noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
Hello, My chaeto has recently been floating and not doing well I got it a few weeks ago and slime and GHA started to grow in the fuge and slime is starting to cover chaeto. Should I do anything?
Chaeto not growing
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vetteguy53081
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That area you have it in is insufficient but not impossible.
Requirements are water flow, lighting and iron. In your instance, push that filter material down further to allow more flow in that area, and add a red light (even a red party bulb) over it but at a distance so you don't heat it up.
Requirements are water flow, lighting and iron. In your instance, push that filter material down further to allow more flow in that area, and add a red light (even a red party bulb) over it but at a distance so you don't heat it up.
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noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
I do use a light and run it at night () My sump is kind of weird:
The water comes from the bottom of the fuge and comes out the top into the return. I also have a maxi-jet in the display.(https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/maxi-jet-powerhead-600.html) should I use that for more flow? Get a different light?
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vetteguy53081
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That is different. Try adding a Little IronI do use a light and run it at night () My sump is kind of weird:
The water comes from the bottom of the fuge and comes out the top into the return. I also have a maxi-jet (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/maxi-jet-powerhead-600.html) should I use that for more flow? Get a different light?
OP
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noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
I dose chaeto grow twice a week (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/chaetogro-refugium-fertilizer-brightwell-aquatics.html). I have been slowing it down because of excessive nuisance algae growth. I can dose more if that will help
windemerejack
Valuable Member
What are your nutrient readings, phos. nitrate, chaeto needs it to grow.
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noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
My nitrates say around 10-20 and phos are pretty much 0
2Sunny
Active Member
When I first setup my fuge I had a similar problem. I manually cleaned the fuge of slime and shook the chaeto clean as often as I could. I really can't explain what was going on, but eventually it stopped and now it's perfect. Also I do not have high flow, but rather really low flow. I do have a very healthy population of various copepods and amphipods in the refugium and I have a 3 inch sand bed of oolitic sand.
Big G
captain dunsel
I had a light similar to that and had the same results in my sump. I ended up tossing the chaeto, got a new batch and switched to a different light and had much better results.I do use a light and run it at night () My sump is kind of weird:
The water comes from the bottom of the fuge and comes out the top into the return. I also have a maxi-jet in the display.(https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/maxi-jet-powerhead-600.html) should I use that for more flow? Get a different light?
This is the light I use now:
windemerejack
Valuable Member
Usually chaeto doesn't grow for 2 reasons, low nutrients or/and insufficient lighting.
Flow isn't vital but a moderate flow is beneficial.
Flow isn't vital but a moderate flow is beneficial.
2Sunny
Active Member
Yeah, I'll second the lighting comment. I know before choosing my refugium light I watched several videos one from BRS that was quite informative. Bottom line the quality of light can make a big difference. So there is a chance it's the lamp. How many hours is it running?
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OP
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
Thank you all for your advice! I think I might increase the dosage of chaetogro and just wait this one out if the chaeto dies it dies I can get more when the slime is gone. Is there anything I should do in the meantime? I don't really want to touch the chaeto because it looks like it could break apart any minute. and its coverd in slime algae.
P.S my light is on 11 hours at night
P.S my light is on 11 hours at night
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Your Chaeto seems to be show signs of being in trouble. When an alga becomes a home to other species, it might be dying.
As the comments have highlighted, light, nutrients and water motion are important controlling factors. Moreover, the interplay between light and nutrients, is something to consider. For example, photosynthetic organisms can suffer if nitrate is low and light level is high, but might do OK at lower light levels. The zero or very low phosphate level will likely inhibit growth and assimilation of nitrate. Water motion is very important for all algae because it carries away waste and brings in food, in this case CO2, NO3 and PO4. The optimum level of water movement could be quite high. The flow in your refugium might be very much lower than optimum. In your system the water flow might be bringing in and depositing waste on the Chaeto and creating a nutrient rich home for epiphytic algae.
OP
OP
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
I do have a maxi jet (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/maxi-jet-powerhead-600.html) but it seems a little bit high flow for my refugium. It also seems like it would break to pieces if I did that, If it would help I will do I though.
