Please help!!! My chaeto is dying!!

[Natescorals]

That has been my experience. But it is not the refugium, but rather my chaeto and ulva under a 600W Chinese horticulture light. I have to harvest it bi-weekly. Other than my skimmer, it is my only form of nutrient export. So, basically my refugium is acting as an algae scrubber, but with the advantage of all the pods and worms and stometella.

I’m considering removing the poly filter. I’m thinking that may be stripping out the iron

 

[Natescorals]

What do you think? Or should I keep poly filter pad

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I’m considering removing the poly filter. I’m thinking that may be stripping out the iron

I would if I were you. Do you have nuisance algae in the display tank?

 

[Brew12]

What do you think? Or should I keep poly filter pad

I agree, remove the poly filter. I only use them in emergencies. I prefer GAC for continuous use.

And yes, I also agree with dosing iron.

 

[Natescorals]

I would if I were you. Do you have nuisance algae in the display tank?

No I don’t have any algae at all

 

[Natescorals]

A couple months ago I had really bad cyano but that’s about 90% gone

 

[Natescorals]

i ordered some of that tropic Marin stuff you were showing me last night

 

[Natescorals]

I agree, remove the poly filter. I only use them in emergencies. I prefer GAC for continuous use.

And yes, I also agree with dosing iron.

I tried carbon but it made my tank extremely cloudy and almost killed my corals. I consider charcoal to be toxic for reef tanks I’ll never use charcoal or carbon again

 

[Dom]

I also notice my nitrates and phosphates go super high when I feed reef roids too. Are reef roids really necessary?

I am not familiar with Reif Roids. But, if you find that it’s causing your nitrates and phosphates to skyrocket, I would discontinue use and monitor.

 

[Dom]

I'd also suggest that you not run out and buy bottled solutions. You need to get to the root cause of the problem and I don't see how that can be done by adding variables.

If I were in your situation, I would stop adding and start subtracting. So what if your Chaetomorpha isn't growing... your tank is healthy. Think about the risks to your display tank when you start making changes to water chemistry just for the purpose of getting Chaetomorpha to grow. Is having a nice ball of Chaetomorpha worth risking your tank?

 

[Shorething]

You probably seeing a rise in phosphate BECAUSE your chato is dying. Chato uptakes nutrients and when you prune it back you are essentially removing nutrients.

So when your macro algae dies back it will release the nutrients back into the water where at that point your test kits will see the release.

When you buy macro algae you have to realize that you are buying the nutrients from the system that the macro algae came from.

 

[Natescorals]

I'd also suggest that you not run out and buy bottled solutions. You need to get to the root cause of the problem and I don't see how that can be done by adding variables.

If I were in your situation, I would stop adding and start subtracting. So what if your Chaetomorpha isn't growing... your tank is healthy. Think about the risks to your display tank when you start making changes to water chemistry just for the purpose of getting Chaetomorpha to grow. Is having a nice ball of Chaetomorpha worth risking your tank?

No it’s not worth it at all. All I want is my corals to grow and be healthy

 

[Natescorals]

You probably seeing a rise in phosphate BECAUSE your chato is dying. Chato uptakes nutrients and when you prune it back you are essentially removing nutrients.

So when your macro algae dies back it will release the nutrients back into the water where at that point your test kits will see the release.

When you buy macro algae you have to realize that you are buying the nutrients from the system that the macro algae came from.

Yes that’s why I was thinking that the dying chaeto is causing my tank to spike in nitrates and phosphates so I’m trying to keep it alive

 

[Natescorals]

I'd also suggest that you not run out and buy bottled solutions. You need to get to the root cause of the problem and I don't see how that can be done by adding variables.

If I were in your situation, I would stop adding and start subtracting. So what if your Chaetomorpha isn't growing... your tank is healthy. Think about the risks to your display tank when you start making changes to water chemistry just for the purpose of getting Chaetomorpha to grow. Is having a nice ball of Chaetomorpha worth risking your tank?

So if the tank is healthy and chaeto is dying just remove the fuge?

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

No I don’t have any algae at all

Ok, so it sounds like you may not have enough nutrients. Probably why your corals aren’t happy. Iron dosing should help. More feedings... your fish will be glad to hear this :-)

 

[Shorething]

The principal behind macro algae is to uptake nutrients by allowing the algae to grow and consume the nutrients. Once the algae grows to a large enough portion you can prune it back. When you prune and remove the algae you are also removing the unwanted nutrients the the algae has fed upon.
Then you can sell the pruned portion of the macro algae to another reefer essentially selling the unwanted nutrients to them.
Keep in mind that the nutrients are bound up in the algae while it is growing. So if you cannot sustain macro algae in your system chances are you dont have enough nutrients in your system.
If the algae thrives in your system then you have plenty of nutrients for it to survive.

 

[Natescorals]

The principal behind macro algae is to uptake nutrients by allowing the algae to grow and consume the nutrients. Once the algae grows to a large enough portion you can prune it back. When you prune and remove the algae you are also removing the unwanted nutrients the the algae has fed upon.
Then you can sell the pruned portion of the macro algae to another reefer essentially selling the unwanted nutrients to them.
Keep in mind that the nutrients are bound up in the algae while it is growing. So if you cannot sustain macro algae in your system chances are you dont have enough nutrients in your system.
If the algae thrives in your system then you have plenty of nutrients for it to survive.

So basically either add more nutrients or remove the refugium?

 

[Natescorals]

But it can’t be dying from lack of nutrients because my phosphates are at 0.30

 

[Shorething]

I run a Refugium and I believe in them. I would just keep up with the water changes and give it time to rebound. I also run a cheap amazon grow light and it works fine. Dont start making changes everywhere. Just let it find its balance and move slow. It also sounds like you are not fully cycled. I didn't get fully cycled for about a year. Just keep an eye on parameters and keep up on your water changes. If you change anything on your system just remember to take small steps and be patient

 

[Natescorals]

I run a Refugium and I believe in them. I would just keep up with the water changes and give it time to rebound. I also run a cheap amazon grow light and it works fine. Dont start making changes everywhere. Just let it find its balance and move slow. It also sounds like you are not fully cycled. I didn't get fully cycled for about a year. Just keep an eye on parameters and keep up on your water changes. If you change anything on your system just remember to take small steps and be patient

I am going to change my lighting schedule like everyone has been saying I am running my main display tank lights at full intensity for 13 hours and they’re saying this is way too long?