Slow flow causing chaeto to not grow?

Recliner · 03/20/2013, 11:03 AM

I've had my 150 tank running with fish in it for 6-7 months now and my chaeto is the same size as when I first got it back then. I went through a time for several months of nitrate slowly going down from 40 to 0. I've had several algae types growing in my DT that thrived and were hard to get out. I've tried 2 different lights in my fuge as well as 24/7 lights and 12 hours opposite the DT.
The only constant I can think of is my return pump has been the same 635 Gph pump. I have a 3.5-4' head so the flow through my fuge is probably 500 or less.
What's the opinion on best flow through a fuge?

thegrun · 03/20/2013, 11:47 AM

If your nitrates and phosphates are at or close to zero and you don't have problems with algae growth in the DT the likely issue is lack of food (which is a good thing, provided your corals still look good). If on the otherhand you are fighting hair algae in the DT there may be issues in the refugium. A little more flow may help (how big is the actual refugium where the chaeto is growing?), but my initial guess is that is not the problem. You may want to check your iron levels, although dosing iron can cause DT algae to grow so it's a two bladed sword.

worm5406 · 03/20/2013, 12:22 PM

I am fighting HA in the DT but that is the reason that my Cheato is not growing as fast as I want it to.

I went from a canister setup to a sump setup with cheato. So I was behind the curve when I upgraded from the old 120.

As I take away the HA in the DT I know my cheato will start to see it and grow.

Recliner · 03/20/2013, 12:24 PM

The entire time my phosphates have been .25 (just got a gfo reactor last week to fix that) I haven't had hair algae in my DT. I've had (and apparently successfully removed)
Caulerpa, Bubble, and Byropsis.
Currently dealing with Cyano and Dinoflagellate
My fuge is 36" long 15" wide and the water level is 10" deep

worm5406 · 03/20/2013, 12:28 PM

I started a GFO about 4 weeks ago and it is doing nicely. I just changed the material this past weekend.

SGT_York · 03/20/2013, 12:30 PM

do you have picture proof? I swear nothing is growing until I compare pics.

Recliner · 03/20/2013, 12:35 PM

I just started with 8 tablespoons, going to test tomorrow to see if I need to switch it out yet.
What's the easiest way to get the gfo out of the reactor to change it?

worm5406 · 03/20/2013, 12:35 PM

Yeah Mine is NOT growing yet... It will..

Quote:

As I take away the HA in the DT I know my cheato will start to see it and grow.

Recliner · 03/20/2013, 12:36 PM

No pics, but in 7 months shouldnt it have had growth that would make me have to notice? It looks the same and isn't filling up the section it's in at all

Cymonous · 03/20/2013, 12:49 PM

That's hard to say. Some things grow fast, some slow. It depends on what it has to feed on. What kind of lights have you used?

You may want to take a picture of it now and compare it in a month or two.

Recliner · 03/20/2013, 12:58 PM

I used a 6500k cfl bulb from lowes for several months and then switched to a Jbj 25w fuge light
http://www.amazon.com/JBJ-Macro-Adju...ywords=jbj+25w

I don't know how old the bulb in the Jbj is (I bought it used) do they have about a 12 month usable life like MH or t5 bulbs?

worm5406 · 03/20/2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recliner

I just started with 8 tablespoons, going to test tomorrow to see if I need to switch it out yet.
What's the easiest way to get the gfo out of the reactor to change it?

I just took at apart, drained the water into a fish scoop, into the toilet and flushed any small particles down the drain. I flushed a few times. I did not want it to get stuck in the trap of the sink or any garbage disposals.

The GFO I put in the trash and I rinsed the container out.

I added new to mine back and started it all back up.

03/20/2013, 11:03 AM	#1
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	Slow flow causing chaeto to not grow? I've had my 150 tank running with fish in it for 6-7 months now and my chaeto is the same size as when I first got it back then. I went through a time for several months of nitrate slowly going down from 40 to 0. I've had several algae types growing in my DT that thrived and were hard to get out. I've tried 2 different lights in my fuge as well as 24/7 lights and 12 hours opposite the DT. The only constant I can think of is my return pump has been the same 635 Gph pump. I have a 3.5-4' head so the flow through my fuge is probably 500 or less. What's the opinion on best flow through a fuge?

03/20/2013, 12:22 PM	#3
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	I am fighting HA in the DT but that is the reason that my Cheato is not growing as fast as I want it to. I went from a canister setup to a sump setup with cheato. So I was behind the curve when I upgraded from the old 120. As I take away the HA in the DT I know my cheato will start to see it and grow. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

03/20/2013, 12:28 PM	#5
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	I started a GFO about 4 weeks ago and it is doing nicely. I just changed the material this past weekend. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

03/20/2013, 12:49 PM	#10
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	That's hard to say. Some things grow fast, some slow. It depends on what it has to feed on. What kind of lights have you used? You may want to take a picture of it now and compare it in a month or two. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

03/20/2013, 11:47 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If your nitrates and phosphates are at or close to zero and you don't have problems with algae growth in the DT the likely issue is lack of food (which is a good thing, provided your corals still look good). If on the otherhand you are fighting hair algae in the DT there may be issues in the refugium. A little more flow may help (how big is the actual refugium where the chaeto is growing?), but my initial guess is that is not the problem. You may want to check your iron levels, although dosing iron can cause DT algae to grow so it's a two bladed sword.

03/20/2013, 12:24 PM	#4
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	The entire time my phosphates have been .25 (just got a gfo reactor last week to fix that) I haven't had hair algae in my DT. I've had (and apparently successfully removed) Caulerpa, Bubble, and Byropsis. Currently dealing with Cyano and Dinoflagellate My fuge is 36" long 15" wide and the water level is 10" deep

03/20/2013, 12:30 PM	#6
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	do you have picture proof? I swear nothing is growing until I compare pics.

03/20/2013, 12:35 PM	#7
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	I just started with 8 tablespoons, going to test tomorrow to see if I need to switch it out yet. What's the easiest way to get the gfo out of the reactor to change it?

03/20/2013, 12:36 PM	#9
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	No pics, but in 7 months shouldnt it have had growth that would make me have to notice? It looks the same and isn't filling up the section it's in at all

03/20/2013, 12:58 PM	#11
Recliner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 289	I used a 6500k cfl bulb from lowes for several months and then switched to a Jbj 25w fuge light http://www.amazon.com/JBJ-Macro-Adju...ywords=jbj+25w I don't know how old the bulb in the Jbj is (I bought it used) do they have about a 12 month usable life like MH or t5 bulbs?