Spinning Chaeto and Science

MontereyDNA · Jun 28, 2016

We're continuing our slow march on our 29G Biocube (which is going great thanks to R2R!!!) and we came across "spinning Chaeto" as a way to increase even growth and therefore effectiveness of Chaeto as a nutrient exporter in a larger display tank.

Is there any scientific(ish) comparison of effectiveness between static swamp like Chaeto and spinning Chaeto or is spinning Chaeto like engine oil additives; no real benefit other than lightening the wallet...

Bunnee911 · Jun 28, 2016

It absorbs light only at the outermost edge. Spinning it allows more area to get light. I grow caulerpa in my biocube intank fuge.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 29, 2016

I've not seen a comparative study of the growth in different ways of keeping it.

MontereyDNA · Jun 29, 2016

Hmm, thank you RH-F. Maybe a R2R Mythbusters...?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 29, 2016

Maybe someone will test it.

Happy Reefing!

Bunnee911 · Jun 29, 2016

Now, I need to remember where I read that.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 30, 2016

I've certainly seen it claimed, and it may be true, but careful studies of such claims in the reef hobby are quite rare.

yajur · Jul 15, 2016

I never spin them but seen good growth.

SeaDweller · Jul 15, 2016

Mine is stationary and grows like a weed literally

GainesvilleReef · Jul 15, 2016

Mine is stationary as well. It grows very well.

SeaDweller · Jul 16, 2016

Here's my 1/4 trimming of my chaeto. No spinning. Cheap CBB as light. Mainly white channels on.

That's a Walmart bag full of it

TheHarold · Jul 16, 2016

TitanCi said:
Here's my 1/4 trimming of my chaeto. No spinning. Cheap CBB as light. Mainly white channels on.

That's a Walmart bag full of it

What light? I need one

Graffiti Spot · Jul 17, 2016

I found spinning it will make it grow tight together. But eventually it will stop spinning. Growth when not spinning was dramatically better in my experience. With it spinning it would grow so tight I would have to go in and pull it apart just so light could get to something other than the very outside of the ball. When it grows so tight like that it completley kills the surface area where light reaches. I believe having it grow stationary actually gives it more surface area because light can penetrate down into the cheato mass. Especially if pulled apart and maintained well, this is the best growth I had.
Not an accurate study but I wouldn't doubt more people would have the same experience.
My old tank and lower nutrients when I stopped tumbling and ran it stationary with weekly pruning and pulling apart.