Chaeto survival

[Robert1994]

I am purchasing chaeto at my local aquarium store. It's very healthy looking when I first put it into my refugium, but only for a few days. Then it starts getting darker and then starts shedding like last years Christmas tree. This has happened the last three times that I've tried to add a new batch to the tank, this is also happened to my original chaeto that had done quite well for a year.
Does anybody have an idea on how to solve this ? Nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are 0, 0 and .02 respectively. My tank is SPS, fish and clean up crew.

 

[Stephen Glover]

If they’re not enough nutrients (nitrate/phosphate) it will not grow. An iron supplement can also help assuming you have a decent light over it.

 

[Spare time]

0 nitrate can lead to its demise if there's not enough nitrogen input into the tank. Minor and trace elements are also a concern.

 

[Dan_P]

I am purchasing chaeto at my local aquarium store. It's very healthy looking when I first put it into my refugium, but only for a few days. Then it starts getting darker and then starts shedding like last years Christmas tree. This has happened the last three times that I've tried to add a new batch to the tank, this is also happened to my original chaeto that had done quite well for a year.
Does anybody have an idea on how to solve this ? Nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are 0, 0 and .02 respectively. My tank is SPS, fish and clean up crew.

It could be starving to death (no nitrate), but going bad in just a few days sounds like something else is going on. Off hand I can’t think how it’s fragmenting si quickly.

 

[Pistondog]

How do your corals look?
If they are ok, can you hold off on the chaeto until you need it for nutrient export?
If you want to grow it, feed more to raise nutrient levels.