Chaeto egg crate sandwich idea.

[Rjramos]

super awesome!
The wild chaeto looks sloppy imo, this gives it a visual purpose lol

Tumbling chaeto always gets stuck and stops.
Here, you can see the growth and easily determine when it's time to harvest/export.[emoji4]

 

[cnseekatz]

I built one too! Such a great idea. Increased surface area gives better light penetration, and better water flow. I'm not sure that it'll be quite as conducive to pod production though. I feel like they like the dark middle parts of a wild chaeto ball!

I had a ton, so I made my box two courses deep.

 

[Tautog]

Great idea. Working on one now!

 

[jeffrey holloway]

I agree with Russellaqua, $19.95 on late night infomercials, great idea, I'm digging thru the fish junk pile to see if I have everything I need. Thanks

 

[Sppf121]

This may be a dumb question, but I would rather ask than possibly continue doing it wrong without knowing.
I have turned the auto top off container that comes with the Red Sea reefer 250 into a mini refugium that holds a Chaeto ball and some pond matrix. I have a mj1200 pump that feeds water through a reactor with carbon and GFO that supply's water to the Mini refugium. Will that water be to clean to grow the Chaeto? I have it on an opposite light cycle with about 8 hrs 6500k light.

Thanks
John

 

[Rjramos]

This may be a dumb question, but I would rather ask than possibly continue doing it wrong without knowing.
I have turned the auto top off container that comes with the Red Sea reefer 250 into a mini refugium that holds a Chaeto ball and some pond matrix. I have a mj1200 pump that feeds water through a reactor with carbon and GFO that supply's water to the Mini refugium. Will that water be to clean to grow the Chaeto? I have it on an opposite light cycle with about 8 hrs 6500k light.

Thanks
John

Hey no dumb questions here we all learn through one another.[emoji848][emoji106][emoji4]
If you are keeping your nutrients low with both methods and the chaeto isn't growing, then the GFO and carbon especially right before the mini refugium is probably not allowing the chaeto necessary nutrients. Also the DT volume, bio load, and the size of the mini refugium all play a part in the ability to take up nutrients. If you got nutrients and the chaeto is growing leave the GFO and carbon.

I got a back lit brick of chaeto in a basket in my 29 biocube. I also run chemipure and purigen in this tank in a basket right before the mini fuge, but the chaeto still gets what it needs. The tank is pretty stocked up for its size though!

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

Here is an idea I have been using for a while. A friend of mine thought it was interesting and useful and wanted me to post . Basically I tie wrap two panels of egg crate lighting panel cut to size of refugium space desired. 1 box width sides. Cut the side pieces leaving pins on both sides to interlock the two panels. Tie wrap one panel to sides, bottom, and top. Place Chaeto inside panels and close shut with small tie wraps. Place in refugium 1-2" from waters surface. You could hold it in place with suction cups.Flip the whole panel periodically to get growth on both sides. When it is grown full and thick, pull it out and let it drain over refugium, creatures will fall out too. Trim both sides along panel squares with a sharp scraper type blade. Put it in a bag and take it to your LFS and tell him you want store credit for your Chaeto!

So cool! Great idea.

 

[Mikemccafe]

Great idea !!!!

 

[Sppf121]

Hey no dumb questions here we all learn through one another.[emoji848][emoji106][emoji4]
If you are keeping your nutrients low with both methods and the chaeto isn't growing, then the GFO and carbon especially right before the mini refugium is probably not allowing the chaeto necessary nutrients. Also the DT volume, bio load, and the size of the mini refugium all play a part in the ability to take up nutrients. If you got nutrients and the chaeto is growing leave the GFO and carbon.

I got a back lit brick of chaeto in a basket in my 29 biocube. I also run chemipure and purigen in this tank in a basket right before the mini fuge, but the chaeto still gets what it needs. The tank is pretty stocked up for its size though!

Yes I have a very new tank. Will just keep moving forward and see what happens. Thanks again

 

[ss30]

Great idea, will give this ago as soon as I get some more egg crate

 

[Steve Tobias]

That is a great idea!

 

[s2nhle]

Great. Let me try and see.

 

[Summer4infinity]

I've been using a "chaeto sandwich" for about a year now in my 70 gallon reef/w 20 gallon sump. I've been incredibly happy with the results. My tank is moderately stocked. I noticed that it does quite a bit better with fewer, smaller water changes and dosing. I also stopped using a skimmer. It's been working really well for me, but my tank is mostly Softies, a few LPS, anemones, and smaller fish (clowns, Chromis, geometric Pygmy Anthias, Banggai, Gobie, blenny).

 

[Invader_Moose]

I really like this concept! Way to think "inside" the box and come up with something different. Had to build one and give it a shot! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Joe Rice]

Well, after running this for a week I'm seeing the chaeto "bleaching" in the middle where the light shines brightest. Switching to a 2700K bulb.



I had been using a hydroponic grow light.

 

[Rjramos]

Well, after running this for a week I'm seeing the chaeto "bleaching" in the middle where the light shines brightest. Switching to a 2700K bulb.



I had been using a hydroponic grow light.

Or if you can, more distance between the light and chaeto. I had bleaching in the chaeto nearest the light on 29 biocube when I stuck the magnetic light directly to the back of the tank. I velcroed it to the wall behind the tank and shielded to avoid scatter in the room at night. Since then a nice green brick throughout!

 

[Fishninja]

Can I do this in a JBJ 45 gallon aquarium in the back chamber? And if so should I buy the JBJ nano glo or the aqua gadget magnafuge?

 

[Rjramos]

Can I do this in a JBJ 45 gallon aquarium in the back chamber? And if so should I buy the JBJ nano glo or the aqua gadget magnafuge?

I'm sure you can! What do you have in the back right now? Chamber 1,2,3? If you look up INtank media baskets. They have media baskets and refugium baskets for most nano type aquariums. What I did was get the dimensions and made my own with plexi- glas, also made a drip plate. I have the 4 LED JBJ nano- glo going 24/7.

 

[Fishninja]

I'm sure you can! What do you have in the back right now? Chamber 1,2,3? If you look up INtank media baskets. They have media baskets and refugium baskets for most nano type aquariums. What I did was get the dimensions and made my own with plexi- glas, also made a drip plate. I have the 4 LED JBJ nano- glo going 24/7.

I just recently set it up so it has the standard baskets that it came with. How do you like the JBJ refugium light?

 

[Fishninja]

I'm sure you can! What do you have in the back right now? Chamber 1,2,3? If you look up INtank media baskets. They have media baskets and refugium baskets for most nano type aquariums. What I did was get the dimensions and made my own with plexi- glas, also made a drip plate. I have the 4 LED JBJ nano- glo going 24/7.

Also I have heard that the JBJ nano glo can burn chaeto or cause it to turn white. Have you experienced this?