New Refugium - Chaeto Dying?

[Jmunk]

Transferred my 6 year old 90G over to my new 140G. Never had a refugium before in the old tank, and finally now have the setup for it. Tanks been up and running with the old live rock and fish (new sand) for 3 weeks or so now. I added the chaeto maybe a week and a half ago, and it definitely has shrunk in size, and just doesn't look good. It also seems to be bleaching?

I'm lighting it with this as of now, but I don't object to getting something like the Kessil if that's what it takes. It's hanging just about 12 inches from the water. No powerhead in it. Photoperiod was 1AM - 8AM for the first two weeks, but since I thought it looked bleached, turned down to 1AM - 5AM two days ago. Nutrients are definitely high enough to promote growth. Nitrate is around 15, and PO4 is about .20.

Any ideas? Maybe put a smaller powerhead through it? Tanks is too "new"?

 

[GaryE]

Is your chaeto in your display?

 

[PanchoG]

Hello, your photoperiod is too low, chaeto can practically take 24 hr/day light. If you can get a light for hydroponics or Kessil of course it would even be better.

 

[Jmunk]

Is your chaeto in your display?

No, it's in the refugium section. I saw your comment about nutrients being too low, but like I said, with .20 PO4 and 15 Nitrates, I don't think that's the case.

 

[Jmunk]

Hello, your photoperiod is too low, chaeto can practically take 24 hr/day light. If you can get a light for hydroponics or Kessil of course it would even be better.

But don't you think that the chaeto almost looks bleached? I thought that turning white/grey was sort of a sign of too much light unless you don't have the nutrients to support growth (which I do)

 

[Dolphins18]

But don't you think that the chaeto almost looks bleached? I thought that turning white/grey was sort of a sign of too much light unless you don't have the nutrients to support growth (which I do)

The more the better with many algaes. I run my fuge lights like 14 hours a day

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a little distressed but does need a little iron and a red or chaeto specific light and moderate water movement

 

[PanchoG]

But don't you think that the chaeto almost looks bleached? I thought that turning white/grey was sort of a sign of too much light unless you don't have the nutrients to support growth (which I do)

I keep chaeto in my sump and takes light 18 hrs/day. You were giving only 7 hrs/day light to your chaeto. The white coloration is hardly coming from excessive lighting. Chaeto is one of the few cheap things, you can experiment either way however I do suggest you to crank up your lights.

 

[Jmunk]

Its a little distressed but does need a little iron and a red or chaeto specific light and moderate water movement

Struggling to find something to get water movement in there that doesn't just disintegrate the chateo. Even a little powerhead I put in there just blows the whole thing apart. It is right after the sock and drain section, so obviously water is passing through, but not enough to visibly move the chaeto.

 

[Pistondog]

Needs more light.
Raise the chaeto to the surface and lower the light
And longer photo period

 

[vetteguy53081]

Struggling to find something to get water movement in there that doesn't just disintegrate the chateo. Even a little powerhead I put in there just blows the whole thing apart. It is right after the sock and drain section, so obviously water is passing through, but not enough to visibly move the chaeto.

Air stone with air pump would work with your concern

 

[Micro-Reefs Aquarium]

I am using the IM 9watt red/ blue led cheato light in my media basket on my 12 gallon AIO. I had nitrates under 4ppm and phosphates at .04 and I couldn't stop the cheato growth, small golf ball turned into large tennis ball. I prunned it back after only two weeks and traded at my LFS for $10 credit for water. It's only been 1 week and it has started growing again, but this time, since I was growing two small balls in a media basket the top cheato got big and the cheato below didn't grow as much, then I checked my nitrates and phosphates, they were stripped to zero. So, I upped the feedings and the switched the little cheato on top, and big one I brought down. I am new to this cheato thing, but it certainily is a balancing act, and as soon as you hit it right, it really takes off. Hope that helps a little.

 

[Micro-Reefs Aquarium]

Let me share my pics with you guys, the IM LED cheato 9watt really works. I have used refugiums before in the past with white daylight correct Kelvin for cheato, but this stuff grew like mad in a 12 gallon AIO media basket.