Chaeto dont seem to grow

[crabman85]

Chaeto dont seem to grow. Have kessil h80 on top put a good softball size of chaeto to start. Run light for 16 hours. Chaeto wont tumble more it floats I'm refugium been in for about 1 month. It's not dieing just doesn't grow.

 

[lapin]

Not enough nutrients is the first guess.

 

[sergifed91]

I have the same issue. my cheato isn't growing but it's not dead either. I know my nitrates and po4 is undetactable. so I think that's the issue. not enough nutrients for it to grow. just as long as it's not dieing on me.

 

[TexasReefer82]

If you don't have measurable nutrients chaeto won't grow - and you may not even need it at all. I set up my system with the intention that of growing chaeto... I assumed I would need it to keep my nitrates in check. I have no idea why but in this tank I have to instead dose nitrates (and some phosphate too) so my coral doesn't STN - even in a heavily stocked tank! I never would have guessed but I have absolutely no need for chaeto, and I tried it a couple times early on and it just slowly turned white and disintegrated.

If you're intent on growing Chaeto for its own sake I'd suggest dosing nitrate and maybe phosphate too.

 

[clm65]

Just to add, I know many people talk about tumbling chaeto, and I'm sure that helps it grow better. But my chaeto does not tumble at all, and it grows great. It is dark green top to bottom, and is an oblong shape about 20" long, 14" wide, and 8" deep. But I do have plenty of nitrate and phosphate for it.

 

[crabman85]

Thanks
Nitrates at 10ppm
Pho .25
Mine just floats on top I flip daily nice green color just no growth

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Chaeto typically needs nitrate and/or phosphate, iron, and potassium I believe to grow, as well as proper light and good flow through the chaeto (which you have). So it may be a lack of either iron or potassium considering you have nitrate and phosphate. I’ve heard of people dosing iron supplements and their chaeto taking off but I typically try not to dose whatever I’m not testing for. Also, I know Brightwell Aquatics makes a chaeto supplement, I’m assuming it’s iron, though I don’t know the details on that. You also don’t need chaeto to tumble, just good flow through it. I have mine shoved into an Aquamaxx reactor with a 125 gph (I think) pump pumping water through the reactor, the chaeto is jammed in there, and I can barely keep up with it.

One last note regarding those above stating their nitrates are at zero and still getting chaeto growth, it could be that your chaeto is just consuming your nitrates as they’re breaking down, so your water column might be reading zero because the nitrate is trapped in the chaeto, as is the case in my tank, and I’ve begins dosing nitrates but still can’t crack 0 ppm.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Also, one other thing to note, if you start with a huge bundle of chaeto and it’s got all the nutrients it needs to survive, it makes sense that it would stay healthy and green but not continue to grow. If you think that might be the case, pruning it back might help.

 

[crabman85]

Also, one other thing to note, if you start with a huge bundle of chaeto and it’s got all the nutrients it needs to survive, it makes sense that it would stay healthy and green but not continue to grow. If you think that might be the case, pruning it back might help.

Yeah I got like a gallon ziploc bag full when started that might be issue