Hair Algae Growing But Chaeto Dying?

[Kasey Grohowski]

I got 4 ounces of Chaeto from algaebarn, it's been in my refugium for about a month. Tank is 8 months old, there has to be phosphates and nitrates in the water column, because their is algae growing all over my refugium, but my Chaeto is dying and losing its color. Has this happenened to anyone else? Not sure what to do since the chaeto isn't absorbing any nutrients.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Anyone have this problem too?

 

[Jeeperz]

Yes. My chaeto from algae barn lived awhile, then started growing white sponge type stuff inside then would break apart slowly and after about 2 months was completely gone. I had green hair at the time in display and had algae growing on glass. I even had the chaeto light opposite display and slowly tumbling. Not sure what the issue was.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Bump, I don't understand why the chat is dying, but hair algae is growing in my refugium? I'm using an innovative marine chaeto grow light.

 

[Colin91]

I’ve had the same problem. Chaeto from algae barn and the innovative marine grow light as well. No growth, but a progressive decline in the chaeto. It’s slowly disintegrating over the past two months with a steady growth of some unidentified algae in my display. Curious as to what others think?!

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

#reefsquad

 

[Flippers4pups]

What's your water parameters? The key is knowing what they are.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

What's your water parameters? The key is knowing what they are.

Nitrate 10-20 (Red Sea) phosphate .2 (Salifert)

 

[Pdash]

Nitrate 10-20 (Red Sea) phosphate .2 (Salifert)

Might be iron or iodine limited.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Might be iron or iodine limited.

Maybe, I don't test for it. I actually just threw the chaeto out, because it was turning white and losing its consistency.

 

[Schteeve]

Hair algae be stealing the nitrates faster then the chaeto can take it in

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Hair algae be stealing the nitrates faster then the chaeto can take it in

Chaeto isn't using any apparently.

 

[christopher.lauwers]

Bump if there was any update?

I had this same thing happen... mine was getting simly so I took it out of my reactor. P04 is at .30 today... and this weened I got in there with a brush to get as much GHA out. hopefully with this new batch of Cheto will take off.

Also only going 4 hrs of light for a few days then ramp up.

 

[Isaac Alves]

What kind of light are people using?

 

[christopher.lauwers]

I have the Skimz reactor so what’s ever that light is.

 

[Billldg]

I also have this problem and haven't found a solution yet. I did find that my iodine is down from my last triton test. I am using a H80 kessil light, I plan on upgrading to a H180 in the future.

 

[4ddiction]

I had a problem like this. I added a small power head to increase the flow in my refugium. So far the hair algae has not returned with the increased flow.

 

[Kristonenicolas]

All the other algae is outcompeting your chaeto. You need to manually remove all the algae you can so that the chaeto can start to flourish.

 

[Colin_S]

i've had chaeto growing issues for months now, my latest batch was nice and healthy and broke down and died over a few days and now i have none. i had a small amount GHA in the sump, none in the DT. nitrates 15-20 and po4 between 0.08-1. i use AI prime fuge light that i bought for my last batch of chaeto because it keeps dying and surprise surprise, it died. The only thing i can think off is low iron / irodine as confirmed by triton test. Next step is 50% water change,, then dose iron.
How muh iron should be in the water?

 

[Mical]

Try dosing this - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-coral-colors-c-iron-trace-500ml.html