Chaeto

pratt · May 17, 2018

I am having an issue with my chaeto. Can someone help with what is going on and/or what I need to do.

Crabs McJones · May 17, 2018

pratt said:
I am having an issue with my chaeto. Can someone help with what is going on and/or what I need to do.

It appears that your chaeto is getting outcompeted by other algaes. Your best bet is to remove the effected areas, or try washing your chaeto in a bucket of fresh saltwater.

DLuce510 · May 17, 2018

Looks like the cause is your Chaeto is not rotating which makes it the perfect medium for other algeas to grow on. If you dont have the capability to have it rotate I'd try going with some other macro algae.

DesertReefT4r · May 17, 2018

Looks ok. The pink algae is nasty stuff. Took over my tank and was a pain to eliminate. Clean it up and replace with clean chaeto.

pratt · May 18, 2018

Thanks, that looks like that’s the plan clean, remove, water change, and replace.

Basssa · May 18, 2018

DLuce had it right, I had a similar issue - I added a small powerhead, created rotation, helped a lot. Whats your fuge lighting?

pratt · May 18, 2018

I have two lights a 38par eBay special and a 100watt 38par Lowe’s light. I have grown chaeto with these lights in the past. There has never been any tumble. I will focus on tumble if the cleaning and replacing fresh chaeto does not work.

1WildBill · May 18, 2018

You can always throw a big crab in your Sump, they love algae.

lbacha · May 18, 2018

DLuce510 said:
Looks like the cause is your Chaeto is not rotating which makes it the perfect medium for other algeas to grow on. If you dont have the capability to have it rotate I'd try going with some other macro algae.

Cheato doesn't need to rotate to grow like crazy unless you don't have a strong light source. Rotating makes sure it gets light to all parts. Mine doesn't rotate one bit and I pull a couple gallons a month out of my nano tank

Most likely your nutrients are out of balance so other algaes (that thrive in nitrate or Phosphate deprived environments) are outcompeting the cheato

scottedontknow · May 18, 2018

lbacha said:
Cheato doesn't need to rotate to grow like crazy unless you don't have a strong light source. Rotating makes sure it gets light to all parts. Mine doesn't rotate one bit and I pull a couple gallons a month out of my nano tank

Most likely your nutrients are out of balance so other algaes (that thrive in nitrate or Phosphate deprived environments) are outcompeting the cheato

Solid advice here. I’ve NEVER had my cheato spin ever haha and it grows like mad. You have other issues that are causing all the other algae to thrive. That are your test results looking like? What lighting are you using the display?

DLuce510 · May 19, 2018

lbacha said:
Cheato doesn't need to rotate to grow like crazy unless you don't have a strong light source. Rotating makes sure it gets light to all parts. Mine doesn't rotate one bit and I pull a couple gallons a month out of my nano tank

Most likely your nutrients are out of balance so other algaes (that thrive in nitrate or Phosphate deprived environments) are outcompeting the cheato

Totally agree Cheato doesn't need to rotate. But the lack of rotating definitely gives other competing algae a great substrate to thrive regardless of nutrient concentration as stated above. "A rolling stone gathers no moss." Not my opinion just my expirence of effectively growing this particular macro algae in many different ways.