Will my chaeto come back to life?

[richie_pedro]

Hi guys, I have had a large amount of chaeto in my sump for the past six months with a 32watt PC. About a month ago the light broke and I replaced it with a 13watt mini PC. Now the chaeto is 80% white or transparent and is falling apart. Today, I replaced the 13watt light with 2 bulbs that draw 23watts each, but is equivalent to 100watts each, puts out 1300lumens each and is 5500k. Is this light okay and will my chaeto survive?

 

[Samala]

The equivalency doesnt mean much since it is a comparison of the bulb (I'll hazard a guess that its a spiral compact flourescent?) to standard incandescent bulbs. Still, 5500K, and 46 watts over the sump sounds good.

Now, I would remove all the transparent Chaetomorpha you find in the sump as it rarely returns to life, or greens up. The peices that are still green should still be viable. And with good light, decent flow and nutrients coming from your tanks' bioload, will regrow.

However, if this is a large system, or one with a heavy bioload, you might seriously consider adding in more Chaetomorpha. Letting refugium's go fallow can cause nutrients to go unused, and will shift their use from reefer-friendly 'fuge algae to nuisance algaes that will volunteer themselves from your rock (red cotton candy or hair algae in particular).

That's just what I would do.

>Sarah

 

[Richieboy]

Thanks Sarah...I think I'll go shopping for some chaeto....

 

[Habib]

Richie, we allow only one account per user. You have 3 or more?

Please pm me and let me know which one we can terminate.

I'm closing this thread for the time being.