Cheato and Phosban reactor

RussR19146 · 12/03/2009, 08:20 PM

Hi,

I tried searching but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I had a nasty hair algae issue that I was able to get rid of by scrubbing all the live rock with a brush, It took awhile and was a real PITA.

I did not want the algae to return so i bought the dual reactor from BRS and am running GFO and carbon for about a week now.

My cheato seems to be shrinking since starting the reactor. Is the reactor taking away the food for the macroalgae?

I am running the reactor 24/7 along with a skimmer - should I run these less?\

If i were to add mangroves to my sump would I have the same problem?

Thanks for the advice

Russ

Sisterlimonpot · 12/03/2009, 08:26 PM

it’s a catch 22. In order to remove the hair algae you need to remove phosphates (a food for both hair algae and chaeto. the goal is to allow for the chaeto to take control and remove the phosphates before anything else can use them. however if they are both dying off it's a sign that the reactor is working at removing P04.

Snookster · 12/03/2009, 08:36 PM

I have the same issues plus I seem to have gotten a little bryopsis present from someone who sold me a frag. I added a phos reactor and a nice ball of cheato.

I'm running the light on the sump for the cheato for about 16 hours a day and going lights out in the dt 2 days a week (in a row) every week. Also really making an effort to watch the amount of food going in the tank.

It's really starting to make a difference for me. I can occassionally see half dead balls of hair algae breaking loose and floating away.

It's taking some time, I'm quickly learning nothing good happens overnight.

Give it time...and good luck.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/03/2009, 08:49 PM

what are your water parameters?

RussR19146 · 12/03/2009, 08:53 PM

Luckily the hair algae is totally gone. I actually bought the reactor to keep it from coming back

My phosphate and nitrates are testing at 0

I'm just not sure if i should be running it 24/7 - i want to be able to grow macro algae in the fuge but the reactor seems to be making it shrink

do i run it less? stop running it for awhile? or keep running it and not worry about the cheato growth

Thanks

Sisterlimonpot · 12/03/2009, 09:21 PM

try cutting back and see what happens. if you see HA starting to come back then lengthen the reaction time.

rcorbitt · 12/03/2009, 09:30 PM

How old are the lamps in your lights? Micro algae can be "feed" by red spectrum lighting.

12/03/2009, 08:20 PM	#1
RussR19146 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 104	Cheato and Phosban reactor Hi, I tried searching but couldn't find what I was looking for. I had a nasty hair algae issue that I was able to get rid of by scrubbing all the live rock with a brush, It took awhile and was a real PITA. I did not want the algae to return so i bought the dual reactor from BRS and am running GFO and carbon for about a week now. My cheato seems to be shrinking since starting the reactor. Is the reactor taking away the food for the macroalgae? I am running the reactor 24/7 along with a skimmer - should I run these less?\ If i were to add mangroves to my sump would I have the same problem? Thanks for the advice Russ

12/03/2009, 08:26 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	it’s a catch 22. In order to remove the hair algae you need to remove phosphates (a food for both hair algae and chaeto. the goal is to allow for the chaeto to take control and remove the phosphates before anything else can use them. however if they are both dying off it's a sign that the reactor is working at removing P04. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/03/2009, 08:49 PM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	what are your water parameters? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/03/2009, 08:53 PM	#5
RussR19146 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 104	Hair algae gone Luckily the hair algae is totally gone. I actually bought the reactor to keep it from coming back My phosphate and nitrates are testing at 0 I'm just not sure if i should be running it 24/7 - i want to be able to grow macro algae in the fuge but the reactor seems to be making it shrink do i run it less? stop running it for awhile? or keep running it and not worry about the cheato growth Thanks

12/03/2009, 09:21 PM	#6
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	try cutting back and see what happens. if you see HA starting to come back then lengthen the reaction time. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/03/2009, 08:36 PM	#3
Snookster Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Palm Harbor, Fl Posts: 661	I have the same issues plus I seem to have gotten a little bryopsis present from someone who sold me a frag. I added a phos reactor and a nice ball of cheato. I'm running the light on the sump for the cheato for about 16 hours a day and going lights out in the dt 2 days a week (in a row) every week. Also really making an effort to watch the amount of food going in the tank. It's really starting to make a difference for me. I can occassionally see half dead balls of hair algae breaking loose and floating away. It's taking some time, I'm quickly learning nothing good happens overnight. Give it time...and good luck.

12/03/2009, 09:30 PM	#7
rcorbitt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 72	How old are the lamps in your lights? Micro algae can be "feed" by red spectrum lighting. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein