Chaeto Reactor Question!?

Basssa · Jul 8, 2017

Hi All -

I set up my Chaeto Reactor on 6/17, exactly 3 weeks ago (Pic Attached from day 1). I am running it off of my return pump - on a dedicated valve off the manifold. It runs circular: return pump - manifold valve- Chaeto- back to sump (return pump area).

I have the LED lights on 16hrs.

I noticed that the Chaeto has only grown a very little bit, although it has gotten EXTREMELY dark in color. Today, I pulled the Chaeto out and rinsed it in RO water, it was filled with detritus. I put Chaeto back in reactor and began to run it again.

My phosphates are 0 and my nitrates are about 35-40ppm. On a pretty heavily fed tank with stocked cleanup crew.

Is this normal for the Chaeto? I have heard this stuff should explode with growth - seems to me its acting like surface area for detritus to accumulate, however - with Phos at 0, perhaps it is working as it should? What about the minimal growth and the really dark (tar like?) color - not normal at all.

Thoughts?!

Jisko · Jul 8, 2017

Following

I've been looking into making one of them things to help combat the use of GFO.

Donovan Joannes · Jul 8, 2017

I might be wrong here but personally I think all algae relies on nutrients, essential elements and light to thrive, almost similar to coral requirement. They compete with each other, so one species will thrive whilst other dies. Another key aspect of algae dependent creatures (coral inclusive) are balance nutrients availability. If one food element is not available, they won't thrive and will perish if this condition prolonged. For chaeto to grow, they consume nitrate, phosphate and other element (iron etc). For your case, phosphate might be the issue.

lion king · Jul 8, 2017

I've found too much light can be detrimental, I've even dialed back my reactor lighting to 10 hours on one and 12 hours on another; each system of course will thrive differently. What was your nitrates when you started, phosphates looks promising. How is the flow, I had my flow too fast at one point, it looked like I was getting little growth but it was all packed in tight at the top of the reactor.