OP
OP
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
When I first setup my fuge I had a similar problem. I manually cleaned the fuge of slime and shook the chaeto clean as often as I could. I really can't explain what was going on, but eventually it stopped and now it's perfect. Also I do not have high flow, but rather really low flow. I do have a very healthy population of various copepods and amphipods in the refugium and I have a 3 inch sand bed of oolitic sand.
I do think I can wait this out, and I don't think I want to shake the chaeto because it might fall apart. Thank you for your advice it makes me feel much better. I run my lamp 11 hours at night
OP
OP
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
bump
2Sunny
Active Member
EDIT: I just spent an hour putting this together and only now looked to see what your reef is like . . . dude . . . you just set up your tank a couple months ago with mostly dry rock. It takes WAY longer than 2 months for most dry rock to cycle nicely into healthy biologically active material. It's WAY too soon to try and grow chaetomorpha unless you are an expert at setting up new reefs. Be patient and focus on good husbandry: water changes, sand bed siphoning, skimmer upkeep. If you want to speed things up buy some more good quality live rock and add a couple pieces to your display and sump after they are properly cycled. When the nuisance algae stops growing and you don't get diatoms meaning the dry rock is done leaching nutrients THEN you can try to grow chaetomorpha as part of a low maintenance healthy reef.
EDIT: I wrote this in the morning and wasn't going to post it, but a) it came back up somehow automatically and b) you did the bump like you're still thinking about it so . . .
Here's is what I wrote . . .
I have no idea of your age or experience so please take this in the kind old gruff grandfatherly way it is intended as I feel you are getting too much conflicting advice and need to focus on one voice.
1) In my 2 decades of reefing experience, I have learned it is never good to let anything die in your tank especially if you don't have a "large" system. Doing nothing is the worst possible answer; not that it might not workout, it just has the lowest probability of a good outcome and for sure the slime won't just "go away" by doing nothing.
2) Gary above told you he had similar trouble with a similar inexpensive light that got better when he upgraded the light plus 4 out of 6 comments on the thread (including mine) mentioned light as a possible problem. Slime and hair algae thrive in high nutrient environments not low, so we can eliminate lack of nutrients. It is possible that flow is a factor, but if you manually clean the chaetomorpha and the sump and keep it clean and still have trouble then we can be fairly certain flow is not the problem not too mention you had another thread last month with the same issue and said you upped the flow already. That leaves the light source as the last likely culprit.
3) Lastly, just my opinion but I believe strongly that dosing most chemicals like ChaetoGro causes more problems than it solves. As you mentioned in your previous thread it could be feeding unwanted algae as well. Most successful reefers do not dose chemicals like ChaetoGro to achieve a healthy reef. Don't get me wrong I dose B-Ionic daily and have from the beginning, but over the years I have tried my share of other chemicals and learned by experience to steer clear.
At this point if the chaetomorpha appears like it is too brittle to handle then I suggest taking it out and thoroughly cleaning the sump with a scraper and a siphon and getting new chaetomorpha NOT from a local source but a clean NEW source like AlgaeBarn. If you are concerned about trace element support for the chaetomorpha try adding mud or oolitic sand instead of ChaetoGro. On the other hand, if you ARE able to take it out and clean it in a bucket of clean water then so much the better (of course be sure to wear gloves as chaeto is a favorite home for bristle worms). Just so you understand I know a thing or two about reefing here is my reef in 2017 and 2011 and 2004 and 2002 and my first 50 gallon in 2000. Anyways, for all reading this please don't be offended by my written tone. I am well aware there are plenty of experienced and knowledgeable folk on R2R, and my advice is slightly "heavy handed" but I hope everyone including the OP believe my intentions are nothing but the best. I really would like to see your refugium do well.
P.S. If you do change lights and the same problem arises then I would suggest your nutrients are TOO high for chaetomorpha to have a chance to grow in which case you will need to focus on more basic husbandry issues like water changes and skimming.
