Melting Chaeto.

[Pauliex77x]

I added some chaeto to my 25 lagoon in a fuge basket about 19 days ago. Nitrates were/are at 10ppm and phosphates were/are at .25 ppm. Checked it this morning and it seems to be either melting or having some other algae grow on it. Its still a good color green just has a few mushy parts. The light runs on a 12 hour schedule its a grow light off of amazon. Not sure whats happening.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Edit: 10 days ago....

 

[sfin52]

Edit: 10 days ago....

What's the phosphates and nitrates now.

 

[Pauliex77x]

I tested yesterday 10ppm and .25ppm

 

[teller]

What about water changes?
I mention water changes in order to replenish trace elements.

 

[Pauliex77x]

I havent done a water change in 3 weeks. The only livestock i have is two small clowns. Should have added the tank is only about 3 months old.

 

[teller]

Most probably it is your problem.
I dose daily aquavitro/seachem fuel in order to replenish trace elements like manganese, iron, molybdenum, etc.
I do 5% water change a week to level up potassium and boron.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Trace elements get depleted that quickly even with nothing in the tank?

 

[teller]

Of course there is also the light your are using and the duration.

 

[teller]

Yes they are depleted by macroalgae.

 

[Pauliex77x]

This is the light. Its only 4w and i have it on a 12 hour schedule

 

[teller]

Many people with good chaeto macroalgae growth/healthy dont dose any particular additive like i do, but these people are either doing daily automatic water changes, or doing at least 10%, 15% water changes every week.
Almost every salt have higher levels of Manganese , iron etc, because these elements are depleted fast .

 

[K7BMG]

I will second lighting.

 

[teller]

My light is a very cheap 30w 4000kelvin outdoor light (IP65 water resistent).
On at about 8 to 12 hours a day, depending on the nitrate and phosphate levels.

 

[teller]

I will second lighting.

Yes 4 watts is really low, minimum 10 watts, but still i think it is also a trace elements problem,

 

[Pauliex77x]

K thanks guys. Ill do a wc and see about getting a stronger light

 

[teller]

My advice for the next 4 weeks.
Do a 5% water change twice a week. Like weekend and wednesday. Or 10% 15% on weekend.
Buy a product like aquavitro fuel or brightwell chaetogrow.
Take your chaeto and clean it by hand of the hair algae.
From my esperience when chaeto is dying the hair algae can attach to it. When chaeto is healthy it can not.
In my refugium i also have some spots of long hair algae always touching my chaeto and it never attaches.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Thanks for the replies. I did a water change and it doesnt seem to be helping. Almost 100% positive it's the light. I have the IM chaetomax light on order should be here tomorrow. Thanks again

 

[Pauliex77x]

So after leaving the new light on for about 48 hours and 2 20% weekly water changes this week, i habe zero growth in the chaeto and its still a dark green color. It actually feels a bit brittle and breaks apart some when i touch it.

When i got the algae barn delivery it came a day late and the jars were open with very little water on the chaeto. With paramaters stable and the new grow light im gonna chalk this one up to it being dead from transport. Guess i should just remove it now so it doesnt decomp in the water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

- Lack of light
- Lack of Iron
- Chemical treatment such as Vibrant which destroys algae