is this chaeto growing or dying?

[Deonne]

my chaeto is clear on the ends, but not soft or slimey or brown, just translucent. is that it growing, or are those strands dying?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Chaeto turning white is bleaching and dying. What are your nutrients and what lighting do you have over it?

 

[Deonne]

Chaeto turning white is bleaching and dying. What are your nutrients and what lighting do you have over it?

its a new tank, nitrates 20-30, light is 50w LED "grow light"... I have it running 6 hours right now

 

[Crabs McJones]

its a new tank, nitrates 20-30, light is 50w LED "grow light"... I have it running 6 hours right now

How far away from the chaeto is the light?

 

[Deonne]

How far away from the chaeto is the light?

10-14 inches

 

[ReefInskeep]

I’d suggest moving the light farther away, if possible, increasing distribution/spread and decreasing PAR. Or, cut down on the photoperiod until your tank has a higher nutrient load, then slowly increase it & monitor the chaeto. Can also dose small amounts of iron & other micronutrients that benefit algae, but that’s not necessary in all cases, and an ICP test would give you a better idea of what’s needed.

I’m assuming you can’t dim it, right?

 

[Deonne]

I’d suggest moving the light farther away, if possible, increasing distribution/spread and decreasing PAR. Or, cut down on the photoperiod until your tank has a higher nutrient load, then slowly increase it & monitor the chaeto. Can also dose small amounts of iron & other micronutrients that benefit algae, but that’s not necessary in all cases, and an ICP test would give you a better idea of what’s needed.

I’m assuming you can’t dim it, right?

thanks. I cannot dim no, its also tricky to get the light much farther away. I just placed a piece of egg crate on top of the refugium ... which should block a bit of light ... and maybe ill drop the photo period to 3 hours and work from there

 

[ReefInskeep]

Good luck! If it keeps getting worse, consider other things, like attempting to further diffuse the light with frosted polycarbonate or some DIY solution, or regularly supplementing iron/molybdenum & stuff. (Do your homework first, though.)

 

[Esquire805]

Dying you need nutrients and a steady tank