Cheatmorpha in a new tank

[Mick1of10]

I am not new to marine tanks (been keeping them since 1967 when I came home from southeast Asia), but I am new to reef keeping. I read an article somewhere - maybe an old Coral - that suggested that starting cheato in the display as the tank cycled was a good thing in the reduction of nuisance algae. I am about to start a new Red Sea Reefer 500 Peninsular tank. I a going to use well bleached and soaked dry rock (seeding with Tampa Bay live rock and some TB live sand). I am going to go the Triton route due to physical deficiencies (read "real old" here). Is using cheato in the display tank while it cycles and then transferring it to the refugium a good idea? Will it work, or will I have to add something for the cheato to grow? Thanks

Mick

 

[Ludders]

I tried chaeto in a new setup and it just ended up dieing right back. I put my experience down to too much other nutrient export in my system.

What are you planning on running in the sump from the start?

 

[Mick1of10]

I wasn't planning anything in the sump to start the cycle. If the cheato grew in the DT I would transfer it to the refugium before I add fish or coral. The RSR 500P doesn't have a huge refugium so I thought the cheato would have a better chance in the DT. At least that is what I recall from the article.

 

[Ludders]

I would give it another go in your circumstances, nothing to lose from trying it.

 

[Mick1of10]

Thanks

 

[Ludders]

Good luck with the setup by the way, I would like a peninsula if I moved house, nice choice.