Does cheato really works?

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

I have a refugium for about 3 months now. My cheato grows really fast to the size of a basket ball. But nothing ever changes... I still have phosphates, nitrates. What is cheato suppost to do it in a reef tank?
The only think I see is my pods in it. They love it.

4FordFamily · Jul 17, 2015

renato120 said:
I have a refugium for about 3 months now. My cheato grows really fast to the size of a basket ball. But nothing ever changes... I still have phosphates, nitrates. What is cheato suppost to do it in a reef tank?
The only think I see is my pods in it. They love it.

Yes it works. It sounds like other things are the issue. Chaeto isn't a miracle but it does help significantly.

Do you do water changes? Is your tank overstocked? Do you have other means of nutrient export? (Skimmers for instance)? How long has your tank been set up? Do you use RODI water?

KJ · Jul 17, 2015

3FordFamily said:
Yes it works. It sounds like other things are the issue. Chaeto isn't a miracle but it does help significantly.

Do you do water changes? Is your tank overstocked? Do you have other means of nutrient export? (Skimmers for instance)? How long has your tank been set up? Do you use RODI water?

A+

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

3FordFamily said:
Yes it works. It sounds like other things are the issue. Chaeto isn't a miracle but it does help significantly.

Do you do water changes? Is your tank overstocked? Do you have other means of nutrient export? (Skimmers for instance)? How long has your tank been set up? Do you use RODI water?

Im not having any issues with the tank. Its just that I dont see any changes yet.
Water change every week
I do run a skimmer
Tank its been up for almost 9 month
I can say its a little overstocked with corals
RODI since the fisrt day

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

My refugium

reefbeard · Jul 17, 2015

renato120 said:
I have a refugium for about 3 months now. My cheato grows really fast to the size of a basket ball. But nothing ever changes... I still have phosphates, nitrates. What is cheato suppost to do it in a reef tank?
The only think I see is my pods in it. They love it.

My mixed reef is always happier with a little dirty water. My NO3 is usually 2-4 ppm and PO4 .03-.04. What are your current levels?

Chris Adams · Jul 17, 2015

well the chaeto is growing correct so it is consuming phosphates and nitrates. Give the pods etc a nice place to live bread etc. You export the phos and nitrate when you remove some of the chaeto. Like others mentioned no a miracle but every piece helps.

From the pics things are looking good. What are your concerns and levels as others have asked?

I second reefbeard on my mixed reed is much happier when feeding heavy. Not so happy with NO3 and PO4 at zero.

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

reefbeard said:
My mixed reef is always happier with a little dirty water. My NO3 is usually 2-4 ppm and PO4 .03-.04. What are your current levels?

My NO3 is 5.0
PO4 btween 0.25/0.5

Chris Adams said:
well the chaeto is growing correct so it is consuming phosphates and nitrates. Give the pods etc a nice place to live bread etc. You export the phos and nitrate when you remove some of the chaeto. Like others mentioned no a miracle but every piece helps.

From the pics things are looking good. What are your concerns and levels as others have asked?

I second reefbeard on my mixed reed is much happier when feeding heavy. Not so happy with NO3 and PO4 at zero.

Not really any concern... I thought I would see a difference using the cheato... But parameters are still the same. Not bad! Im not trying to lower PO4 or NO3. Everything now is doing very good.

4FordFamily · Jul 17, 2015

How long have you been running Chaeto?

I agree the fact that it's growing indicates that it's working... It can't grow without eating!

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

3FordFamily said:
How long have you been running Chaeto?

I agree the fact that it's growing indicates that it's working... It can't grow without eating!

Its been there for 3 months. And I already took some good amount out...

Chris Adams · Jul 17, 2015

So it is doing its job. Ride the wave ...........

KJ · Jul 17, 2015

Looking good 2 me.What are your concerns.

Eckolancer · Jul 17, 2015

Cut back on feeding a little

cloak · Jul 17, 2015

Being that chaeto is fairly easy to come by, if you really want to know if it's doing anything just remove it for a month or so and see what happens.

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

KJ said:
Looking good 2 me.What are your concerns.

I was just curious to know if really does something since my tank never changed anything after I added the cheato. Everything doing good still.

renato120 · Jul 17, 2015

cloak said:
Being that chaeto is fairly easy to come by, if you really want to know if it's doing anything just remove it for a month or so and see what happens.

I learn one thing in this hobby... If its doing good dont mess with it. My luck if I take the cheato out, the tank will start with algae lol.

Eckolancer · Jul 17, 2015

renato120 said:
I learn one thing in this hobby... If its doing good dont mess with it. My luck if I take the cheato out, the tank will start with algae lol.

+1

reefbeard · Jul 17, 2015

renato120 said:
My NO3 is 5.0
PO4 btween 0.25/0.5

Not really any concern... I thought I would see a difference using the cheato... But parameters are still the same. Not bad! Im not trying to lower PO4 or NO3. Everything now is doing very good.

Maybe add some GFO to assist with PO4 export but I would leave things as is and let that Chaeto feed.

Reefing Madness · Jul 18, 2015

It only works with the correct size sump. What most don't know or will fail to mention, is that a fuge/sump is supposed to be as large as your DT. This gives the macro algae enough room to grow to a size that will totally polish the water. With what you've got going there, your better off going with a ATS, Algae Turf Scrubber, which would do a better job for you. Possibly run them both at the same time.

Amoo · Jul 21, 2015

Some of the best advice I ever got when i first started in this hobby, don't try to chase any magic numbers. Your life box is different then my life box and different then the guy/gal above mine's life box. If your tank is happy and healthy, things are growing and you're not spending more time fighting problems then enjoying your tank, don't worry about it. Your tank looks great and your corals are growing like weeds. Until you start seeing problems, just keep doing what you're doing.