Chaeto Won't Grow

EasyEd77 · 08/09/2010, 09:37 AM

I purchased a Lifereef system and it came with a coralife pc fixture for the refugium with a 10K bulb. I have not had good growth of my chaeto in the 9 months that my system has been up and running. Could it be the light spectrum that I am using?

outy · 08/09/2010, 09:48 AM

5500-6500 grows it pretty nice but its a weed and will grow fast under 10k lighting to

it only needs 3 things food and water and light, i suspect you have little food

Sisterlimonpot · 08/09/2010, 10:05 AM

You have to have nitrates and phosphates in the system to feed it.

What are your nitrates and phosphates?

Sisterlimonpot · 08/09/2010, 10:06 AM

You have to have nitrates and phosphates in the system to feed it.

What are your nitrates and phosphates?

EasyEd77 · 08/09/2010, 10:27 AM

My nitrate reads 0 and phosphate is not present using a Sailfert test. The thing that throws me off is I get hair algae on my powerheads and the back glass of my aquarium from time to time. If that can grow than why won't my Chaeto? I use RO/DI water for top off and for mixing my salt and the TDS is 0. My other parameters are:

Salinity 1.025
Calcium 460
Alk 9

thegrun · 08/09/2010, 10:35 AM

Do you have the cheato up near the surface of the water? If it is covered by more than a couple of inches, that could be the problem. When I first set my fuge up a couple of years ago I had the same issue. I raised the cheato up on some rock and it took off. It is also a good idea to flip it over once or twice a week to even out the light exposure.

EasyEd77 · 08/09/2010, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. Right now it's about 14" under water. I will build a little stand out of egg crate and raise it up, maybe that will help.

chimmike · 08/09/2010, 11:26 AM

I had a hard time growing it too. I think if your params are in check, it's like any algae, it feeds off stuff like that. IF there's nothing, it won't grow.

08/09/2010, 09:37 AM	#1
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	Chaeto Won't Grow I purchased a Lifereef system and it came with a coralife pc fixture for the refugium with a 10K bulb. I have not had good growth of my chaeto in the 9 months that my system has been up and running. Could it be the light spectrum that I am using?

08/09/2010, 10:05 AM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You have to have nitrates and phosphates in the system to feed it. What are your nitrates and phosphates? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/09/2010, 10:06 AM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You have to have nitrates and phosphates in the system to feed it. What are your nitrates and phosphates? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/09/2010, 11:26 AM	#8
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	I had a hard time growing it too. I think if your params are in check, it's like any algae, it feeds off stuff like that. IF there's nothing, it won't grow. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

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08/09/2010, 09:48 AM	#2
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	5500-6500 grows it pretty nice but its a weed and will grow fast under 10k lighting to it only needs 3 things food and water and light, i suspect you have little food

08/09/2010, 10:27 AM	#5
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	My nitrate reads 0 and phosphate is not present using a Sailfert test. The thing that throws me off is I get hair algae on my powerheads and the back glass of my aquarium from time to time. If that can grow than why won't my Chaeto? I use RO/DI water for top off and for mixing my salt and the TDS is 0. My other parameters are: Salinity 1.025 Calcium 460 Alk 9

08/09/2010, 10:35 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Do you have the cheato up near the surface of the water? If it is covered by more than a couple of inches, that could be the problem. When I first set my fuge up a couple of years ago I had the same issue. I raised the cheato up on some rock and it took off. It is also a good idea to flip it over once or twice a week to even out the light exposure.

08/09/2010, 11:07 AM	#7
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	Thanks for the suggestion. Right now it's about 14" under water. I will build a little stand out of egg crate and raise it up, maybe that will help.