Chaeto's Effect on Algae

[Vertigo916]

Hello I have a bit of a nitrate problem (can't get it below 80ppm, despite multiple water changes), so I ordered an HOB refugium and will get some chaeto from the LFS. Questions I have are will it affect necessary algae growth that my algae blenny feeds on? Also, how much chaeto will I need? My tank is a 75 gallon FOWLR. It's been running well over 15 years and just recently traded in my predatory fishes to make it more of a peaceful community tank with smaller fishes.

 

[Spare time]

I wouldn't worry about it, especially if your blenny eats what your other fish eat. Algae is usually, and should be, limited by predation, not nitrate and phosphate.

 

[Spare time]

Btw, have you check nitrite? Sometimes if that spikes for whatever reason, nitrate can appear very high up.

 

[Vertigo916]

I wouldn't worry about it, especially if your blenny eats what your other fish eat.

Thanks, been watching the blenny and noticed it only eats algae from the LR. Doesn't eat mysis, brine, nori rubber banded to the LR nor algae discs. So I'm kinda worried about it starving if there wasn't enough algae on the LR.

 

[Vertigo916]

Btw, have you check nitrite? Sometimes if that spikes for whatever reason, nitrate can appear very high up.

Yes I check eats parameters every other day using the API test kit and can never drop nitatrates despite water changes.

 

[Vertigo916]

* water parameters not

Btw, have you check nitrite? Sometimes if that spikes for whatever reason, nitrate can appear very high up.

Yes I check water parameters every other day and can never get nitrates down despite many water changes. 30% weekly.

 

[Spare time]

Yes I check eats parameters every other day using the API test kit and can never drop nitatrates despite water changes.

I'd check with another test kit just in case.

 

[Spare time]

Thanks, been watching the blenny and noticed it only eats algae from the LR. Doesn't eat mysis, brine, nori rubber banded to the LR nor algae discs. So I'm kinda worried about it starving if there wasn't enough algae on the LR.

You could try other macroalgaes in the refugium and see if the blenny eats that. Have you tried flakes? My blennies have always like ocean nutrition prime reef flakes. If it doesn't eat them, I am sure the rest of your fish would.