Another chaeto failure: is it my reactor?

[Letterkenny]

I have tried three batches of Chaeto now and all have died off. I have N&P (ranging from 5/10 and 0.03-0.1), dosed chaetogrow (which has iron), tried light settings as low as 4 hours and as high as 20 hours, and tried all sorts of flow settings. Every time, though, my chaeto in my Tunze 3181 reactor melts (but GHA grows fine). I am starting to wonder if it’s the reactor, although I don’t really know why that would be the case. I can convert the ATO section of my sump into a refugium and get a kessil to light it since those seem to be favored. Is this worth the investment? Is there anything else I am missing? I will likely try an ICP test soon but would really like to get a refugium going for the nutrient export and place to grow pods.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Wow thats a headscratcher I looked up the reactor (AND NOW I WANT ONE LOL) what else are you running with the tank?

 

[BaysEndReef]

Just curious, are you running any carbon?

 

[Tankkeepers]

I am using the jbj mini fuge light to grow mine in the back if my biocube 32 iv had cheto melt before but it usually recovered after alittle die off from shipping

 

[Tankkeepers]

I run alot of carbon and it does not effect the chaeto at all I dont does anything other then what you replace with waterchanges using red sea coral max salt mix

 

[Tankkeepers]

Without more info I dont see any reason you should not be getting it to grow

 

[Tankkeepers]

The only thing that comes to mind is the lights may be to strong for it and needs to be aclimated slowly to the higher light output but I can't find any specs on what light is in the reactor

 

[Tankkeepers]

I would definatly have a test done to see what's going on there may be some factor other then just activated carbon using iron and depleating it from the system before the cheato gets to use it(if your even using carbon)

 

[BaysEndReef]

I run carbon, as well, but some macros need DOCs in order to thrive. With the addition of carbon, those DOCs are not available for the macroalgae.

I would agree that more info would be needed, though.

 

[Tankkeepers]

I run carbon, as well, but some macros need DOCs in order to thrive. With the addition of carbon, those DOCs are not available for the macroalgae.

I would agree that more info would be needed, though.

Very true indeed it can depleate a system biggest downfall of using carbon

 

[Tankkeepers]

Once you get the test done if everything is there as needed only thing I can think of would be light intensity and or spectrum as I cant find what light that reactor is using other then it saying macro led light which does not tell me much a 6500k CFL home depot bulb can be considered a macrolight if you get my drift and if its commkng from a lower light and that reactor has a high output you might be frying it iv done it before

 

[Tankkeepers]

I hope you get it figured out id like to knkw whats going on cuz I really want one of those reactors now

 

[BaysEndReef]

I hope you get it figured out id like to knkw whats going on cuz I really want one of those reactors now

I found this on the BRS page in the owner's manual.

 

[Letterkenny]

I have a carbon reactor but during one of my tests, I wasn’t running it at all and continued to dose chaetogrow that has iron. I’m not sure how it would be lighting. It’s designed to grow chaeto and I’ve tried the whole spectrum of using little light to high light.

What other info is needed? I’m using TMP salt, dosing ESV Bionic via trident controlled dosing. Parameters are all very steady.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Try switching macros to a different one. See if it's actually the chaeto.

 

[Letterkenny]

Try switching macros to a different one. See if it's actually the chaeto.

Any you recommend that would work in a reactor that also won’t potentially nuke the tank (I’ve heard some species become asexual and then can kill everything)?

 

[BaysEndReef]

You can try gracilaria. It comes in green, brown, and red. I have never personally grown it in a reactor, but I have seen it grown. Places like ORA suggest it on their website as well.

 

[Suohhen]

Have you tried chaeto from different sources? Does the display have any buildup of microalgae now or in the recent past?

 

[Letterkenny]

Have you tried chaeto from different sources? Does the display have any buildup of microalgae now or in the recent past?

I’ve tried chaeto from Algaebarn, my LFS, and a local reefer. There is some in the DT but not significant.

 

[Suohhen]

Interesting, quite the quandary. I think you may be on the right track thinking an icp test could help. I am unfamiliar with chaetogrow but it seems well reviewed and it sounds to me like you understand to follow the dosing instructions. But additives can cause a buildup over time unless put in check.
As for algae the reason I say recently is that it can take a very long time to completely remove the footprint of pest algae from a system so even if the physical presence is removed from the mt, algae can come back with a fury at the slightest hint of hope, but usually it would be evident with the chaeto being covered in GHA.
What I would personally try is putting the algae in a more controlled environment first, somewhere you can make sure it is tumbling and not getting completely blasted with light. Those are the two things I don't like about the tunze reactor is that many complain that the algae can easily stop spinning and it doesn't seem like the light is adjustable. On the other hand the light could be underpowered so you may want to also test with a stronger light if that seems to be the case. I doubt it is a lack of par that is causing the chaeto to melt but it is always a possibility especially if the display has very high par. I live in CA as well, near the bay area if you'd like me to send you some chaeto.