Chaeto and fuge plz help!

[Chiefmaster30]

I bought a Finnex External Hob fuge with a fuge Ray led light about a month ago. It's only like a 1 gallon capacity. It came with a 40gph pump. My Chaeto is starting to brown out. What am I doing wrong? Is it not enough flow? I don't even think a powerhead would fit in this thing it's so small.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

here's a pic of what I got.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Any ideas or help greatly appreciated.

 

[DLHDesign]

Flow is generally the first problem that is suggested. Does it look like the overflow is moving at a good rate? Note that just because the pump is rated at 40gph, it may not be moving that much into the chamber. Head pressure, though it should be slight here from the look of things, may be taking some off of that - and perhaps that drop is enough to cause issues?
Does the chaeto ball spin in the current? Does it have room to even do this (eg; has it grown at all and have you harvested any out of the chamber yet, if so)?

The lights being too close ("cooking" the chaeto) or too far (not enough light) is another possible cause - though I doubt that's the case here as it's a pre-assembled unit...

How are your water parameters? If your water is already "clean" before you added the fuge, then there may not be enough nutrients for the chaeto to survive, perhaps?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Nitrates are at 20 ppm. That was reason why I got the fuge. My problem is probably flow as I don't think the flow I have is even moving the Chaeto at all much less spinning it. And my light may be too close also

 

[Scurvy]

My chaeto doesn't need to spin in current to grow. I too am new to fuge and grabbed a HOB, a little bigger than yours maybe 2.5 gallons and it grows without spinning in current. I'm actually more worried about additional algae growth on the chaeto. 40 GPH in that size fudge should be ample flow rate. Check out the refugium video on Marine Depot's website, they actually tie the chaeto to a rock with fishing line. Might be that you too much light?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Thanks y'all!

 

[Adrian Diaz]

I know that is an old post, but have you found the issue? I got same HOB Refugium and my chaeto turned brown/white.

 

[Adrian Diaz]

I know that is an old post, but have you found the issue? I got same HOB Refugium and my chaeto turned brown/white.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

I actually don’t have this anymore. I upgraded tanks and got a sump! Now I have a 30 gallon sump with a 125 gallon tank. My chaeto grows like mad. And dragons Breath.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

I was worried with putting a bigger pump on that fuge with it being so small and the cheap lid that it would blow off the lid. I bought an overflow box and found a cheap used sump for like 40.00. That’s what I’m still using today.

 

[Fourstars]

I would dos Iron.