Chaeto Mystery

[Carl C]

Hi all. I have been keeping a refugium for a while now. Probably going on a year, I finally got through the uglies in my display tank. I had hair algae. For quite a while, many many many months but that’s not my question. My question is with chaeto. Every time I get new chaeto it is always the same color. Under the refuge light it looks almost black and wiry like steel wool .and it tumbles nicely. And grows rapidly. However when it does get too big. I have to trim it. And usually when I trim it it basically eventually sinks to the bottom and there is no reviving it I have gone through this cycle at least three times. And inevitably I’ve had to buy new chaeto. And start the growth process over again. It’s pretty frustrating. Has anyone else experienced this? Oh and worth mentioning is the color changes from the dark wiry looking chaeto to a light green (that’s when I trim it and it usually stops floating and I get rid of it )
I am glad the uglies are over though! That the hair algae basically just disappeared one week I spent so much time battling it. I never thought I was going to go away!
But back to the chaeto any experience there?

 

[Dragon52]

I don't have much luck with Cheato growing either so watching

 

[splitting_lanes]

I’ve had the same chaeto for 10 years, about once a month I rip half of it off and throw it in the trash.

thats all I do, it doesn’t tumble cause it’s too big, but when I toss half it gets flipped over.

 

[Carl C]

I’ve had the same chaeto for 10 years, about once a month I rip half of it off and throw it in the trash.

thats all I do, it doesn’t tumble cause it’s too big, but when I toss half it gets flipped over.

Does it float ? Or sit on the bottom ? Is it light green or very dark green
Thanks

 

[Dragon52]

I’ve had the same chaeto for 10 years, about once a month I rip half of it off and throw it in the trash.

thats all I do, it doesn’t tumble cause it’s too big, but when I toss half it gets flipped over.

Why don't you try selling it here on the forum

 

[splitting_lanes]

Does it float ? Or sit on the bottom ? Is it light green or very dark green
Thanks

The bulk of it is dark green and it floats.

 

[splitting_lanes]

Why don't you try selling it here on the forum

guess I’m too lazy, or just can’t imagine it would be worth it.... I have about a square foot of Green Star Polyp, anyone in the Bay Area want some?

 

[Carl C]

The bulk of it is dark green and it floats.

Interesting I have the kessil grow light ; maybe I have it set too intense or to long time?

 

[splitting_lanes]

Interesting I have the kessil grow light ; maybe I have it set too intense or to long time?

I have mine at 60% intensity for 12 hours. The H80, that is. It’s about 5 inches off the water.

try 12 hours, and not so bright, not as bright as the tank, and just leave it for a month. That’s what I’d suggest

 

[Reefer Reboot]

What percentage do you trim off each time? Could you try trimming off less percentage but more often?

 

[Scurvy]

Hey Carl, long time no speak.

My anecdotal take is if you are buying aquacultured chaeto online it is probably grown in a lower nutrient environment thus has a lighter green color to it.

In our tanks, at least mine it takes on a much darker green color due to more nutrient availability.

I dont worry about tumbling mine. After harvesting I also rinse the detritus from whatevers going back in the tank in waterchange water. I try to “fan” that ball out as best I can and toss it back in. It sinks to the bottom and regrows from there.

I don't know that theres a wrong way to do it but so long as your chaeto isnt dying off after a harvest I dont think you need to start over just to get it tumbling.

here I am today after harvesting last Saturday.

In your case are your N&P levels very low? Are you dosing any iron supplements or anything like ChaetoGro? Growth can/will stall if you dont have all the necessary ingredients.

 

[Carl C]

What percentage do you trim off each time? Could you try trimming off less percentage but more often?

Yes , good thought

 

[Carl C]

Hey Carl, long time no speak.

My anecdotal take is if you are buying aquacultured chaeto online it is probably grown in a lower nutrient environment thus has a lighter green color to it.

In our tanks, at least mine it takes on a much darker green color due to more nutrient availability.

I dont worry about tumbling mine. After harvesting I also rinse the detritus from whatevers going back in the tank in waterchange water. I try to “fan” that ball out as best I can and toss it back in. It sinks to the bottom and regrows from there.

I don't know that theres a wrong way to do it but so long as your chaeto isnt dying off after a harvest I dont think you need to start over just to get it tumbling.

here I am today after harvesting last Saturday.

In your case are your N&P levels very low? Are you dosing any iron supplements or anything like ChaetoGro? Growth can/will stall if you dont have all the necessary ingredients.

Hi all. I have been keeping a refugium for a while now. Probably going on a year, I finally got through the uglies in my display tank. I had hair algae. For quite a while, many many many months but that’s not my question. My question is with chaeto. Every time I get new chaeto it is always the same color. Under the refuge light it looks almost black and wiry like steel wool .and it tumbles nicely. And grows rapidly. However when it does get too big. I have to trim it. And usually when I trim it it basically eventually sinks to the bottom and there is no reviving it I have gone through this cycle at least three times. And inevitably I’ve had to buy new chaeto. And start the growth process over again. It’s pretty frustrating. Has anyone else experienced this? Oh and worth mentioning is the color changes from the dark wiry looking chaeto to a light green (that’s when I trim it and it usually stops floating and I get rid of it )
I am glad the uglies are over though! That the hair algae basically just disappeared one week I spent so much time battling it. I never thought I was going to go away!
But back to the chaeto any experience there?

I just realized my light is a Kessil h380
And it has a “grow” setting as well as a more intense setting
I’ve had it on the more intense setting
Plus I had it on for 15 hours
So now I’ve adjusted intensity and brought time down to 12
So I’ll report back in a few weeks

 

[Dragon52]

guess I’m too lazy, or just can’t imagine it would be worth it.... I have about a square foot of Green Star Polyp, anyone in the Bay Area want some?

OK lol, I can understand that.