Chaeto and photoperiod

[Potatohead]

So... Here is possibly a dumb question.

If you remove say, half your chaeto at once, does that have the same effect on nutrient removal as reducing the photoperiod? Or would the remaining chaeto likely be able to utilize the same amount of overall light keeping nutrient removal pretty much the same?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Either approach will reduce nitrate and phosphate removal. However, removing chaeto is a temporary reduction as it will grow back and remove more nitrate and phosphate. Reducing the photo period will reduce the growth rate and slow the removal of nitrate and phosphate for as long as you reduce the light.

Does that help?

 

[Potatohead]

I guess I am asking... If you have two masses of chaeto, but both are able to utilise the same amount of the light (meaning the smaller mass is growing faster) would the nutrient removal be the same. I would think... Probably.

Of course when the mass gets larger a lot of light doesn't really penetrate to the bottom. So I am thinking if you get rid of half of it you are probably exposing the same or even more chaeto to a good light source.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Interesting question. I wish I had an answer. I just cut my chaeto mass in half and toss it.