Chaeto always falling apart!!!

[paxton.rock]

this is my 3rd try with Chaeto. And no matter what I do, it ALWAYS falls apart with ANY flow or anytime I touch it. Why is this happening?!?!

It’s only in a bucket because I follow QT protocol. So it’s in a bucket for 16 days.

I put a scoop of reef Roids to bump the nutrients and I am feeding “ChaetoGro” from Brightwell aquatics at the daily dosage.

 

[VintageReefer]

Maybe because there is no slow steady flow, like a sump would have

I would never qt chaeto btw. I’ve never heard of this.

 

[Dan_P]

this is my 3rd try with Chaeto. And no matter what I do, it ALWAYS falls apart with ANY flow or anytime I touch it. Why is this happening?!?!

It’s only in a bucket because I follow QT protocol. So it’s in a bucket for 16 days.

I put a scoop of reef Roids to bump the nutrients and I am feeding “ChaetoGro” from Brightwell aquatics at the daily dosage.

What are the nitrate and phosphate levels? Any water movement?

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I agree that water movement and nitrate and phosphate are great questions. What is your lighting?

 

[Koty]

My guess is that there are not enough elements such as Fe, Mn, and maybe other trace elements. Cheato does not eat so trace elements should be supplied regularly to the water column

 

[floridareeflabs]

Per QT correct, that is basically killing it. All that Chaeto needs when you receive it is to so RODI soak for 15 minutes, rinse and repeat a second time. Rinse and its ready for new system. If you got the chaeto from an untrustworthy vendor or the ocean then there may be concern and reason for QT but usually isolating with no flow and little light shocks the chaeto and then it starts to die.