Chaeto

atticus · Oct 2, 2018

Have a fuge set up on my 75g tank for about 2 years now and for the past several months my chaeto is at a stand still, growing no more than a golf ball size if that. I used to grow this stuff so fast couldn’t get rid of it. My parameters are meh ok. Any help here?

Cal-435
Nitrate-20
Phosphate-.132
Mag-1400

PDR · Oct 2, 2018

What kind of lighting are you using?

teller · Oct 3, 2018

Maybe you could try this Brightwell new product, ChaetoGro.
Maybe is a iron, manganese or other trace element limitation.

Or Continuum Basic Chaeto Grow product.

Scrubber_steve · Oct 3, 2018

Check potassium & dose a little iron supp if not already.

Lighting? Changed?

atticus · Oct 3, 2018

PDR said:
What kind of lighting are you using?

Using eshopps curve light.

atticus · Oct 3, 2018

Scrubber_steve said:
Check potassium & dose a little iron supp if not already.

Lighting? Changed?

Nothing has changed I’ve even tried keeping light on longer.

PDR · Oct 3, 2018

What is your typical water change schedule and when was your last wc?

atticus · Oct 3, 2018

PDR said:
What is your typical water change schedule and when was your last wc?

Weekly 15g but let it go a little longer this time and just did a 20g today.

PDR · Oct 3, 2018

atticus said:
Weekly 15g but let it go a little longer this time and just did a 20g today.

With that solid of a WC schedule, I doubt it is an elemental issue. It definitely has plenty of available nutrients so I'm not sure what could be causing this issue. Are you positive the fuge light is staying on the entire time? Have you checked to make sure there isn't salt creep buildup on the fixture or led's that are burnt out?

atticus · Oct 3, 2018

Yeah I have it running nonstop for past month.

TheWalkman99 · Oct 3, 2018

atticus said:
Yeah I have it running nonstop for past month.

If it’s running nonstop that could be the problem. Plants need a photo period of on and off so if they are under constant light the chaeto might be struggling.

atticus · Oct 3, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
If it’s running nonstop that could be the problem. Plants need a photo period of on and off so if they are under constant light the chaeto might be struggling.

Yeah possibly. I’ll try and see. Months back it ran 247 and man grew like crazy filled my fuge up half way!

Scrubber_steve · Oct 4, 2018

TheWalkman99 said:
If it’s running nonstop that could be the problem. Plants need a photo period of on and off so if they are under constant light the chaeto might be struggling.

Actually, i believed the same until i tried 24/7 illumination. My scrubber growth took off & NO3 fell to zero.

If 24/7 isn't working for you atticus a shorter period is worth trying.

I had a period when my scrubber's growth slowed down. About a month. Don't know why, but growth took off again?

PatW · Oct 4, 2018

Bulk Reef Supply has a bunch of videos on chaeto.

I have chaeto. I had a cheap compact fluorescent light and it did fine. Then I ramped up my display lights and it died. I got a high end kessel and the chaeto flourished again.

In order to out compete algae in the display, you need strong lighting in the refugium.

atticus · Oct 14, 2018

PatW said:
Bulk Reef Supply has a bunch of videos on chaeto.

I have chaeto. I had a cheap compact fluorescent light and it did fine. Then I ramped up my display lights and it died. I got a high end kessel and the chaeto flourished again.

In order to out compete algae in the display, you need strong lighting in the refugium.

The light I have had grew it like crazy, and then just stopped. So figured I didn’t need to buy another light when it grew fine.

Sirwin007 · Nov 12, 2018

I just finished a fishless cycle, and tried to start growing chaeto. It never grew and slowly died off. Algae Barn says my Nitrate is too high - between 20-50 color. Isn't that what I'm putting chaeto in my refug to do? Any startup advice? Minimal fish load as I just started adding (3 fish in a 240g). Kessil light set for 12 hrs as per Algae Barn. No ammonia, nitrite or phosphate on tests. Their recommendation is do a 20-30% water change and they will send me more chaeto to try.