chaeto help!

prickles · 12/05/2007, 09:38 PM

So I have had a fuge in my new tank for about 3-4 months and the Caulerpa is growing slowly, but the Chaeto hasn't budged. I have nitrates and I assume phosphates, so why no chaeto growth. I know ppl say to get rid of the Caulerpa, but it seems to be the only one growing at all!

What is causing this?

NirvanaFan · 12/05/2007, 09:42 PM

Maybe the caulpera is out competing the chaeto for nutrients?

Newlin · 12/05/2007, 09:42 PM

How long are you keeping the light on? What are the phosphates like in your tank? And what are all the levels in your tank. If you can put the Caulerpa in another tank or something, I would suggest that you keep the light on 24/7. That is what I'm going to do with mine. With the caulerpa, if you keep the light on that long, it could go sexual and start clogging stuff up.

prickles · 12/06/2007, 12:06 AM

It's possible it's getting outcompeted, but there really isn't too much caulerpa either. The params are all the usual ones of temp and PH and salinity. The only thing unusual is the nitrates at 20ish. I haven't tested for phosphates since my problem isn't too much algae, it's too little! Also everyone says phosphate tests are useless anyways. I'm doing reverse cycle lighting on the fuge of 12 hours.

bertoni · 12/06/2007, 01:32 AM

A bit of a chelated iron supplement might help. Also, the refugium might need more lighting. If the algae isn't growing, though, maybe the water column doesn't have enough phosphate to allow growth.

Avi · 12/06/2007, 07:32 AM

Are you using an effective light over with an ideal K rating?

jamiep · 12/06/2007, 07:41 AM

What light are you using and on what time scale? Whats your flow like through your fuge?

Newlin · 12/06/2007, 08:05 AM

You should be using a 6500K CF bulb. The one that I have is 23w (equal to 100w) and it's working just fine. Flow is another one, as asked above, is the flow enough to turn the algae?

cardiffgiant · 12/06/2007, 09:16 AM

My chaeto out-competes my caulerpa, but both have grown steadily for about 6 months.

I use a big flourecent flood from home depot, have a 20 hour photo period, and turn the algae 1-2 times a week.

snorvich · 12/06/2007, 10:13 AM

Turning the algae is a good thing and using lights which are towards the warm side will improve growth. Many people feel that having a dark period is useful but be very careful about reducing the light period with Caulerpa as it will interpret that as shortening of the days and may go sexual.

prickles · 12/06/2007, 09:09 PM

I use a 23w pc from HD in the "daylight" spectrum. I forget exactly the K rating, but it was right when I bought it. I use a 12hr photoperiod when the mains are off. Flow seems to be good, the water goes over the top of the fuge in the sump, so there is always some flow, but not too high. I weeded a bunch of the caulerpa and I'll see if that helps the chaeto.

12/05/2007, 09:38 PM	#1
prickles Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 1,138	chaeto help! So I have had a fuge in my new tank for about 3-4 months and the Caulerpa is growing slowly, but the Chaeto hasn't budged. I have nitrates and I assume phosphates, so why no chaeto growth. I know ppl say to get rid of the Caulerpa, but it seems to be the only one growing at all! What is causing this?

12/05/2007, 09:42 PM	#3
Newlin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Noble, Ok. Posts: 227	How long are you keeping the light on? What are the phosphates like in your tank? And what are all the levels in your tank. If you can put the Caulerpa in another tank or something, I would suggest that you keep the light on 24/7. That is what I'm going to do with mine. With the caulerpa, if you keep the light on that long, it could go sexual and start clogging stuff up. __________________ Everything that I own is for sale, click my little red house for info. Local pickup only.

12/06/2007, 01:32 AM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A bit of a chelated iron supplement might help. Also, the refugium might need more lighting. If the algae isn't growing, though, maybe the water column doesn't have enough phosphate to allow growth. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/06/2007, 07:32 AM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Are you using an effective light over with an ideal K rating? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

12/06/2007, 08:05 AM	#8
Newlin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Noble, Ok. Posts: 227	You should be using a 6500K CF bulb. The one that I have is 23w (equal to 100w) and it's working just fine. Flow is another one, as asked above, is the flow enough to turn the algae? __________________ Everything that I own is for sale, click my little red house for info. Local pickup only.

12/05/2007, 09:42 PM	#2
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	Maybe the caulpera is out competing the chaeto for nutrients?

12/06/2007, 12:06 AM	#4
prickles Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 1,138	It's possible it's getting outcompeted, but there really isn't too much caulerpa either. The params are all the usual ones of temp and PH and salinity. The only thing unusual is the nitrates at 20ish. I haven't tested for phosphates since my problem isn't too much algae, it's too little! Also everyone says phosphate tests are useless anyways. I'm doing reverse cycle lighting on the fuge of 12 hours.

12/06/2007, 07:41 AM	#7
jamiep Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 458	What light are you using and on what time scale? Whats your flow like through your fuge?

12/06/2007, 09:16 AM	#9
cardiffgiant Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 3,455	My chaeto out-competes my caulerpa, but both have grown steadily for about 6 months. I use a big flourecent flood from home depot, have a 20 hour photo period, and turn the algae 1-2 times a week.

12/06/2007, 10:13 AM	#10
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Turning the algae is a good thing and using lights which are towards the warm side will improve growth. Many people feel that having a dark period is useful but be very careful about reducing the light period with Caulerpa as it will interpret that as shortening of the days and may go sexual. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

12/06/2007, 09:09 PM	#11
prickles Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 1,138	I use a 23w pc from HD in the "daylight" spectrum. I forget exactly the K rating, but it was right when I bought it. I use a 12hr photoperiod when the mains are off. Flow seems to be good, the water goes over the top of the fuge in the sump, so there is always some flow, but not too high. I weeded a bunch of the caulerpa and I'll see if that helps the chaeto.