hang it in the sump inside of pantyhose with a light over it, theres a pump for the skimmer in one section of the sump and the return in the other section, so we don't want to put it in there loose.
If we put it in the main tank it will get blown all over by the powerheads. we've never seen it before but can you hang it inside of something?
We are going to build a fuge soon, but are getting the chaeto tongiht, so need to store it somewhere

Thanks for your help!

The Sump

Full DTank shot

 

[SteveNMegz]

we jsut thought of an idea also that would be quick,and easy, we were thinking of putting eggcrate (hard plastic with squares cut in it) into the skimmer section of our sump to split it up to hold the cheato.

We would insert the cheato between the eggcrat and first baffle.
right now we use a sponge to prevent any solid object from getting into the return section, so this would make sure it doesn't move through the baffles.

if we put a light over it, it should be fine right? how much room does the cheato need to grow? can we squish it in?

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[Zoophile]

Eggcrate would work. Anything that allows flow around the cheato and keeps it out of your skimmer pump would be fine until you can get it into a fuge. It will grow, but it's not going to grow so fast it's going to overrun your sump before you can cut it back.

 

[SteveNMegz]

where exactly do you get eggcrate, We can't find it anywhere and is there another proper name for it?

 

[Zoophile]

Try the electronic section of Home Depot, I believe. The acrylic sort is anecdotally better because it won't leach phosphates.

 

[coryjones]

They use it for drop celling lighting any home depo lows or menards.

 

[SteveNMegz]

is there any recommendations as to how high to place the light we have a 6500k 27W, and the easiet place to mount it is 20" above water surface

Is this ok to grow cheato???

Thanks!

 

[DGlove904]

wht is a cheato

 

[jehudson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11696888#post11696888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DGlove904
wht is a cheato

it looks kinda like thin spaghetti (green) all tangled up. It's good for your tank ... it'll eat nitrates.

 

[nottheone]

Dglove:

It an algae. it is what is considered a Macro Algae. its full name is Chaetomorpha. do search now with proper name and you will find pics and more info.!

People grow Macro algae in a seperate tank called a Refugium (or fuge for short). Growing Macro algae uses nitrates as food. lower nitrates mean less chance of ugly algae in your main tank.

 

[tmz]

It needs room to grow.Squishing it won't work well, since it won't grow much and consequently won't use nutrients. It can survive for a time with low light but grows better with a bit more light. I use a 130 w pc on a 20gallon tank,five inches off the water. Many use less with success.i also light it on an opposite photoperiod.

 

[DGlove904]

oh ok

 

[NCguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11693483#post11693483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SteveNMegz
is there any recommendations as to how high to place the light we have a 6500k 27W, and the easiet place to mount it is 20" above water surface

Is this ok to grow cheato???

Thanks!

I would move it down to around 10".

 

[dsn112]

Why did you waste so much space in the sump for that skimmer. The skimmer section only needs to be as big as the footprint of the skimmer, same with the return zone, then you would have had room for the refugium already.

 

[AquamanE]

I agree with DNS112. You already have the room for a refuge.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11696888#post11696888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DGlove904
wht is a cheato

that's cheato--the bulb is a 25 watt energy saver rated at 100 watts

 

[Aquarist007]

you look like you have the room to build one separately from the sump??