Do you grow Chaeto algae and is it easy or hard for you?

[revhtree]

Let's talk Chaeto (Chaetomorpha linum) today!

Chaeto is a green macroalgae that grows rapidly, cleaning your tank by consuming nitrates and phosphates for easy nutrient export. It can form a tangled mass that spreads over the substrate. It maintains its shape well when kept in large masses. Chaeto....is a hardy green algae commonly used in saltwater refugia & algae scrubbers. It specially suited to algae reactors, where large masses can be kept with minimal packing due to its rigid structure. It grows in long, curvy, sturdy strands that create a framework with ample inner space that provides shelter for a diversity of small, beneficial benthic creatures such as copepods, amphipods, isopods, etc. (it looks much like a green scouring pad!). (Via AlgaeBarn)

How many of you grow Chaeto in your system and how easy or hard is it for you to keep it healthy and growing?

image via @JCOLE

 

[vetteguy53081]

Let's talk Chaeto (Chaetomorpha linum) today!

Chaeto is a green macroalgae that grows rapidly, cleaning your tank by consuming nitrates and phosphates for easy nutrient export. It can form a tangled mass that spreads over the substrate. It maintains its shape well when kept in large masses. Chaeto....is a hardy green algae commonly used in saltwater refugia & algae scrubbers. It specially suited to algae reactors, where large masses can be kept with minimal packing due to its rigid structure. It grows in long, curvy, sturdy strands that create a framework with ample inner space that provides shelter for a diversity of small, beneficial benthic creatures such as copepods, amphipods, isopods, etc. (it looks much like a green scouring pad!). (Via AlgaeBarn)

How many of you grow Chaeto in your system and how easy or hard is it for you to keep it healthy and growing?

image via @JCOLE

I have no problem growing it but also trim as needed knowing it can get out of control.
My recipe is light-flow-trace of iron in water

 

[Troylee]

Let's talk Chaeto (Chaetomorpha linum) today!

Chaeto is a green macroalgae that grows rapidly, cleaning your tank by consuming nitrates and phosphates for easy nutrient export. It can form a tangled mass that spreads over the substrate. It maintains its shape well when kept in large masses. Chaeto....is a hardy green algae commonly used in saltwater refugia & algae scrubbers. It specially suited to algae reactors, where large masses can be kept with minimal packing due to its rigid structure. It grows in long, curvy, sturdy strands that create a framework with ample inner space that provides shelter for a diversity of small, beneficial benthic creatures such as copepods, amphipods, isopods, etc. (it looks much like a green scouring pad!). (Via AlgaeBarn)

How many of you grow Chaeto in your system and how easy or hard is it for you to keep it healthy and growing?

image via @JCOLE

Got some but it ain’t growing! What’s up rev? Long time no talk buddy!

 

[ReefGeezer]

I don't use a lighted fuge, so no Cheato for me. There's not enough N&P in the system to support it anyway.

 

[bradleym]

I have trouble growing it if I don't remember to feed my tank. If I feed frequently it grows well.

 

[Dburr1014]

Other, at first it was a new tank, did not grow.
After a year or so, tried again, and it grows.

Definatly recommend not trying until the 1 year mark.

 

[nothing_fancy]

My first attempt at growing chaeto failed miserably. I have one of those little Fiji cube hob’s. My nitrates were kind of low at the time and my light duration was incorrect. Second attempt ordered another chaeto ball, added some extra flow to the Fiji cube, lit it for 12 hours a day, got my nitrates up, and started feeding it phyto. It grows wildly and can easily take over the whole Fiji cube within a couple weeks time. My water looks much clearer after using chaeto as a form of filtration.

 

[Gtinnel]

I had it growing well in my refugium until it suddenly started falling apart and released a lot of nutrients back into my tank. I’m considering trying it again though.

 

[Hermie]

I just took a pound of chaeto out of my refugium
its easy

but dont forget its there, growing, and let it completely consume your nutrients

that will cause problems

 

[JCOLE]

Let's talk Chaeto (Chaetomorpha linum) today!

Chaeto is a green macroalgae that grows rapidly, cleaning your tank by consuming nitrates and phosphates for easy nutrient export. It can form a tangled mass that spreads over the substrate. It maintains its shape well when kept in large masses. Chaeto....is a hardy green algae commonly used in saltwater refugia & algae scrubbers. It specially suited to algae reactors, where large masses can be kept with minimal packing due to its rigid structure. It grows in long, curvy, sturdy strands that create a framework with ample inner space that provides shelter for a diversity of small, beneficial benthic creatures such as copepods, amphipods, isopods, etc. (it looks much like a green scouring pad!). (Via AlgaeBarn)

How many of you grow Chaeto in your system and how easy or hard is it for you to keep it healthy and growing?

image via @JCOLE

Aww, look at that cute little baby right there. That is when I first received it.

I now harvest around this much every month.

The key for me is a good daylight spectrum bulb and iron supplementation.

 

[Piscans]

not on purpose, i just have a bunch of macroalgae in my tank. good for the fish & microfauna.

 

[Piscans]

you s

Aww, look at that cute little baby right there. That is when I first received it.

I now harvest around this much every month.

The key for me is a good daylight spectrum bulb and iron supplementation.

you should stuff a big joe chair with it, i bet it would be comfy

 

[RedReefer]

No chaeto. Same as some of the others, tried. I was actually thinking about trying again with some type of holder or something to keep it contained inside my sump. Every time I put it in my sump I couldn't get it to tumble correctly and it would fall apart. Any suggestions. Thanks Rev for the topic.

 

[MillennialReefer]

I've never been able to grow Chaeto . I've tried it for years in multiple systems with a variety of livestock and different equipment. I bought chaeto from various sources, it always either "dissolves" or gets taken over by GHA - so now I use turf scrubbers.

 

[Hitchhik3r]

I am coincidentally getting my first chaeto from algaebarn delivered today! I was planning to get chaetogro to supplement it on occasion but it sounds like all I really need is some iron? Any specific iron solutions you guys recommend?

 

[Tired]

Had a half-inch section of it hitchhike in on some rock and grow into a softball that smothered some of my zoas because it fell on them when I was on vacation. Bit TOO easy to grow, for me.

(Anyone having trouble: try ChaetoGro. Works great for a lot of macros.)

 

[nosduj]

I started with a sandwich bag full from a friend, now I take out a basketball size clump once a month or so. I also have a habit of not cleaning my filter socks often enough, so the chaeto helps alot

 

[Keko21]

Only been growing about a week but so far so good. Very green throughout and seems to be branching out

 

[design.maddie]

I added a Tunze Chic strip to my sump and let grow whatever was already in my tank. Seems to be working.

 

[Dburr1014]

No chaeto. Same as some of the others, tried. I was actually thinking about trying again with some type of holder or something to keep it contained inside my sump. Every time I put it in my sump I couldn't get it to tumble correctly and it would fall apart. Any suggestions. Thanks Rev for the topic.

Mine has never tumbled, I just flip it over every few days.