chaeto light

GFO can suck out all the nutrients and starve it
I have to agree on this!
Here I will state it again,
Deficiency of no3 and po4
It doesn't take much light for algae to grow but take away its building blocks and it will die no matter the light used.
 
All nitrogen sources will be used by algaes and corals.
Will it help bad algaes? Yes cause what we define as a bad algae is another algae in our tanks.
This is where we as aquarists have to make a decision.
Run a system void of no3 and po4 and not grow algaes or find the balance of the particular system introducing small amount of both compounds
If you want cheato to grow it needs fertilizer
Whether it be foods that are fed or utilising compounds.
 
Here is an analogy
Don't water or feed your lawn.. what will it do even with all the sun you can give it.
It will die

Depends on where you live. Here it will eventually grow into a forest. :D
 
One thing to possibly consider if everything else seems good but growth is poor is the possible dosing of iron supplements, which are known to help macroalgae growth in at least some cases.

I dose it.
It is quite inexpensive if you use a DIY.
 
Depends on where you live. Here it will eventually grow into a forest. :D
Lol oh Randy!
Here is my thought on iron.
If dosed and not monitored algae explodes in growth.
I have yet to find a kit that will accurately test iron levels.

Good to see you Randy!
 
Lol oh Randy!

I have yet to find a kit that will accurately test iron levels.

And you never will, unless you are overdosing it. Most kits cannot detect even 10,000x the NSW level. Even Triton can barely detect what I dose, and doesn't detect any shortly thereafter as it depletes. :)
 
Is the only thing gonna benefit from iron algae? Will it help my coral in anyway? I am a newbie, but I just wanted chaeti to grow so the gha wont. But at the same time I hate to feed the bad to get the good. Maybe I should try a different macro, or do away with it all together.
 
Is the only thing gonna benefit from iron algae? Will it help my coral in anyway? I am a newbie, but I just wanted chaeti to grow so the gha wont. But at the same time I hate to feed the bad to get the good. Maybe I should try a different macro, or do away with it all together.

I use Caulerpa racemosa since it appears to be able to drive nutrients lower than Chaeto (at least in my system) but unless you have great herbivore fish, it is a big risk getting it into the main tank. Once there, it is nearly impossible to totally remove. That said, I now add it regularly to my main tank to feed the yellow tang and the one spot fox face (the big Caulerpa eater).

The iron probably won't noticeably help corals (except to possibly grow faster, and folks rarely notice that effect), but iron additions can boost macroalgae at the expense of problem micro algae.

Many years ago in my first refugium, green hair algae began to grow directly on my macroalgae, taking over the refugium. A more experienced reefer suggested that iron might help, and it did. The macroalgae declined and the macro grew faster.

But it is true that adding iron in a tank with adequate nutrients may spur hair algae if nothing else is taking up the nutrients faster.
 
I may try brightwell iron. I think I could try with a very small dose and add directly to fuge while return pump is off for a few minutes.
 
Go to get a par 38 led bulb from Home Depot or lowes. Don't wast money on a over hyped fuge light, I've been there done that. The par 38 is energy efficient and grows my chaeto like crazy, I have to throw a bucket of it away every month or so.

i agree. i use the one from home depot that a step down from the par38 and the chaeto is unstoppable. every other week in throwing out half of whats in my fuge.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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