chaeto not growing

[Mavrk]

My Chaeto has been in my fuge for a week now, and other than perhaps getting darker green and the ball a little tighter wound, it is not growing as expected.

I have it under a 6500K bulb (CF daylight). I have done 24 hours, and am now on 14 hour schedule (opposite my regular lights).

My nitrates have been a consistent 20 ppm.

There is quite a bit of flow in my fuge and I wonder if that is what is inhibiting it. Or perhaps the light is not close enough? It is not turning brown at all, so it seems to be happy.

I am thinking of giving it a kick start by putting it in my display with the higher lights.

Thoughts?

[rppvt]

don't put it in your display. it's sometimes a slow grower. Mine like a slow even flow and rolls over and over in the sump. It's also on a reverse time clock. Trust me, when you turn around it'll be as big as a basketball and thick as a brick.

[Mavrk]

I am wondering if the high flow across the fuge is the problem (I am working on that issue).

[rppvt]

I have mine under a 22" vho daylight in a reflector. lotsa light. helps. if it's rolling around, that's fine it doesn't seem to mind flow, I've got mine under 400-450 gph out of my overflow.

[Mavrk]

So maybe a stronger light?

[Avi]

Stronger lighting is a big help. However, from what you describe with the change in its color and the "tightness" of the growth, you are already beginning to see good growth. That's exactly how the chaeto in my refugium first reacted when I placed adequate light on it. It won't show great increase in size at first...that may take over a month....but you seem to be doing fine with it. Still, IF you can easily increase the intensity of the lighting, do it.