Has anyone had any success growing Chaeto in the any back chamber of an AIO?
I have a 4 month old 50 lagoon AIO. The new tank algae is hitting the display. GHA is probably my biggest concern.
My plan all along has been to use Chaeto is method of nitrate export.
My first attempt was a big fail after just a couple of weeks. I was using the IM caddy in the 1st chamber. The result was the Chaeto was pushed to the bottom of the caddy along with some captured waste. I was running the IM ChaetoMax light about 10 hours a day.
I’ve since read on the algae barn website that they recommend the refugium being in the 2nd chamber of a sump area. (Algae barn’s: A Beginner’s Guide to Setting up a Refugium).
This past weekend’s project was to rig and test the growth within the 2nd chamber. I rinsed the algae and fluffed it a bit. I’ve cut and wedged a fluval foam pad at the top of the chamber to dam the Chaeto from entering the return chamber. Currently the chaeto is either floating against the foam or clinging to the block. The video shows it better than I can describe it. I’ve extended the light cycle to 16 hours.
I have a couple of questions:
Any other suggestions from folks running a successful AIO refugium are welcome.
I have a 4 month old 50 lagoon AIO. The new tank algae is hitting the display. GHA is probably my biggest concern.
My plan all along has been to use Chaeto is method of nitrate export.
My first attempt was a big fail after just a couple of weeks. I was using the IM caddy in the 1st chamber. The result was the Chaeto was pushed to the bottom of the caddy along with some captured waste. I was running the IM ChaetoMax light about 10 hours a day.
I’ve since read on the algae barn website that they recommend the refugium being in the 2nd chamber of a sump area. (Algae barn’s: A Beginner’s Guide to Setting up a Refugium).
This past weekend’s project was to rig and test the growth within the 2nd chamber. I rinsed the algae and fluffed it a bit. I’ve cut and wedged a fluval foam pad at the top of the chamber to dam the Chaeto from entering the return chamber. Currently the chaeto is either floating against the foam or clinging to the block. The video shows it better than I can describe it. I’ve extended the light cycle to 16 hours.
I have a couple of questions:
- Have you had success with Cheeto out performing the nuisance algae or even better preventing nuisance algae from growing in the display? NOTE: I have a bottle of vibrant for after Christmas if a refugium is futile in an AIO.
- With light spilling into the main camber, will this encourage nuisance algae grow in the back?
Any other suggestions from folks running a successful AIO refugium are welcome.