I think i’m giving up on cheato. I’ve tried a couple different lights, and had some success after dosing trace elements (cheatogro, and red sea colors), but it just starts disintegrating again. No3=10 Po4=.5, so nutrients are available. What are the best alternatives? I have some ulva lactata, but don’t like that it has spread to my display. Tangs don’t complain though, and keep it in check.
Can’t grow Cheato... best alternatives?
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Whats the spectrum of the lights you used?
Nathan Milender
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For nutrient export I suspect they are all the same. I never understood why you don't just use hair algae in the refugium. I recently changed my fuge light interval to 6 hours and stopped my skimmer for 3 hours a night trying to up my nutrients. Hair algae disappeared from refugium and chaeto really took off. I have no idea why. You can try that and see if what is left of your chaeto takes off.
Do you know what your iron levels are?
rkpetersen
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I've seen chaeto disintegrate in response to adding fresh GAC to the system.
There are clearly elements that it requires other than reasonable nitrate and phosphate levels.
Light doesn't seem to be the big issue; people grow chaeto well under all manner of growlight fixtures.
There are clearly elements that it requires other than reasonable nitrate and phosphate levels.
Light doesn't seem to be the big issue; people grow chaeto well under all manner of growlight fixtures.
Please see the below article
Macro Algae : Your Source For Quality Marine Plants and Macroalgae
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Why not just run without it? I used a lighted refugium for about 15 years, the last 5 or 10 years with chaeto. I removed my fuge when I had trouble with dinos in my new tank. It’s been going on 2 years without a fuge and everything is going well. Just throwing this out.
What light, specifically, are you using. I had decent success with this and good success with this, and great success with the Kessil h380.
If you have the nutrients and the proper lighting, you shouldn't have a problem. Maybe too much flow through the fuge?
If you have the nutrients and the proper lighting, you shouldn't have a problem. Maybe too much flow through the fuge?
^^^THIS might have been my problem! I don’t run GAC very often, and my cheato had been growing great for about 2 months after dosing trace elements. I ran some rox.8 for 3 days just because it had been a while, and it was then that the cheato started disintegrating again. Interesting
rkpetersen
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Yup, it happens like clockwork. I now add much less GAC at a time. (Actually CPB, but it's mostly GAC.)
There was a noticeable effect each time I upgraded. Perhaps give the Hytekgro a try.
Bret Brinkmann
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I bet GAC is my issue with cheato too. I run it pretty aggressively. Give that is removes organic particles that yellow the water, I bet the cheato needs the nutrients in that form. I'd be interested to see if it can clear up yellowish water similar to GAC.
My caulerpas do great though. I have prolifera, mexicana, racemosa, peltata, and sertulariodes. I also have gracilaria hayi which is a red macro that really pops against the green. The mix of different foliage shapes makes the DT really interesting. I often forget I want more corals.
My caulerpas do great though. I have prolifera, mexicana, racemosa, peltata, and sertulariodes. I also have gracilaria hayi which is a red macro that really pops against the green. The mix of different foliage shapes makes the DT really interesting. I often forget I want more corals.
Terry Mattson
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I changed my light to a h380 and I pull a gallon out of the fuge every week. I also dose a little iron once a week. The cheto is dark green. Run the light about 14 hours. Copods doing ok. The light has the perfect spectrum and is 90 watts.
I just picked up the Kessil H160. I had the H380 but had to sell it, waaaay to much power and it was cooking my chaeto. I think the H160 is the sweet spot, and the fact that it is adjustable all the better. What impressed me the most is it spreads lights very well from very short heights.
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