No luck with Chaeto.

[Kanshi]

Any recommendations on a macro other than Chaeto? I've had Chaeto in my refugium for over a year. Looks good, nice bright green, but doesn't grow. I have highish phosphates and nitrates which is why I got it. I see people harvesting weekly or biweekly, mine just won't grow. Have led 12 hrs mostly red and blue.
Thanks.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Similar situation here. Not completely impressed with the refugium idea, BUT! I purchased an Algae Scrubber (Ice Cap) it’s constantly growing algae. Have now done both…stickin with AS.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

It took me almost a year before my Chaeto took off. I wouldnt give up on it just yet.

 

[Pistondog]

Raise the chaeto to the surface with rock or eggcrate. Use a bright pink horticulture light like this:
Waterproof 100W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum, New Technology COB LED Grow Light, Natural Heat Dissipation Without Noise, Suitable for Plants All Growing Stage Indoor or Outdoor. https://a.co/d/9qnCUlY

 

[floridareeflabs]

Hello,

Chaeto needs as already stated, light and likes to even be near surface but it also needs phosphastes, nitrates, iron and even b12 vitamins. There are secrets to growing chaeto quickly and in large quantities for resale but for normal hobbyist we recommend,

dosing continuum chaeto grow, iron, vitachem.

You will need good flow in sump and a good full spectrum led light and things "should" grow from there.

 

[exnisstech]

Get a good grow light. I use a clip on work light with a grow light bulb and mine grows very well in 3 fuges. Only problem I have is I hate to harvest it because it so full of useful critters like micro brittle starts and bristle worms.

EDIT : the only flow mine gets is the water flowing over the baffle from the 1st chamber.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Would you happen to know what the PAR is reading at for the Chaeto? In our experience, it usually comes down to the lighting.

 

[Gtinnel]

Would you happen to know what the PAR is reading at for the Chaeto? In our experience, it usually comes down to the lighting.

Do you have a recommended par level? Like the OP mine grows but doesn’t grow nearly as fast as I would like.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

I recycle my old halides , they hrow cheato like mad. You want high light I run 250s and 150 Watt on my tanks and fugue
if you use led use just as much on your fuge as on your tank basically

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Do you have a recommended par level? Like the OP mine grows but doesn’t grow nearly as fast as I would like.

It really varies, I'd say over 150-200 at least but I believe we have gone up to 600 PAR in the past! Most of the issues I have seen in refugiums have been around 100-150 PAR.

 

[Rmckoy]

I have a clip on shop light ( almost the same as a reptile light .
Bought a few grow bulbs from the dollar store. .
And harvesting handfuls every other week .

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Any recommendations on a macro other than Chaeto? I've had Chaeto in my refugium for over a year. Looks good, nice bright green, but doesn't grow. I have highish phosphates and nitrates which is why I got it. I see people harvesting weekly or biweekly, mine just won't grow. Have led 12 hrs mostly red and blue.
Thanks.

I just took my ALR1 offline after 4 months of trying to grow chaeto
No joy with growth whatsoever

 

[Gtinnel]

It really varies, I'd say over 150-200 at least but I believe we have gone up to 600 PAR in the past! Most of the issues I have seen in refugiums have been around 100-150 PAR.

I have one of the cheap Amazon grow lights so I wonder if more/ better lights would help. I never even considered using my par meter on my refugium.

 

[immo]

I have one of the cheap Amazon grow lights so I wonder if more/ better lights would help. I never even considered using my par meter on my refugium.

Hello from WV.

 

[Gtinnel]

Hello from WV.

Hi. Sadly there aren’t too many people from WV on the forum…or really in the hobby at all as far as I can tell.