In Tank Chaeto (no sump)

Logzor · 12/30/2007, 10:16 AM

First of all my tank has no sump and it is a 55g.

Here are pics to give an idea of what it looks like: http://www.cincyreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10398

As you can see i have softies, lps, and a few new sps corals. My fish consist of two clowns and a goby. I also have 30 snails, 30 hermits, 9 nassarius snails, an emerald crab, and cleaner shrimp.

As you can also probably notice I have a slight problem with dictoya algae. It has spread all around the tank. I put in some dragons tongue algae to hopefully steal some of the nutrients from the dictoya.

Is putting chaeto in the back of my tank a good idea? I have a nice spot that could work for it, not to mention it would be a good place for pods to breed. The clowns seem to like to eat them.

My lights are 4x54 tek light, skimmer is coralife 125 super skimmer, and my flow consists of two korilia 3's + the skimmer pump.

Nitrates 0
nitrites 0
ALK 7.7 dkh
ph 8.2
calcium 440

I recently got a nice ro/di unit, the lights are also relatively new. I was using water from kroger (ro water) that measured around 30 on the TDS meter. Now the new water measures zero. I am hoping that this will help. I do a 7 gallon water change once a week usually.

McTeague · 12/30/2007, 10:18 AM

I keep my cheato in the main tank as I do not have a sump:

SurfnFish · 12/30/2007, 10:19 AM

I have almost the same setup, and I was also wondering that. Bump for tagging along.

Logzor · 12/30/2007, 10:25 AM

That looks decent McTeague. I think it adds a nice element to the tank, just like my dragons tongue does.

I just wondered if it added any other complications?

McTeague · 12/30/2007, 10:27 AM

Well, I just shake it a bit every so often to keep too much gunk from accumulating in it. I have had it in there for only 3 months so I cannot give you any long term results. But it has been ok so far.

tigereye37 · 12/30/2007, 11:03 AM

I stuck some in my 25g a few weeks ago so i'm curious to hear from someone who's done this long term........
I think it looks cool

LockeOak · 12/30/2007, 11:32 AM

As was said, make sure it has decent flow moving *through* it and isn't getting covered by detritus (or even coralline, I've seen it happen).

LockeOak · 12/30/2007, 11:51 AM

Oh, and hang-on-the-back refugiums like modded Aquaclears work well too.

SurfnFish · 12/30/2007, 02:29 PM

Could I put it on the return side of my CPR BakPak Skimmer?

12/30/2007, 10:16 AM	#1
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	In Tank Chaeto (no sump) First of all my tank has no sump and it is a 55g. Here are pics to give an idea of what it looks like: http://www.cincyreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10398 As you can see i have softies, lps, and a few new sps corals. My fish consist of two clowns and a goby. I also have 30 snails, 30 hermits, 9 nassarius snails, an emerald crab, and cleaner shrimp. As you can also probably notice I have a slight problem with dictoya algae. It has spread all around the tank. I put in some dragons tongue algae to hopefully steal some of the nutrients from the dictoya. Is putting chaeto in the back of my tank a good idea? I have a nice spot that could work for it, not to mention it would be a good place for pods to breed. The clowns seem to like to eat them. My lights are 4x54 tek light, skimmer is coralife 125 super skimmer, and my flow consists of two korilia 3's + the skimmer pump. Nitrates 0 nitrites 0 ALK 7.7 dkh ph 8.2 calcium 440 I recently got a nice ro/di unit, the lights are also relatively new. I was using water from kroger (ro water) that measured around 30 on the TDS meter. Now the new water measures zero. I am hoping that this will help. I do a 7 gallon water change once a week usually.

12/30/2007, 10:19 AM	#3
SurfnFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Posts: 676	I have almost the same setup, and I was also wondering that. Bump for tagging along. __________________ 17x17x10 Shallow Cube. RapidLED Par38 with 60* optics, AC modified for fuge, CPR BakPak w/Maxi jet 1200. Clown w/ LTA, Zoas and Softies. Current Tank Info: 17x17x10 Shallow Cube

12/30/2007, 02:29 PM	#9
SurfnFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Posts: 676	Could I put it on the return side of my CPR BakPak Skimmer? __________________ 17x17x10 Shallow Cube. RapidLED Par38 with 60* optics, AC modified for fuge, CPR BakPak w/Maxi jet 1200. Clown w/ LTA, Zoas and Softies. Current Tank Info: 17x17x10 Shallow Cube

12/30/2007, 10:18 AM	#2
McTeague Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 501	I keep my cheato in the main tank as I do not have a sump:

12/30/2007, 10:25 AM	#4
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	That looks decent McTeague. I think it adds a nice element to the tank, just like my dragons tongue does. I just wondered if it added any other complications?

12/30/2007, 10:27 AM	#5
McTeague Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 501	Well, I just shake it a bit every so often to keep too much gunk from accumulating in it. I have had it in there for only 3 months so I cannot give you any long term results. But it has been ok so far.

12/30/2007, 11:03 AM	#6
tigereye37 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: RI Posts: 191	I stuck some in my 25g a few weeks ago so i'm curious to hear from someone who's done this long term........ I think it looks cool

12/30/2007, 11:32 AM	#7
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	As was said, make sure it has decent flow moving through it and isn't getting covered by detritus (or even coralline, I've seen it happen).

12/30/2007, 11:51 AM	#8
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	Oh, and hang-on-the-back refugiums like modded Aquaclears work well too.