growing or in my case not growing macro algae

aquablizz · Nov 15, 2016

for 6 months I have been trying to grow chaetomorpha in my sump with no success. I have tried all kinds of light spectrum but still striking out.. My lighting is approx. 12 inches over the Chaeto through plexiglass and I'm wondering if that is too far a distance.. I started out with a 6" ball of the stuff and now it's about tennis ball size and that is after 6 months.. It just lays on the bottom of the sump..

Any ideas out there.. Also I have been keeping the light on 24-7... Should I be giving it some down/dark time.

Thanks in advance
Blizz

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 15, 2016

hows the flow and nutrients

sinekal · Nov 15, 2016

What lighting have you tried? I have found that relatively high lighting can make a big difference.

aquablizz · Nov 15, 2016

when you say High lighting are you talking about watts??

Fourstars · Nov 15, 2016

Sounds like a nutrient poor environment. If it is not growing that's a good thing. eventually as the tank matures it will start growing.

gtbarsi · Nov 15, 2016

High light in watts can be a major factor. 150 watts or the equivalent is a really good place to be, the larger your fuge the more you may need.
The MarsHydro Mars300 has gotten a lot of good reviews by some of the more aggressive fuge users lately.

sinekal · Nov 15, 2016

I use a 2 bulb t5 on a 40 breeder and it grows a lot of chaeto. You could even run a four bulb but I don't think most of us would need that much nutrient reduction. I know people say they grow chaeto with little spiral fluorescent bulbs but I couldn't make it happen, it kept alive with maybe minimal growth.

aquablizz · Nov 21, 2016

what is meant by a nutrient poor environment?? how do you test for it?? my nitrates are always sky high..

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2016

aquablizz said:
what is meant by a nutrient poor environment?? how do you test for it?? my nitrates are always sky high..

K that's weird.
Plants need ligh food and flow. I wonder what of those your missing.

aquablizz · Nov 21, 2016

I have a power head in the fuge,,, might need something stronger.. I have some grape Caulerpa that is starting to take off but I really wanted the cheato.. think I have all but lost it..

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2016

aquablizz said:
I have a power head in the fuge,,, might need something stronger..

that should be fine. What do you have for light right now.

Squirrel_reefer · Nov 21, 2016

I would suggest moving the light closer to the ball of cheato and switching to a 12 hour light schedule. as stated before, light, food, flow. not sure if too much flow can be an issue but my fuge is low flow and my cheato ball tripled in size in 30 days.

The only other thing that could prevent it from growing is no nutrients in the water which is highly unlikely

Squirrel_reefer · Nov 21, 2016

I would suggest moving the light closer to the ball of cheato and switching to a 12 hour light schedule. as stated before, light, food, flow. not sure if too much flow can be an issue but my fuge is low flow and my cheato ball tripled in size in 30 days.

The only other thing that could prevent it from growing is no nutrients in the water which is highly unlikely

aquablizz · Nov 21, 2016

I have been leaving the light on 24-7... can that be a culprit??

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2016

aquablizz said:
I have been leaving the light on 24-7... can that be a culprit??

i would guess spectrum and intensity as you have flow and food.

Squirrel_reefer · Nov 21, 2016

What light are you using and what Kelvin Temp is it?

Shameless_Dood · Nov 21, 2016

What's your phosphate at? My nitrates were always sky high and had barely any cheato growth, but my phosphate was non existent according to a triton test. I stopped using GFO which let some phosphate in and the cheato took off, the nitrates went down.

aquablizz · Nov 21, 2016

Phosphates at zero.. Not sure about the Kelvin Temp. it's a Full spectrum LED 30watt Grow light spot directly on the glass over the refuge. Also I put in a regular indoor spot aiming at the fuge area from about 1ft away.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2016

aquablizz said:
Phosphates at zero.. Not sure about the Kelvin Temp. it's a Full spectrum LED 30watt Grow light. Also I put in a regular indoor spot aiming at the fuge area from about 1ft away.

hmm. weird. the low po may be the thing then. you not running a gfo are you? or chem filter combo?

aquablizz · Nov 21, 2016

Don't know what a GFO is.... also no Chem filter.. Pretty much live rock and good skimmer... Fish seem healthy and getting plenty of Coraline growth but always have high nitrates. 80's