Phospate export by trimming down Chaeto

[RajV]

@Randy Holmes-Farley In your article here
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php#6

You mention harvesting 10 grams can reduce .02 to .01 of phosphate in a 65 gallon aquarium .

My question is , does one need to prune down chaeto regularly in order to reduce some amount of phospate ?

Thanks

 

[taricha]

It's the chaeto growth that removes nutrients from the water. If you prune the chaeto, then it can continue to grow.
Otherwise it will get so full, crowded, and self-shaded that the growth will slow to a stop.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just repeating, chaeto will take up phosphate and nitrate (or ammonia) as long as it is growing. The ball getting bigger and bigger is fine, but eventually it will become limited by space or light to the top, and then growth will slow down and some parts may die if not pruned back.