Chaeto not growing in Reactor

Bustyraker · Jul 3, 2017

I set up a chaeto Reactor a little more than 2 weeks ago. I'm using a reef octopus Biopellet Reactor with a hydroponics led strip wrapped around it. I'm also using a maxi jet 1200 for flow. The chaeto has grown very little or maybe not even at all. I see a lot of others using basically the same setup and having great results. Maybe not enough flow? I have plenty of nutrients for the chaeto to grow, 10ppm nitrate and .04ppm of phosphate. Reactor lights are on from 8pm to 1pm.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

I would try lowering the light intensity first.

Bustyraker · Jul 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
I would try lowering the light intensity first.

I have, the picture I posted is before I installed a dimmer. I have the lights at about 60% now.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

Cool.
How long has been like that?

You should be fine w flow imo.

gcarroll · Jul 3, 2017

Not sure you should lower the intensity. BRS proved that more light gave better growth. I honestly would keep the lights on at all times, unless you see signs that it is detrimental to the chaeto.

Bustyraker · Jul 3, 2017

gcarroll said:
Not sure you should lower the intensity. BRS proved that more light gave better growth. I honestly would keep the lights on at all times, unless you see signs that it is detrimental to the chaeto.

The only issues that I've seen is some hair algae growing in the Reactor mixed in with he chaeto. I had a big phosphate spike last week from a fish dying while I was away for the weekend. I ran some gfo and got the phosphate down to .04 and the hair algae has started to go away. The chaeto seems to be getting bunched up pretty tight at the top of the Reactor and maybe getting too much flow instead of too little? I've had chaeto in a fuge before and it grew like crazy.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

gcarroll said:
Not sure you should lower the intensity. BRS proved that more light gave better growth. I honestly would keep the lights on at all times, unless to see signs that it is detrimental to the chaeto.

I'm currently toasting the top of my chato in my refugium. Growt directy under the lights have toasty spots and low growth. Chato not in direct light is doing well.

Bustyraker · Jul 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
I'm currently toasting the top of my chato in my refugium. Growt directy under the lights have toasty spots and low growth. Chato not in direct light is doing well.

What lights are you using?

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

Current orbit marine. I can give you the Lux or par intensity if you'd like

gcarroll · Jul 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
I'm currently toasting the top of my chato in my refugium. Growt directy under the lights have toasty spots and low growth. Chato not in direct light is doing well.

That is the type signs that are detrimental that I was referring to.

Ashish Patel · Jul 3, 2017

My chaeto starting growing after about 2 weeks of running 24-7 cycle and adding more flow.. Id start of on the high side in terms of lighting and medium on the flow. and once you get it growing then you can adjust the amount of light. This week I've decided to run my skimmer for 12-15 hour per day and fuge for 15 hour per day because overfeeding is getting old and Id like to give my corals some chance to eat some NO PO =)

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

gcarroll said:
That is the type signs that are detrimental that I was referring to.

Yup. Thus the more is better I had to question

lion king · Jul 3, 2017

Bustyraker said:
The only issues that I've seen is some hair algae growing in the Reactor mixed in with he chaeto. I had a big phosphate spike last week from a fish dying while I was away for the weekend. I ran some gfo and got the phosphate down to .04 and the hair algae has started to go away. The chaeto seems to be getting bunched up pretty tight at the top of the Reactor and maybe getting too much flow instead of too little? I've had chaeto in a fuge before and it grew like crazy.

You likely do need to slow down the flow. I thought I wasn't getting any growth in one of my reactors, and found that is was bunch up at the top really tightly packed from growth.

gcarroll · Jul 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yup. Thus the more is better I had to question

If you are able to tumble the algae, you might see less of that issue. Of course in a reactor, that is not possible.

hart24601 · Jul 3, 2017

It's very possible your tank is limiting in some other nutrient besides nitrate and phosphate. Iron seems to be an element that is limiting in some systems when it comes to growing macro algae. Perhaps try an iron supplement, there are many out there for planted FW tanks as they also suffer from iron deficiency from time to time.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 3, 2017

gcarroll said:
If you are able to tumble the algae, you might see less of that issue. Of course in a reactor, that is not possible.

I have a standard laminar sump flow and a small powerhead. The tank is about three years old. I've completely overgrown the sump with chato with prior lighting.

Silly me. I upgraded.