Let talk about cheato refugiums for nutrient control

[Cool tangs]

Hi all,

Nutrients= phosphates and nitrates.

I thought I'd start another discussion amongst the many already had, about cheato refugiums. In my new build I purposely built a sump around having a refugium. Prior to this I was carbon dosing with vinegar.

I just have to say, I'm absolutely blown away with the results of growing out cheato for nutrient control! I've been able to feed very heavy compared to carbon dosing with my phosphates and nitrates still dropping. Probably feeding 3x-5x more then I was prior and my goodness my fish have gotten noticeably fatter. I like to try and tumble the cheato, not sure if this has a noticeable benefit vs not tumbling. The other positive side effect was I use to struggle to get close to 8ph (always high 7s) when carbon dosing. That was with kalk as well. Now I just dose 2 part with traces and my pH is slowly climbing to 8.3.

I'll repeat myself one more time. I am extremely impressed with the results so far and am convinced that this is one of the best methods for nutrient control if your a heavy feeder, or have lots of fish

The cheato ball

Happy reefing!

 

[Dan_P]

Hi all,

Nutrients= phosphates and nitrates.

I thought I'd start another discussion amongst the many already had, about cheato refugiums. In my new build I purposely built a sump around having a refugium. Prior to this I was carbon dosing with vinegar.

I just have to say, I'm absolutely blown away with the results of growing out cheato for nutrient control! I've been able to feed very heavy compared to carbon dosing with my phosphates and nitrates still dropping. Probably feeding 3x-5x more then I was prior and my goodness my fish have gotten noticeably fatter. I like to try and tumble the cheato, not sure if this has a noticeable benefit vs not tumbling. The other positive side effect was I use to struggle to get close to 8ph (always high 7s) when carbon dosing. That was with kalk as well. Now I just dose 2 part with traces and my pH is slowly climbing to 8.3.

I'll repeat myself one more time. I am extremely impressed with the results so far and am convinced that this is one of the best methods for nutrient control if your a heavy feeder, or have lots of fish

The cheato ball

Happy reefing!

Yep, strong macro algae growth is one way to control nitrate. Not mentioned often enough though is the fact that macro algae can deplete trace elements in a system and if not addressed the algae becomes a platform for hair algae and cyanobacteria growth. Of unknown consequence is the carbohydrates that can be exuded by macro algae. Maybe it’s just cryptic carbon dosing. By the way, Ulva and Caulerpa are a bit better per square inch than Cheatomorpha at removing nitrate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all,

Nutrients= phosphates and nitrates.

I thought I'd start another discussion amongst the many already had, about cheato refugiums. In my new build I purposely built a sump around having a refugium. Prior to this I was carbon dosing with vinegar.

I just have to say, I'm absolutely blown away with the results of growing out cheato for nutrient control! I've been able to feed very heavy compared to carbon dosing with my phosphates and nitrates still dropping. Probably feeding 3x-5x more then I was prior and my goodness my fish have gotten noticeably fatter. I like to try and tumble the cheato, not sure if this has a noticeable benefit vs not tumbling. The other positive side effect was I use to struggle to get close to 8ph (always high 7s) when carbon dosing. That was with kalk as well. Now I just dose 2 part with traces and my pH is slowly climbing to 8.3.

I'll repeat myself one more time. I am extremely impressed with the results so far and am convinced that this is one of the best methods for nutrient control if your a heavy feeder, or have lots of fish

The cheato ball

Happy reefing!

I’ve used both and both work. Nothing wrong with using both at the same time as well, if needed.

 

[biecacka]

Anyone have luck growing cheato in a separate bucket/container? Plumbed in the system. I am thinking of using a 5 gallon bucket, fed by a small pump with drain holes in it. Anyone done it with luck? How much flow?


Corey

 

[C_AWOL]

Anyone have luck growing cheato in a separate bucket/container? Plumbed in the system. I am thinking of using a 5 gallon bucket, fed by a small pump with drain holes in it. Anyone done it with luck? How much flow?


Corey

It will work in a bucket but if you have the space, one of those black homedepot/costco tubs will be better both for volume and ease of plumbing (bulkhead > uniseal)

As far as flow, it doesn't matter unless you want it to tumble (generally keeps it cleaner and more evenly lit)

 

[FUNGI]

Anyone have luck growing cheato in a separate bucket/container? Plumbed in the system. I am thinking of using a 5 gallon bucket, fed by a small pump with drain holes in it. Anyone done it with luck? How much flow?


Corey

100% it will work....any container, with a light and water going in and water going out.
I have for a friends tank, 10gallon container from walmart, LED amazon light. Water comes out of Fluval FX6 on a Y, outlet controlled by ball valve. Water out of container goes into HOB skimmer and into tank

 

[reefchi]

I don’t have a sump since I have a AIO tank. I literally just put some in today. I’ll be testing my No3 and Po4 tonight and I’ll see if I notice any difference after a week.

How long do you run your light for?

 

[FUNGI]

? Me? I run my 12hrs, counter to DT lights

 

[FUNGI]

for your AIO, you can get a nice HOB Refugium (or DIY one from a AC110 filter)

 

[biecacka]

It will work in a bucket but if you have the space, one of those black homedepot/costco tubs will be better both for volume and ease of plumbing (bulkhead > uniseal)

As far as flow, it doesn't matter unless you want it to tumble (generally keeps it cleaner and more evenly lit)

I was thinking one of the tubs but wasn’t sure if he water level would be deep enough in them. I have a 7-10 gallon one I was going to use.


Corey

 

[BryanM]

I was thinking one of the tubs but wasn’t sure if he water level would be deep enough in them. I have a 7-10 gallon one I was going to use.


Corey

You can also look in to algae turf scrubbers.... I use a surf4 from santa monica, basically its a refugium on steroids, and is self contained, you just harvest a handful or two of the algae once a week or so.

 

[biecacka]

Yeah I miss my turf scrubber for sure. I loved that thing. But sold it a few years ago to try cheato. Grew buckets of cheato for a long time. But switched up my sump a little bit and need to find a smaller way to grow cheato.
Or go back to the turf scrubber.


Corey

 

[C_AWOL]

I was thinking one of the tubs but wasn’t sure if he water level would be deep enough in them. I have a 7-10 gallon one I was going to use.


Corey

Depth hardly matters, it will spread out or just roll into a thinner log if tumbled.
If anything to a degree being shallow helps more since the par is increased.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Be careful of what you wish for - i have to dose nitrates despite feeding heavy in both of my 200g tanks with Chaeto in the refugiums. I keep my chaeto high and tight - not allowing it to fill my refugium - if full, i have to dose a lot of NeoNitrate just to get 5ppm. Also - macro algae will likely deplete trace elements faster than you can replenish with water changes (even with high quality salt like Tropic Marin Pro) - this happens with a mature tank full of coral also but good to send ICP test to see where you are at. I now also dose TM A and K (mixed with 2 part to keep dosing heads open) to beef up trace elements.