My reef 2017
My reef 2011
My reef 2004
The start of that reef 2002
My first 50 gallon in 2000
OP
OP
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
EDIT: I just spent an hour putting this together and only now looked to see what your reef is like . . . dude . . . you just set up your tank a couple months ago with mostly dry rock. It takes WAY longer than 2 months for most dry rock to cycle nicely into healthy biologically active material. It's WAY too soon to try and grow chaetomorpha unless you are an expert at setting up new reefs. Be patient and focus on good husbandry: water changes, sand bed siphoning, skimmer upkeep. If you want to speed things up buy some more good quality live rock and add a couple pieces to your display and sump after they are properly cycled. When the nuisance algae stops growing and you don't get diatoms meaning the dry rock is done leaching nutrients THEN you can try to grow chaetomorpha as part of a low maintenance healthy reef.
EDIT: I wrote this in the morning and wasn't going to post it, but a) it came back up somehow automatically and b) you did the bump like you're still thinking about it so . . .
Here's is what I wrote . . .
I have no idea of your age or experience so please take this in the kind old gruff grandfatherly way it is intended as I feel you are getting too much conflicting advice and need to focus on one voice.
1) In my 2 decades of reefing experience, I have learned it is never good to let anything die in your tank especially if you don't have a "large" system. Doing nothing is the worst possible answer; not that it might not workout, it just has the lowest probability of a good outcome and for sure the slime won't just "go away" by doing nothing.
2) Gary above told you he had similar trouble with a similar inexpensive light that got better when he upgraded the light plus 4 out of 6 comments on the thread (including mine) mentioned light as a possible problem. Slime and hair algae thrive in high nutrient environments not low, so we can eliminate lack of nutrients. It is possible that flow is a factor, but if you manually clean the chaetomorpha and the sump and keep it clean and still have trouble then we can be fairly certain flow is not the problem not too mention you had another thread last month with the same issue and said you upped the flow already. That leaves the light source as the last likely culprit.
3) Lastly, just my opinion but I believe strongly that dosing most chemicals like ChaetoGro causes more problems than it solves. As you mentioned in your previous thread it could be feeding unwanted algae as well. Most successful reefers do not dose chemicals like ChaetoGro to achieve a healthy reef. Don't get me wrong I dose B-Ionic daily and have from the beginning, but over the years I have tried my share of other chemicals and learned by experience to steer clear.
At this point if the chaetomorpha appears like it is too brittle to handle then I suggest taking it out and thoroughly cleaning the sump with a scraper and a siphon and getting new chaetomorpha NOT from a local source but a clean NEW source like AlgaeBarn. If you are concerned about trace element support for the chaetomorpha try adding mud or oolitic sand instead of ChaetoGro. On the other hand, if you ARE able to take it out and clean it in a bucket of clean water then so much the better (of course be sure to wear gloves as chaeto is a favorite home for bristle worms). Just so you understand I know a thing or two about reefing here is my reef in 2017 and 2011 and 2004 and 2002 and my first 50 gallon in 2000. Anyways, for all reading this please don't be offended by my written tone. I am well aware there are plenty of experienced and knowledgeable folk on R2R, and my advice is slightly "heavy handed" but I hope everyone including the OP believe my intentions are nothing but the best. I really would like to see your refugium do well.
P.S. If you do change lights and the same problem arises then I would suggest your nutrients are TOO high for chaetomorpha to have a chance to grow in which case you will need to focus on more basic husbandry issues like water changes and skimming.
My reef 2017
My reef 2011
My reef 2004
The start of that reef 2002
My first 50 gallon in 2000
Thank you for your advice, I fully agree that it may be too early to grow chaetomorpha and my tank is still somewhat cycling. I will remove the chaeto and clean out the fuge thoroughly. The light will be off and I will keep up good skimming and water changes. I am thinking of putting oolitic in the fuge and some rock in as well. Is it too late to put nitrifying bacteria in? I didn't put any in but would it make the rest of the tank cycle faster? when the algae seems to go away I will try chaeto again. Thank you for all the time and effort you put in the post it means a lot.
Thespammailaccount
2500 Club Member
Fuge setup. Flow not that fast through my sump. I rotate ‘flip’ my macro once a day. I dose trace elements as well macro likes iron. Zero phosphates might also be an issue
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