Having cheato with no light. Negatives?

[lolgranny]

I know it needs light to survive and will die off without it eventually. I haven't got a light as I just moved everything to a new house. I have it in the sump as a massive ball but no light for a good couple months.

Should I just ditch it or does it not really matter? I'm sure I could get some from a local reefer if needed

Tank is doing very healthy in all aspects.

Thanks Dave

 

[EriksOasis]

I would grab a cheap bulb and clamp on fixture that is all you need to grow it well. I use the bulb and fixture pictures and pull out that much every other week.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea. It'll die.
But a decent light is $15.
And yea. You don't "need" a fuge.

 

[EriksOasis]

A refugium is an excellent way for nutrient export. And yeah for $15 it’s reasonable to help your system greatly. My nitrates stay around 5 by growing chaeto.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

I linked this in an earlier thread-- its on sale and working great for my chaeto in my sump. Clamped on just as shown above by @EriksOasis

Recommend if you can

https://www.amazon.com/Lemontec-Eff...pID=51iaBh6XWSL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[lolgranny]

Haha yea, I know they are cheap. I've just been crazy busy with everything else. Got the tank all moved, didn't lose a thing. Pretty unbelievable to me.

Thanks for the link on the bulb. Was just wondering what everyone thought

 

[EriksOasis]

You can go without it for now but won’t want it to die in your system or it’s just going to release nutrients back into the tank.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

You can go without it for now but won’t want it to die in your system or it’s just going to release nutrients back into the tank.

Agreed- I think the choices are 1) Get a bulb and keep it alive and in tank OR 2) Pull it out so it doesn't dump nutrients back in as it dies off.

Glad to hear your move went so well! Stressful I am sure...

 

[Benqb007]

I would clip a small fist size off and pick up a cheap light. If you notice a little growth, then you're solid to reintroduce. But like what everything else stated, not worth leaching back into your system.

 

[lolgranny]

Thanks all, thats kinda what i was thinking but i wasnt too sure. Once some time frees up ill start a build thread again.

Take care guys

 

[WesleyC]

I always keep my excess chaeto in a separate small tank. The tank has a cheapy white light and an air pump to keep the water moving. It won't grow much, but it'll last forever.

You can even keep them in a bucket completely covered and tuck away somewhere. Dangle a LED inside with big air bubble bubbling. It'll last a long time.