Does Chaeto Work?

[AydenLincoln]

Any other algae I can use? I want to help with nutrient export and put some of it in here.

 

[Derrick0580]

Not without a light to make it grow you can’t!

 

[AydenLincoln]

Not without a light to make it grow you can’t!

Oh right I know. I’ll get a little one too.

 

[BirdFish5000]

With that little room to grow, no, not much help from it.

 

[Jeffcb]

I never could get Chaeto to grow. I have had the best luck with Grape Caulerpa. Caulerpa racemosa.

Also great treat for the tangs. They love it!

 

[CrunchyBananas]

grape and herring bone caulerpa are two other popular choices, but every time I've tried these small HOB refugia they do nothing but spike nutrients when the algae melts. You'd likely have better luck with a chaeto reactor.

 

[Derrick0580]

I never could get Chaeto to grow. I have had the best luck with Grape Caulerpa. Caulerpa racemosa.

Also great treat for the tangs. They love it!

If you are feeding the refugium algae right back to the tank then you are never removing the nutrients from the system. The whole purpose is for the algae to absorb it to grow and then pull it entirely from the tank.

 

[exnisstech]

Agreed the 50 isnt very well big. A 110 might have enough room to benifit. If nothing else it might make a nice hob refugium. I think using a hob filter like you propose is a pretty darn good idea actually. A small clip on grow light and your good to go.

 

[AydenLincoln]

grape and herring bone caulerpa are two other popular choices, but every time I've tried these small HOB refugia they do nothing but spike nutrients when the algae melts. You'd likely have better luck with a chaeto reactor.

Something like this? And wouldn’t a normal plant growth light make it grow?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I was also looking at a light like this!

 

[MoshJosh]

I don't have a link, but there are threads on converting Aquaclear filters into refugium (think for PICO reefs). There is also a thread somewhere about DIY submersible grow lights, though can buy premade ones. Could get a cheap light, cut a hole in the lid, adhere a clear panned (acrylic, or other), and put a light above the lid.

I use a fluval planted tank light for my chaeto, works well and it was free with the tank. That said I also dose Chaeto Gro by brightwell. I know its subjective, but I think my macro looks healthier since dosing it.

 

[BirdFish5000]

I've tried these hang on back style fuges on my smaller tanks a few times. More hassle than they're worth, imo. The idea of plumbing in an external algae reactor, if you can, is a lot more appealing. Probably pricier, but I think it would accomplish a lot more.

Or, if you prefer the HOB route, I'd go with the biggest possible Aquaclear filter you can fit.

 

[fish farmer]

I don't have a link, but there are threads on converting Aquaclear filters into refugium (think for PICO reefs). There is also a thread somewhere about DIY submersible grow lights, though can buy premade ones. Could get a cheap light, cut a hole in the lid, adhere a clear panned (acrylic, or other), and put a light above the lid.

I've seen those threads to, looked pretty cool. There are also threads about making your own chaeto reactors, not recently saw them several years ago.

In my sumped 29, I sectioned off one third of 20 gallon sump, put a fist sized ball of chaeto and a 9 watt fiet grow bulb with cheap clip on fixture from home depot. It worked for me. I had the bulb close. It a couple weeks to start growing and several months to drop p and n, my p levels were over 1ppm and n was 30 ppm. I also kept up with WC at the time.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I've seen those threads to, looked pretty cool. There are also threads about making your own chaeto reactors, not recently saw them several years ago.

In my sumped 29, I sectioned off one third of 20 gallon sump, put a fist sized ball of chaeto and a 9 watt fiet grow bulb with cheap clip on fixture from home depot. It worked for me. I had the bulb close. It a couple weeks to start growing and several months to drop p and n, my p levels were over 1ppm and n was 30 ppm. I also kept up with WC at the time.

Can I see a photo?

 

[The_Skrimp]

I was also looking at a light like this!

I have this same light. I’m running it over my sump fuge about 8 inches above the water. It works exceptionally well for the cost.

 

[fish farmer]

Original design is gone, but this current. I don't have much chaeto now, nutrients are super low now and considering not running the light.
Before I just had the clip on 9 watt hanging above the area. About 6 inches or so above the water.

 

[shootingstar_reef]

In regards to your question about cheato working - I have had cheato work well under grow lights similar to the one you posted, with the help of cheatogro. ALthough now I have the problem of nutrients running rather low, haha.

 

[Jeffcb]

If you are feeding the refugium algae right back to the tank then you are never removing the nutrients from the system. The whole purpose is for the algae to absorb it to grow and then pull it entirely from the tank.

FOWLR tank. It grows like wild fire and the Tangs love it.

 

[john92708]

I just stick the CheatoMax refugium LED on to the back glass to light up the first chamber of my 14 AIO to grow algae. Used to grow chaeto in there but algae is a lot more efficient at removing the nutrition. check out algae scrubber if you have a larger system.

 

[DerpFish]

Any other algae I can use? I want to help with nutrient export and put some of it in here.

I have an Aquaclear 70 packed with chaeto on my 10 gallon and it works almost too good for nutrient export. I think the key is having a good light. I have a 50w grow bulb pointed at the back of the Aquaclear from 10pm to 1pm. Currently I'm feeding very heavy and dosing nitrate and phosphate to keep my nutrients from bottoming out.