Chaetomorpha in the main tank ?

[Kayzah]

Hello

My tank is currently cycling with the "raw shrimp decaying" method to create ammonia as I'm using only dry rock and dry sand.

My nitrite spiked to 4ppm, and I assume my nitrate will spike also soon, so I want to add to my tank a chaetomorpha algea with some pods in it from a friend, but I haven't got any refugium in my sump, is it a big deal to put the chaeto in my tank as far as I haven't got any fishes nor corals yet, just to regulate my nitrate and phosohate until I add live stock ?
When I'll start to add live stock I will remove the chaeto from the tank.

How long a day should I light the chaeto ?

I own a REEFER 250 (73gal).

Thank you in advance

 

[Diesel]

Not a bad idea but you have any wavemakers in your tank.
It can also block light out for beneficial bacteria to grow.
IMO I would work on a refugium if you have the space in your sump.
You still cycling your tank in this stage.
When No2 drops No3 will rise.
When that happens you can do water changes to keep it in control but on one point you need to have some No3 to feed your bacteria population.
Have any pics of your system?










[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[kireek]

I think it would be fine to add the chaeto to the display at this time.I believe that macro needs a good 10 hours of light a day to grow well.

 

[Sabellafella]

kind of an eye sore if you ask me, the only reason i keep that little ball of cheato (to the left of the overflow) is because i dont use a fuge, and have a hungry mandarin in my frag tank. So it will stay this way for the time being

 

[Kayzah]

...
Have any pics of your system?

I don't think I have the space for fuge.



Hey Sabellafella, this a great idea, show me what you did to host the chaeto like that, what materiel did you use ?
I would want a mandarin fish as welle in the future that's why I need ma chaeto to host a lot of pods.

You own a reefer 450 ?

And I can see a lid on the top of the tank, where did you get it from ?

(these are a lot of questions, sorry lol )

 

[Sabellafella]

I don't think I have the space for fuge.



Hey Sabellafella, this a great idea, show me what you did to host the chaeto like that, what materiel did you use ?
I would want a mandarin fish as welle in the future that's why I need ma chaeto to host a lot of pods.

You own a reefer 450 ?

And I can see a lid on the top of the tank, where did you get it from ?

(these are a lot of questions, sorry lol )

Yup reefer 450, i build the lid with 20$ worth of supplys from home depot. But im ordering an Artfully acrylic lid for it soon. I just used eggcrate and zip ties lolol, originally i made it for some live red macro algaes for my tangs so they can graze on it. Then i got my hands on those algagen pod packets that came with a tiny ball of cheato, so i tossed it in there. Ill take it out every so often/trimming and toss it into my frag tank for the mandarin lol

 

[zoomonster]

If in main tank definitely keep it contained in a fine mesh basket. Chaeto is very messy and the strands are like wire than can and will clog pumps or power heads. Even in my sump I periodically need to clean my return pump to remove chaeto. That mostly happens when I clean and thin chaeto and bits get to return chamber.

 

[Sabellafella]

I had no pod eaters in my reefer, beside bigger pods ha! But heres a good example of how good it works. Shes so fat, she looks like a blimp

 

[Kayzah]

ok. thank you a lot for the tips.