Chaeto dying - have nutrients, iron and light

[Deonne]

My Chaeto grew fine for many months until recently it’s started to turn transclucent at the top and growth has stalled.

My nitrates and phosphates are fine (>20 and ~10-15ppb), I’ve recently started dosing iron, and the refugium has a proper plant growing (red) bulb over top.

This all started when I started dosing kalkwasser, dripping in the sump section following the fuge, but that may be coincidence.

Rest of tank is fine. Film algae in the display on rocks and glass but no hair or anything.

Any ideas?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Are the translucent bits crunchy?

Could be too much light.

 

[Deonne]

Are the translucent bits crunchy?

Could be too much light.

No they are soft and gooey

 

[Flippers4pups]

Do you turn over the chaetomorpha from time to time?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No they are soft and gooey

How is the flow in that spot?
Am I to assume the bottom and side bits are ok?

 

[Deonne]

I do turn over the Chaeto (it is the top that gets like this, not bottom)

On flow, there would be a decent amount of water turn over given the sump but actual flow is quite low. The Chaeto mostly just sits there

Yeah bottom and side bits are ok

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’ve run hob fuges , only time I’ve gotten slimey Chato is when it’s compacted or or too dense for flow.

 

[cracker]

having the same issue. Thanks for the insight .

 

[Deonne]

I’ve run hob fuges , only time I’ve gotten slimey Chato is when it’s compacted or or too dense for flow.

Hmm ok thanks. Should I add a small pump/power head to the fuge maybe?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hmm ok thanks. Should I add a small pump/power head to the fuge maybe?

Or beak up the Chato.
Not sure how it’s configured in there.

 

[cracker]

Deonne, thanks for this post ! Got me off my lazy **** & trimed the yellow skum stuff & spread out my chato .

 

[Deonne]

Deonne, thanks for this post ! Got me off my lazy **** & trimed the yellow skum stuff & spread out my chato .

Lol, I’m going to have to do the same and see if it works, although mine isn’t particularly bushy.

 

[Deonne]

This is what I’m working with. There isn’t much Chaeto because I threw a chunk out before these issues started