Does chaeto need a lot of light?

[bluprntguy]

Yes I do, it could virtually grow under candlelight. Remember to dose just a tiny amount of iron once in a while and always keep an eye on nutrient levels, chaeto can be more efficient than most people think at stripping nutrients from the water column. Almost any light will work. The most effective in my own experience has been cheap read and blue led grow lights from amazon. Don’t waste money on an expensive grow lamp.

So BRS studied this scientifically and actually found the exact opposite. The ability of chaeto to grow and consume nutrients was highly dependent on the amount of light. Will chaeto live under subpar lighting? Maybe. Will it be an effective way to control nutrients, NO.

 

[ZaneTer]

So BRS studied this scientifically and actually found the exact opposite. The ability of chaeto to grow and consume nutrients was highly dependent on the amount of light. Will chaeto live under subpar lighting? Maybe. Will it be an effective way to control nutrients, NO.

True, they did a great study!

Doesn’t mean you have to waste money on the rolls Royce of lights.

 

[Paul Sands]

Yes I do, it could virtually grow under candlelight.

Almost any light will work.

True, they did a great study!

Doesn’t mean you have to waste money on the rolls Royce of lights.

Seems like you changed your argument because the first one was just wrong. Any light won’t work. High PAR is required for good chaeto growth, not a candle.

 

[hart24601]

Does it need a lot of light? No, it can do pretty well under pretty weak lighting. However as BRS shows if using it for nutrient uptake more light generally will mean more nutrients exported. Now if you are keeping it just for the looks, no problem, or if you have other export methods or just don't need much export weak light is fine. A lot depends on what the export demands are, aka the amount of food entering the system daily. Of course you don't need to get fancy name brand light, a lot of amazon ones are good. Just look at the true wattage of the light. Chaeto under medium light can uptake a surprsing amount.

 

[specwar]

I've got the pods in my mini refugium too. I put in a pod hotel as well. Easy to make one out of small drink straws if you don't want to buy one.

 

[ZaneTer]

What is the point of spending hundreds of dollars for an incredible light that is only going to grow chaeto?

With that said I have had better results from cheaper lights instead of my ATI 80x8.

 

[hart24601]

What is the point of spending hundreds of dollars for an incredible light that is only going to grow chaeto?

With that said I have had better results from cheaper lights instead of my ATI 80x8.

Depends on the nutrient reduction goals in part. 1 cube a day or 10? Also some will pay more for things like UL listings over cheaper lights that don’t have the best components or warrantee. Nothing wrong with either one.


There is also some thought considered to the fuge being used. If one allows macro go grow really thick, say in a deeper fuge, it can be advantageous to have a light with good penetration, like h380 or similar clusters to hit deeper in the macro ball, even if it is flipped. If one has a fuge that is wide/long and shallow then a more spread out panel might work better, less penetration but more coverage. However imo it’s still more about the power vs desired export similar to how algae scrubber are sold not by tank size, but by export – aka 1 cube a day.

 

[Cease565]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback and replies.

 

[ReeferReefer]

The second post states that OP must be prepared for nutrient outbreaks. Where could these come from? You can’t blame a canister filter for that.

The idea that anything is a nitrate factory is a load of ********, unless of course they actually do manufacture various forms of nitrate for sale. The BRS video you quoted said they recommend changing out filter socks every few days because their effectiveness deteriorated after that.

Canister filters can trap detritus that break down into nitrates if not regularly cleaned (every 3 days).

I think this is a statement we can agree on right?