CHAETO Refugium Lighting...Help Wanted Kessel

[jphilip813]

I run my light for 16 hours a day 2100 till 1300. I have an ALR 2 reactor, grows like crazy but does a really good job of keeping nitrates down.

Have you dosed vibrant or anything like that as that will kill chaeto?

Thats where my issue lies as well, like so many of us on here (NITRATES)..No I didn't dose anything other than my normal dosing regement (ALK, Reef EnergyAB+ & Mag, all through the DoS.

 

[jphilip813]

White near the surface, and green below and on the outer areas of light usually mean burning, too much light. Try dialing the light to about 1/4-1/2 power. I keep mine on 24 hrs, so photoperiod is not a problem as long as you have some nutrients.

Good tip...and your spot on with the description of what I actually have going on in my sump.

 

[schuby]

Based on my understanding, macro-algae such as chaeto requires three things to grow: nitrate, phosphate, and iron. After about 5 months, when my tank ran out of iron (which I didn't know at the time was required), my chaeto turned grey/white and died, releasing all the accumulated nitrate and phosphate back into my tank.

I got new chaeto and now dose a few mL of iron every week or two. Chaeto hasn't died since (1+ years later).

Your stated level of phosphate is very low (0.004ppm). Seems to be about zero. You may also be out of iron. If chaeto isn't growing, then it isn't consuming nitrate: might be why your nitrate is so high.

 

[sam2110]

Thats where my issue lies as well, like so many of us on here (NITRATES)..No I didn't dose anything other than my normal dosing regement (ALK, Reef EnergyAB+ & Mag, all through the DoS.

The chaeto for me doesn't do the all the nitrate export I run bags of seachem matrix in high flow and also very small dose of nopox (less than half the recommend dose). I run 2000LPH through the reactor if I lower the flow my nitrates go up. I have a big bio load and feed quite heavy, before adding the matrix I was around 15ppm with just chaeto and nopox. With the matrix I'm down to 5ppm

 

[jphilip813]

Based on my understanding, macro-algae such as chaeto requires three things to grow: nitrate, phosphate, and iron. After about 5 months, when my tank ran out of iron (which I didn't know at the time was required), my chaeto turned grey/white and died, releasing all the accumulated nitrate and phosphate back into my tank.

I got new chaeto and now dose a few mL of iron every week or two. Chaeto hasn't died since (1+ years later).

Your stated level of phosphate is very low (0.004ppm). Seems to be about zero. You may also be out of iron. If chaeto isn't growing, then it isn't consuming nitrate: might be why your nitrate is so high.

You know, I never thought about that portion of it...the Iron...hmm, something I will look into today...Man, this is so FREAKING great, learning from EVERYONE

 

[jphilip813]

The chaeto for me doesn't do the all the nitrate export I run bags of seachem matrix in high flow and also very small dose of nopox (less than half the recommend dose). I run 2000LPH through the reactor if I lower the flow my nitrates go up. I have a big bio load and feed quite heavy, before adding the matrix I was around 15ppm with just chaeto and nopox. With the matrix I'm down to 5ppm

So I am running Clear FX Pro (2 of them), One bag of Red Sea Carbob, Chaeto and Bio Pearls in a fluidizer....I tried the NoPox, just didn't work out for me

 

[schuby]

What phosphate test do you use to get your value of 0.004 ppm?

 

[jphilip813]

What phosphate test do you use to get your value of 0.004 ppm?

I actually use the Hanna Instrument and my results 0.04 ppm. Sometimes I use Salifert branded products.

 

[schuby]

I use the same one, model HI774, Ultra Low Range Phosphate checker. Your reading is just about zero, taking into account the error of +/- 0.02 ppm.

With all the stuff you run ( Clear FX Pro (2 of them), One bag of Red Sea Carbob, Chaeto and Bio Pearls in a fluidizer ), there may not be enough left for your chaeto to grow.

Personally, I favor chaeto over the other things in your list. It is more natural, lower maintenance, and lower cost.

One quick note, I read today that macro-algae like red light so I'm going to change my Kessil H160 refugium light to full red spectrum. I've had it in the middle, producing a purple light. I'd like my chaeto to grow faster, consuming more phosphate and nitrate.

 

[sam2110]

So I am running Clear FX Pro (2 of them), One bag of Red Sea Carbob, Chaeto and Bio Pearls in a fluidizer....I tried the NoPox, just didn't work out for me

You need to give the nopox at least 3-4 weeks it does work well but you have to ensure you are skimming effectively. When your nitrates start dropping they will drop fast so you need to keep an eye on them and adjust the dose accordingly. It is good stuff. I had some acro that browned from to much nitrate and a friend suggested the nopox, within 5 weeks I had colour back in the acro

 

[jphilip813]

You need to give the nopox at least 3-4 weeks it does work well but you have to ensure you are skimming effectively. When your nitrates start dropping they will drop fast so you need to keep an eye on them and adjust the dose accordingly. It is good stuff. I had some acro that browned from to much nitrate and a friend suggested the nopox, within 5 weeks I had colour back in the acro

I think I didn't like all the clear glob/slime all over my sump...made me upset that I had to clean all of that stuff up

 

[jphilip813]

I use the same one, model HI774, Ultra Low Range Phosphate checker. Your reading is just about zero, taking into account the error of +/- 0.02 ppm.

With all the stuff you run ( Clear FX Pro (2 of them), One bag of Red Sea Carbob, Chaeto and Bio Pearls in a fluidizer ), there may not be enough left for your chaeto to grow.

Personally, I favor chaeto over the other things in your list. It is more natural, lower maintenance, and lower cost.

One quick note, I read today that macro-algae like red light so I'm going to change my Kessil H160 refugium light to full red spectrum. I've had it in the middle, producing a purple light. I'd like my chaeto to grow faster, consuming more phosphate and nitrate.

Oh so you and I have the same light...how long have you had your light running?...I am going to test my Nitrate tonight to actually confirm to see if I am just scrubbing my water too clean or what...I do have some red algea growing on portion of the rocks...

 

[sam2110]

I think I didn't like all the clear glob/slime all over my sump...made me upset that I had to clean all of that stuff up

I only get things like that happen if my skimmer isn't right

 

[schuby]

I've had the light running for more than a year and half. I've always had the color dial set to the middle. I'm going to try full red to see if cheato grows faster (may lower light period, if so).

 

[jphilip813]

I've had the light running for more than a year and half. I've always had the color dial set to the middle. I'm going to try full red to see if cheato grows faster (may lower light period, if so).

How high was the intensity when you did it? I am on the White side of the spectrum....trying to mimick LFS...I thought I saw someplace on here that the Purple actually promotes growth for Chaeto

 

[schuby]

It definitely grows chaeto with purple. I'm going to see if red grows it faster.

 

[howme127]

Thank you

if you need something engineered I can help you out. I only need the specs or one in my hand to mic.

 

[jphilip813]

It definitely grows chaeto with purple. I'm going to see if red grows it faster.

Yes, let me know how that works...I actually switched to the purple/grow lastnight on low intensity...reading the responses I have received on here I think might help out so far.

 

[jphilip813]

if you need something engineered I can help you out. I only need the specs or one in my hand to mic.

I am so impressed with the level of 3D printing...my current Light director is also being modified...but now I know the capabilities is bigger than I thought...I definitely will reach out...I am going to modify my current doser reservoir..I have the skims DL4...in order to have it connect to my DoS.

 

[reefpatrique]

Also try some Brightwell Aquatics ChaetoGro. Chaeto went from melting to exploding.