Cheato not growing

Dana · Apr 20, 2013

It's been a couple of weeks since I put the cheato in my sump, and if anything it's getting smaller. The light is 26w 5000k cfl bulb about 7 inches off the top of tank. I leave light on all night and sometimes all day too. Am I using the wrong bulb?
Thanks

uf_gators · Apr 20, 2013

I would get some new cheto. I had some I got from the lfs and it didn't grow. Went to a friend and got some. It took off and gotta stay on top of it. Lol
At least that's what happen to me. I use 3 (3watt Cree LEDs) 6700k

T.W. · Apr 20, 2013

bought mine from reefcleaners.org and it is noticeably larger in two weeks using an 18W 6700k cfl bulb

Singlefin · Apr 20, 2013

Once I switched to a 6500k bulb mine took off and hasn't stopped. Water needs to flow through it. Doesn't have to tumble. I run mine 24/7. Never turn the light off.

Dana · Apr 20, 2013

Yeah I couldn't find 6500k at my local hd or lowes. I'll try petco I think I saw them there. I have good flow thru it. It's kind of darker green than it was, but at least it isn't yellow. What does the darkening color mean?

harley · Apr 20, 2013

6700k is ideal for your chaeto, and ya need to toss it/move it around once a day to get light everywhere. But sometimes, tanks can't grow chaeto. You may hae too clean of a tank if it is new, or just not enough excess nutrients for it. Honestly, not being able to grow chaeto can be a good thing.

What photo period are you running its lights at? I do about 18 hours on opposite DT lights.

harley · Apr 20, 2013

dark is good, healthy

Dana · Apr 20, 2013

Ok well I may try another spectrum bulb. The sump is new. I am running chemipure elite in the chamber before it, is there a chance the cp is taking out things the cheato needs to grow? Like phosphates or whatever? Thanks for the responses

Singlefin · Apr 20, 2013

I couldn't find them at hd or lowed either. Found them at Costco of all places. They were like $1 for 4. Ridiculously cheap.

Singlefin · Apr 20, 2013

My chaeto doesn't move. It ends up filling my whole middle section and creating a solid block before I trim it. I have good flow through it though. Enters top left of the section and drains bottom right so it has to go right through it.

OurReef · Apr 21, 2013

I fill my Refugium about once every month and a half (5 gallon bucket roughly). I run 24/7 lighting using an led set up from the Lfs.

harley · Apr 21, 2013

Dana said:
Ok well I may try another spectrum bulb. The sump is new. I am running chemipure elite in the chamber before it, is there a chance the cp is taking out things the cheato needs to grow? Like phosphates or whatever? Thanks for the responses

Yeah, exactly. I try to keep my tank running good naturally because, quite frankly, I'm too lazy to keep up with the monitoring once you start dosing/reacting etc. I like the challenge of a natural tank, no offense to anyone, just what I like) I can kinda tell when I erally need a WC by my chaeto, when it starts taking off, my tank is getting dirty. But don't be surprised if you can never grow it, this hobby has no rules