Chaeto and controlling nitrates and phosphate

[jda]

I just have a 2 bulb hydroponics T5 over my chaeto with 6500k cheap bulbs. I have grown chaeto well with a screw in bulb in a clip on light. I don't think that light matters that much.

I have no doubt that my rock and sand handle most of the true nitrate, but the chaeto likely gets some along with ammonia and phosphate/phosphorous. If you all have mature tanks with rock and sand, that is likely what is taking care of the nitrates.

 

[Schraufabagel]

My refugium started making a difference after about 3 weeks and the levels have been stable since. I use ROX carbon now, but I did use chemipure when I started and didn’t notice any bad affects on chaeto growth