Help me grow chaeto

[ntayler]

So I’ve got about 180 gallons total, 20 gallon long fuge dedicated only for chaeto, but I can’t get the stuff to grow. My nutrients are steadily too high (.13 PO4/20 ish no3), and I’m hoping I can get those numbers down with chaeto growth like I hear others talking about.

My lighting is a 6500k par38 and a grow lamp par38, next to each other about 6” off the surface.

I’ve dosed a few ml of fergon per Randy’s recipe.

I’ve tried photo periods of 24 hours, 18 hours, and 12 hours.

I have decent flow through the fuge, which is on a manifold so can be decreased or increased.

With my nutrients, lighting and iron dosing, I have now idea why it won’t grow. Just gets filled up with detritus, lightens up, grows green slime algae, and withers. I don’t get it

I’d be willing to buy a kessil h380 if it means I won’t have to start running biopellets or gfo (both of which I have empty reactors for that are running until needed).

Thoughts?

 

[DLHDesign]

If it's filling up with detritus, I suspect that it's not got enough flow going through it.

But, to be honest, I've not had the best of luck with chaeto in my tank (due to poor lighting and flow), so let's check with the #reefsquad and see what they can suggest.

 

[Pete1968]

this is only 7 days worth of cheato growth with a ufo 150 watt led light on a 12 hr/ reverse cycle from dt i had a kessil h380 great light but at 42 this light is a bargain!

 

[Pete1968]

this is only 7 days worth of cheato growth with a ufo 150 watt led light on a 12 hr/ reverse cycle from dt i had a kessil h380 great light but at 42 this light is a bargain!

 

[Pete1968]

 

[Pete1968]

Thats from size of softball to size of basketball!

 

[Benga]

Following, i'm more or less on the same boat, I get maybe 10% growth per week. I reduced flow to my sump because I heard that chaeto isn't a fan of too much flow. We'll see how that works out.

My current lighting (no good so far):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PBCG8X0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Octane13]

After almost 2 months of no growth at all I changed to that light and within a week I noticed significant growth. I will note that the cooling fan is LOUD. Amazon sells computer fans to replace for <$10 Just make sure its a 2 pin 80mm and I believe its 12v I'll have to check to be sure. side note: my chaeto is extremely dark not like what is pictured above?

 

[ntayler]

I think my gunky chaeto is more a product of nuisance algae and detritus getting caught in it rather than lack of flow. My flow is pretty decent, which I could definitely turn up, however I don’t have enough chaeto to fill the space enough (it would just get blown into a corner). I don’t understand how people are pulling basketball size chunks of dark green, lush chaeto every week.

I think my 30”x12” fuge could be a great nutrient exporter as well as a great pod producer if I could get this stuff going.

 

[Jeff_H]

I too was in a similar situation, but with the Kessil H380. I could get my Chaeto to grow and would die out as GHA took over. After a ton of research, I discover I was missing the minor elements needed to grow it. Along with nitrates, phosphates, and iron, you also need manganese.

Here are a few suggestions not focused on the light...

- Check your salt mix for the trace elements
- Water change interval if not doesn’t the trace elements
- Dose a little manganese and see if this helps
- Get an ICP test done to see what you trace elements are at and does the proper amounts if deficient.

BTW: I run 10x ish turnover through my refugium so I don’t think high flow is an issue for Chaeto growth.

Best of luck!

 

[ntayler]

I will look into the manganese, thank you. I’m just using regular IO salt since it’s cheap. I dose 2 part with brs pumps. I should probably get a legit water test done either way.