Cheato questions

iplumbsome · Dec 4, 2019

So I have a large refugium which currently has a ball of cheato in it larger than a basketball. It's been that size for a month or so. Does cheato only absorb nutrients only when it is actively growing so it would be better to trim often? Or does this large ball continue to absorb nutrients without it constantly growing?

Idoc · Dec 4, 2019

Algae consumes as it grows. Look at your parameters and see if the chaeto is keeping the nitrates/phosphates at the level you prefer to maintain. If so, keep it around that size of a ball. People trim the chaeto when it starts to out grow its compartment... then if nutrients are still elevated, the chaeto will continue to grow...if nutrients are depleted, then the chaeto will stall or start to recede. You don't want it to recede though... dying chaeto releases nutrients back into your system.

Esquire805 · Dec 5, 2019

iplumbsome said:
So I have a large refugium which currently has a ball of cheato in it larger than a basketball. It's been that size for a month or so. Does cheato only absorb nutrients only when it is actively growing so it would be better to trim often? Or does this large ball continue to absorb nutrients without it constantly growing?

If it's not frowning that mean your water is fine when it grows fast that means your levels are high. If it is not growing and just living it is stable

iplumbsome · Dec 5, 2019

Esquire805 said:
If it's not frowning that mean your water is fine when it grows fast that means your levels are high. If it is not growing and just living it is stable

It seems like it isn't growing anymore unless its just getting denser. I nitrates are still about 40 ppm. There is no harm and cutting it back to a small ball and keeping an eye on how fast it grows.

Esquire805 · Dec 5, 2019

iplumbsome said:
It seems like it isn't growing anymore unless its just getting denser. I nitrates are still about 40 ppm. There is no harm and cutting it back to a small ball and keeping an eye on how fast it grows.

Stability is key on my system I dont fo Many water changes my tank has about 3-4 pounds of cheato ir ir start to break up I know the water is to clean and I have to dose nitrates.