Got Chaeto. Now what?

Lemeshianos · 10/25/2011, 07:44 AM

I was under the impression that you can grow chaeto with just a regular 2100K compact fluorescent bulb. I tried to read a bit on the lighting schedule but in the topics I have found they seem to say that it requires a light with higher Ks.

Can anyone advice on this?
Also what light schedule should I go with?

daplatapus · 10/25/2011, 07:48 AM

I think you should have something closer to a 6500K which can be had as a regular daylight rated CFL.
My lighting schedule for sump/ chaeto is 10 pm to 6 am.

thegrun · 10/25/2011, 07:51 AM

I use a 16 watt compact fluorescent flood light 5400K bulb and run it for 17 hours a day (opposite the main tank's highest lighting period). You should use a bulb in the upper 4K to lower 6K range for maximum growth. It is also important that the cheato ball is up near the water surface for maximum light. I have my cheato ball sitting up on live rock, but you can build an egg crate platform for it also. I flip the cheato over twice a week to even out the exposure.

Dustin1300 · 10/25/2011, 09:09 AM

6500K and do opposite of your tank's schedule...

carolgyrl1 · 10/25/2011, 01:36 PM

dustin 1300, I am getting cheato too, why do opposite of the dt lights?

xCry0x · 10/25/2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolgyrl1

dustin 1300, I am getting cheato too, why do opposite of the dt lights?

Helps balance out ph swings.

I run my chaeto light from 7pm-11am. Just got it the other day and have a submersible light so time will tell if it works. Running it in the back chamber of my AIO.

dava6711 · 10/25/2011, 03:16 PM

I've got a 35w (155w equivalent) 5000k cfl lamp on a reverse photo period over my Chaetomorpha, the growth is amazing, the lamp runs cool compared to a regular incandescent lamp (you can hold the lamp while it's running), they're cheap (about £9 online), readily available and last a long time!

Zappo · 10/25/2011, 03:51 PM

I use a cheap 6500k cfl spotlight from the hardware store. Works great and the spotlight keeps the light on the chaeto ball where it's needed.

10/25/2011, 07:44 AM	#1
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	Got Chaeto. Now what? I was under the impression that you can grow chaeto with just a regular 2100K compact fluorescent bulb. I tried to read a bit on the lighting schedule but in the topics I have found they seem to say that it requires a light with higher Ks. Can anyone advice on this? Also what light schedule should I go with?

10/25/2011, 07:48 AM	#2
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	I think you should have something closer to a 6500K which can be had as a regular daylight rated CFL. My lighting schedule for sump/ chaeto is 10 pm to 6 am. __________________ 130 lbs Tonga LR, GFO and Carbon reactors, Tunze ozmolator ATO, 2- 20 gal QT tanks, Current Tank Info: 80 gal display 48L X 24H X16D, 2 MP-40's, Odyssea 2-250W MH 4-HO T-5 Actinic's, 80 lbs Aragonite sand, 4 - 150W titanium heaters, Reeflo Baracuda return pump, 150gal sump, Filter Guys Reef Miser 6 stage + 1 Dual RO/DI, LifeReef 48" Skimmer

10/25/2011, 09:09 AM	#4
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	6500K and do opposite of your tank's schedule... __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/25/2011, 01:36 PM	#5
carolgyrl1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: palm springs, ca Posts: 230	dustin 1300, I am getting cheato too, why do opposite of the dt lights? __________________ 240 display tank.72x30x24,125 lb live rock, yellow tang, hippo tang, royal gamma basslet,6 chromis, 6 line, hoevens wrasse, green mandarin, catalina goby, purple firefish, 2 oscellaris, 3 resplendant anthias,emerald crabs, hermits, 2 red banded cleaner shrimp,red starfish, anemone, colt coral, leathers, frogspawn, torch, mushrooms,35 gallon sump, mp40 vortec , maxijet, phosban reactor, 1/2 hp chiller, led lighting, moonlights, closed loop, water leak, temp, and power detector, secure view camera so I can see my fishies anytime! Current Tank Info: 240 gallon fish and reef

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10/25/2011, 07:51 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I use a 16 watt compact fluorescent flood light 5400K bulb and run it for 17 hours a day (opposite the main tank's highest lighting period). You should use a bulb in the upper 4K to lower 6K range for maximum growth. It is also important that the cheato ball is up near the water surface for maximum light. I have my cheato ball sitting up on live rock, but you can build an egg crate platform for it also. I flip the cheato over twice a week to even out the exposure.

10/25/2011, 03:16 PM	#7
dava6711 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England, UK Posts: 140	I've got a 35w (155w equivalent) 5000k cfl lamp on a reverse photo period over my Chaetomorpha, the growth is amazing, the lamp runs cool compared to a regular incandescent lamp (you can hold the lamp while it's running), they're cheap (about £9 online), readily available and last a long time!

10/25/2011, 03:51 PM	#8
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	I use a cheap 6500k cfl spotlight from the hardware store. Works great and the spotlight keeps the light on the chaeto ball where it's needed.