Melting Chaeto.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

I added some chaeto to my 25 lagoon in a fuge basket about 19 days ago. Nitrates were/are at 10ppm and phosphates were/are at .25 ppm. Checked it this morning and it seems to be either melting or having some other algae grow on it. Its still a good color green just has a few mushy parts. The light runs on a 12 hour schedule its a grow light off of amazon. Not sure whats happening.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

Edit: 10 days ago....

sfin52 · Feb 17, 2020

Pauliex77x said:
Edit: 10 days ago....

What's the phosphates and nitrates now.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

I tested yesterday 10ppm and .25ppm

teller · Feb 17, 2020

What about water changes?
I mention water changes in order to replenish trace elements.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

I havent done a water change in 3 weeks. The only livestock i have is two small clowns. Should have added the tank is only about 3 months old.

teller · Feb 17, 2020

Most probably it is your problem.
I dose daily aquavitro/seachem fuel in order to replenish trace elements like manganese, iron, molybdenum, etc.
I do 5% water change a week to level up potassium and boron.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

Trace elements get depleted that quickly even with nothing in the tank?

teller · Feb 17, 2020

Of course there is also the light your are using and the duration.

teller · Feb 17, 2020

Yes they are depleted by macroalgae.

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

This is the light. Its only 4w and i have it on a 12 hour schedule

teller · Feb 17, 2020

Many people with good chaeto macroalgae growth/healthy dont dose any particular additive like i do, but these people are either doing daily automatic water changes, or doing at least 10%, 15% water changes every week.
Almost every salt have higher levels of Manganese , iron etc, because these elements are depleted fast .

K7BMG · Feb 17, 2020

I will second lighting.

teller · Feb 17, 2020

My light is a very cheap 30w 4000kelvin outdoor light (IP65 water resistent).
On at about 8 to 12 hours a day, depending on the nitrate and phosphate levels.

teller · Feb 17, 2020

K7BMG said:
I will second lighting.

Yes 4 watts is really low, minimum 10 watts, but still i think it is also a trace elements problem,

Pauliex77x · Feb 17, 2020

K thanks guys. Ill do a wc and see about getting a stronger light

teller · Feb 17, 2020

My advice for the next 4 weeks.
Do a 5% water change twice a week. Like weekend and wednesday. Or 10% 15% on weekend.
Buy a product like aquavitro fuel or brightwell chaetogrow.
Take your chaeto and clean it by hand of the hair algae.
From my esperience when chaeto is dying the hair algae can attach to it. When chaeto is healthy it can not.
In my refugium i also have some spots of long hair algae always touching my chaeto and it never attaches.

Pauliex77x · Feb 19, 2020

Thanks for the replies. I did a water change and it doesnt seem to be helping. Almost 100% positive it's the light. I have the IM chaetomax light on order should be here tomorrow. Thanks again

Pauliex77x · Feb 23, 2020

So after leaving the new light on for about 48 hours and 2 20% weekly water changes this week, i habe zero growth in the chaeto and its still a dark green color. It actually feels a bit brittle and breaks apart some when i touch it.

When i got the algae barn delivery it came a day late and the jars were open with very little water on the chaeto. With paramaters stable and the new grow light im gonna chalk this one up to it being dead from transport. Guess i should just remove it now so it doesnt decomp in the water.