Is it better to run chaeto and GFO/Phosban , or just one of them ?

drew930 · 04/20/2013, 10:29 AM

I'm wanting to try chaeto with my new tank. Never done it before , but I've been reading a couple threads which ask which is better. I have a 60 cube with 20-25 gallons in the sump , I have a 8x8 space that chaeto can go into . But I was gonna do GFO and chaeto. Is that not the way to go ?

maddmaxx · 04/20/2013, 02:19 PM

I ran/run my sump with a GFO/Carbon reactor with chaeto in the fuge for yrs wit no problems...

xfactor1315 · 04/20/2013, 02:44 PM

. From my experience chaeto will die because the Gfo will absorb all the phosphates

ksicard · 04/20/2013, 03:51 PM

I run chaeto in the sump along with a GFO reactor, I change my GFO every week.

Colin · 04/20/2013, 03:56 PM

I've ran both at the same time. I took out the GFO reactor to simplify things and haven't noticed a difference.

--C

Afflicted · 04/20/2013, 05:10 PM

My cheato is constantly dying off everytime I get a new batch. Only use a phosphorous pad around the sock filter.

Ralph ATL · 04/20/2013, 06:53 PM

I stopped using chaetomorpha a number of years ago after realizing that it was actually just turning into a nitrate factory that couldn't.....

weekly gfo, carbon, carbon dosing daily, large water changes.....check!

navyfishguy · 04/20/2013, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

I ran/run my sump with a GFO/Carbon reactor with chaeto in the fuge for yrs wit no problems...

+1 I've done this also with no probs

cherubfish pair · 04/20/2013, 08:02 PM

I think redundancy is a plus here. You might want to run a different type of algae that is palatable to fish like uvula. You would be turning excess tank nutrients into nutritious food. Some of these other algae grow just as fast as chaeto and absorb just as much. I will be trying uvula for the first time. I'll start running it sometime in the summer and get it from LA.

saltyair · 04/20/2013, 08:07 PM

I also run gfo/carbon and have a 20 gallon fuge full of cheato.

I also do weekly water changes - and just started carbon dosing

cherubfish pair · 04/20/2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherubfish pair

I think redundancy is a plus here. You might want to run a different type of algae that is palatable to fish like uvula. You would be turning excess tank nutrients into nutritious food. Some of these other algae grow just as fast as chaeto and absorb just as much. I will be trying uvula for the first time. I'll start running it sometime in the summer and get it from LA.

I also run GFO, GAC, biopellets and do frequent water changes.

04/20/2013, 10:29 AM	#1
drew930 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 1,333	Is it better to run chaeto and GFO/Phosban , or just one of them ? I'm wanting to try chaeto with my new tank. Never done it before , but I've been reading a couple threads which ask which is better. I have a 60 cube with 20-25 gallons in the sump , I have a 8x8 space that chaeto can go into . But I was gonna do GFO and chaeto. Is that not the way to go ?

04/20/2013, 02:19 PM	#2
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	I ran/run my sump with a GFO/Carbon reactor with chaeto in the fuge for yrs wit no problems... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

04/20/2013, 06:53 PM	#7
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	I stopped using chaetomorpha a number of years ago after realizing that it was actually just turning into a nitrate factory that couldn't..... weekly gfo, carbon, carbon dosing daily, large water changes.....check! __________________ Ralph Scheriff

04/20/2013, 08:02 PM	#9
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	I think redundancy is a plus here. You might want to run a different type of algae that is palatable to fish like uvula. You would be turning excess tank nutrients into nutritious food. Some of these other algae grow just as fast as chaeto and absorb just as much. I will be trying uvula for the first time. I'll start running it sometime in the summer and get it from LA. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

04/20/2013, 02:44 PM	#3
xfactor1315 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 174	. From my experience chaeto will die because the Gfo will absorb all the phosphates

04/20/2013, 03:51 PM	#4
ksicard Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 538	I run chaeto in the sump along with a GFO reactor, I change my GFO every week.

04/20/2013, 03:56 PM	#5
Colin Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 848	I've ran both at the same time. I took out the GFO reactor to simplify things and haven't noticed a difference. --C

04/20/2013, 05:10 PM	#6
Afflicted Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 29	My cheato is constantly dying off everytime I get a new batch. Only use a phosphorous pad around the sock filter.

04/20/2013, 08:07 PM	#10
saltyair Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 871	I also run gfo/carbon and have a 20 gallon fuge full of cheato. I also do weekly water changes - and just started carbon dosing