How Much Chaeto before Harvest?

[Bouncingsoul39]

Can’t believe how fast this chaeto grew. In five days, Went from one cup in the reactor to totally full now. At what point should I take some out?

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

Can’t believe how fast this chaeto grew. In five days, Went from one cup in the reactor to totally full now. At what point should I take some out?

Im not sure what your goals are or how you're reactor works but I have a large refugium filled with chaeto that i give a healthy trim to weekly.

I didnt trim it for the longest time. I had a huge mass but my nitrates where not really dropping. I was very confused. So one day as i thought through it more i got the idea that the chaeto needs more room to grow and then as it grows it will absorb more nitrates. So i started clipping a large portion weekly, maybe a third, and in 3 weeks time my nitrates dropped substantially. From about 25ppm down to 1ppm which is lower than id like but ill get that dialed in.

If your goal is nitrate removal i would suggest clipping it regularly so it has room to grow more , thus absorbing more nitrate.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Bump. Any other suggestions maybe from someone who is running a similar reactor?

 

[jda]

I don't run a reactor, but when it gets dense, it is time to trim it back. It will slow down when it gets too dense and crammed into the space.

Remember to keep your iron up or it can slow down once it gets depleted - water changes or a supplement like ferrion can get the job done.