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View Full Version : Trying to get my chaeto to grow


jener8tionx
01/21/2008, 10:56 AM
I cannot get chaeto to grow in my fuge, I have tried everything I can think of. Should I feed the fuge itself? Could my phosphates just be too low? It just dies back and turns very light green. I am using a 65 W CF LOA light. Pics can be found here:

Death of the Chaeto (http://reefnetwork.com/jener8tionx/weblog/6.html)

luke33
01/21/2008, 11:50 AM
Well, honestly it looks like it needs more light. I had 75w on my fuge and it didn't grow for 8mths, just stayed the same color. It was one of those compact florescent's from lowe's. I then added a 75w halogen to the fuge and wow, whithin two months my cheato went from about 12x12x6 to 30x16x10", it just got huuuuge. I think you need more light.

Furnman
01/21/2008, 11:58 AM
You may want to check Mel's reef for info on this:

http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

thx,
DE

jener8tionx
01/21/2008, 03:55 PM
This is a 65w light with 500w output...not the 65W equivalent bulbs that are really only 18 watts.

aastretch64
01/21/2008, 04:10 PM
Add some flow. Use a maxi-jet or two (size may vary) and definetly get a more powerful light. I had the same problem. My cheato didn't grow for 6 months. Then I put a 16/75 watt halogen in my 10"x7" fuge, added the maji-jet 400 adn it started to grow like a weed.

Alex

Twz
01/21/2008, 05:12 PM
Is this the light he is talking about in the end?
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1P381651&Category_Code=

Runfrumu
01/21/2008, 05:17 PM
I use the medium sized plant grow bulbs from lowes. Mine grows good now that the cyano is gone.

alten78
01/21/2008, 05:44 PM
on the web page you said you had the light on 24/7, just run the fuge light opposite the tank lights. I also used one of those "plant lights," got very little growth. switched to a 6500k cf from homedepot and grows much better.

schigara
01/21/2008, 05:54 PM
I had bits of live rock rubble in my fuge and the cheato would get caught on it and not be able to tumble freely and it almost died.

I took everything out of the fuge except for the DSB and the once almost dead fist size ball is now the size of a basketball and I have to prune it once a week. Cheato must be able to slowly spin and tumble.

Mental1
01/21/2008, 05:56 PM
I have failed 3 times with chaeto -- does it actually need to have enough room to roll? Or as long as there is flow it is okay? Also -- do you think xenia uses up the same amount of nutrients? I can grow xenia like mad!

schigara
01/21/2008, 06:16 PM
I don't think Xenia has anywhere near the capability of nitrate consumption that Cheato has.

All I know about Cheato and tumbling is what I have witnessed. My Cheato almost died until I got it to where it could tumble and roll and then it's growth exploded in just 2 weeks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11653939#post11653939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mental1
I have failed 3 times with chaeto -- does it actually need to have enough room to roll? Or as long as there is flow it is okay? Also -- do you think xenia uses up the same amount of nutrients? I can grow xenia like mad!

strendo
01/21/2008, 06:24 PM
I could never get my Cheato to grow either, then I started dosing Iron and it's growing out of control. Just get some kent (or similar) iron supplement. I have a 200g system and dose about 3tbs every 2 weeks.
I only have 60w of lights on my refugeum and it's growing out of controll.

Mental1
01/21/2008, 07:39 PM
I was afraid of the tumbling thing ... can't do that in my sump section. Got plenty of iron in my water naturally! Got to get my basement sump/fuge going....

frags75
01/21/2008, 08:23 PM
I'm not sure that tumbling is that much of an issue. My fuge is slow flow that it doesnt really have a chance to tumble. My system is low nutrient and no nitrate, so the cheato grows slowly. You just need a good light. I have to prune and thin it out once a month.

DamnPepShrimp
01/21/2008, 08:37 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11653567#post11653567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Twz
Is this the light he is talking about in the end?
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1P381651&Category_Code=

That appears to be the bulb he is talking about. My question is, does it need just a regular light fixture like a reptile light or what do you need to run that bulb? I am going to try it out, see if I get any changes, just need to know what fixture it needs, if anything special.

walkerbrody
01/21/2008, 08:54 PM
I used one of the 28 watt cf bulb 6500 color and it grew like crazy in the fuge on my 29gal. I have 2x55w pc 10k bulbs on my fuge in my 110gal and I grow at the same rate. Neither aquarium had much flow on the chaeto. I turn it every week or three and shake of any collected material.