Out of curiosity, what salt do you use? I've had a feeling perhaps my salt isn't providing enough trace elements (have absolutely nothing I can base this on, just a feeling).
I've only used Instant Ocean and was thinking of moving to Red Sea, but I'll wait and see how it goes without the reactor.
Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Though I did watch all of BRS' videos on Chaeto growth under different lights and there was more significant growth with the horticultural spectrum.
That was a interesting video but to me it seems that the growth was much more directly related to light intensity rather than spectrum which is why I do not believe heavy red lighting is necessary or that beneficial to growing green algae. Notice how much better the 23W CFL grew compared the 7w HOB refugium strip light even though the CFL spectrum is total garbage for plant growth. Your other issue could be phosphate is so limited that the algae is nutrient starved but I see you said you removed your GFO so that should help with nutrients for the chaeto.
Given its been a couple of months now that you've taken your GFO off line tell us...how is that Chaeto doing? Any success?I have been attempting to keep and grow Chaeto in my refugium. As the title states, this will be the third time I've purchased Chaeto with each previous attempt slowly melting away over time. The Chaeto slowly looses color over a couple of months with the ball getting smaller and smaller. I have never produced enough to trim it back.
Originally in my sump the skimmer came first, then the Chaeto but I thought perhaps the skimmer was removing too much of the nutrients (even though GHA grew very well in that section), so I have since moved the Chaeto to the first section with the return pipes and the skimmer comes in the second section. I have also removed the socks I have been using.. I am sockless!
So here's the set up: 15"(L) x 15"(W) x 11"(H) approx. 10.7 gallons
Kessil H80 Tuna Flora Refugium LED light 8" off the water (100% output tuned to "Grow" spectrum)
Salinity 1.026
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.0
Alkalinity 9.1
Calcium 420
Magnesium 1350
PH 7.86 - 8.1 (Usually around 7.91)
Temp 78.6
Iron 0.05
I had done some research that said Chaeto needed Iron to more easily uptake nutrients and my system tested as 0 so I've been dosing Iron and I've not seen a change in the Chaeto. Still loosing color and generally looking quite sad.
Any suggestions? Am I missing something?
I would start with not using any carbon dosings such as vodka or nopox. At least until nutrients reach an equilibrium for chaeto to grow.
Opposite of main display with one hour overlap, 30 minutes before the main display shuts down and 30 minutes after main display has come on.
Reduce the photoperiod to 6 hours for a week then 7 hours followed by 8 hours. Keep it at 8 hours for the time being. You might be providing too much light and chaeto will keep photosynthesizing for two hours after lights are off.
