Growing Cheato in a New Tank...

[mikus]

First tank/build. Ready to add cheato?? I ordered my first round of pods and cheato from algaebarn approx. 7 days ago and just received today. I figured by now the tank would be showing nutrient levels the cheato could process. The tank is cycled and has cleared up from the bacteria bloom (did not have a diatom bloom). I have one damsel that I definitely over feed, part of the original shrimp I used to cycle ( covered with a bacterial film and quickly being broken down), but all nutrients are reading zero, even after a small spike in ammonia (.2 , which lasted for maybe a day). My skimmer (rsk 300) is doing a great job skimming, but I think maybe too good given the pristine system, so I placed the skimmate drain hose into the fuge to recycle the skimmate back to the cheato and pods so they could process some of the nutrients. Not sure if this is recommended? First build so kinda shooting from the hip! Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Multra]

My chaeto didn't really start growing until the 2 month mark.

 

[mikus]

My chaeto didn't really start growing until the 2 month mark.

Did the cheato grow from the original source, or did you have to replace with new once or twice before it would grow? I'm starting off with a kessil H380 for lighting. BRS said to start off with a 3 hour photo period and then slowly increase.

 

[Multra]

Did the cheato grow from the original source, or did you have to replace with new once or twice before it would grow? I'm starting off with a kessil H380 for lighting. BRS said to start off with a 3 hour photo period and then slowly increase.

It was the original ball, it didn't rot or anything just stayed the same size and floated about. I am using a kessil H160 on a 12hr cycle.

 

[Multra]

double post.