Chaeto grow

[bucfan]

I have a refugium set up for 3 months now and the chaeto has not changed in size. What could be wrong? I am not seeing PO and NO budging either. PO 0.17 NO 40.

 

[Bradley2448]

What size tank are you running? Do you have a light over the refugium?

 

[bucfan]

I have a refugium set up for 3 months now and the chaeto has not changed in size. What could be wrong? I am not seeing PO and NO budging either. PO 0.17 NO 40.

 

[bucfan]

What size tank are you running? Do you have a light over the refugium?

205g. Yes with light over the fuge.

 

[Spieg]

Chaeto needs iron to grow. Your water may be low on iron.

 

[PeterC99]

3 main factors for chaeto growth - nutrients, lighting, and flow. You have the nutrients. Do you light opposite schedule to your aquarium lights and does chaeto get enough flow?

 

[bucfan]

Lights are opposite to tank. Reasonable flow. It tumbles.

 

[Shirak]

What light are you using?

 

[PeterC99]

Originally used a cheap led grow light from Home Depot but switched to an Neptune GRO Refugium light. My chaeto now grows like a weed and keeps my over stocked 90g aquarium at PO4 - .03 and NO3 - 2.

 

[bucfan]

What light are you using?

AI Prime HD. Set only for whites and reds.

 

[Shirak]

AI Prime HD. Set only for whites and reds.

hmm the AI Prime only has 1 red led and 4 whites? Could be lacking in light. I use the AI refugium light at 100% which is about 10x the red light of a prime set for red/white. Can find red refugium lights on amazon. waterproof flat panel type for plants that are pretty inexpensive.

I think if it was a nutrient issue with iron or something like that it would have turned white and died after 3 months. Although it couldn't hurt to pick up a small bottle of chaetogro from brightwell.

So my guess is insufficient light intensity in the red