Fuge Maintenance: Cheato trimming

[zeblisik]

I have a 16.6 gallon fuge, the complete system volume is something like 90 gallons.

So how often should it be trimmed? or is it more appropriate to ask at what size should it be cut down?

i just trimmed it back to a clump about 13x6x7 inches; it was over twice this size prior to trimming.

besides give it away, what does everyone do with it? just toss it in the garbage?

[ACBlinky]

If you can't sell it or give it away, toss it. I throw out a grocery bag full every few weeks -- seems a horrid waste, but what else can I do with it if nobody else wants it?

I trim when the chaeto has outgrown its area of the fuge -- when it starts to become a huge square block, growing out of the water, I know I've waited too long. Depending on the size of the 'fuge, your lighting and nutrient levels, you might have to trim as often as once a week, or you may be able to wait a month or more.

[zeblisik]

i dont think my cheato grows as much as yours, yet i do have nitrates (however i have just started regular maintenance again after a period of neglect).

im curious, how much water flow do you give your cheato? I have mine in a a slow moving mud sump

[Davoaldo]

Why don't people use Caulerpa instead of cheato?

[zeblisik]

caulerpa is banned in some places since it is very invasive, if every released into the wild it could destroy the area, cali has spent millions cleaning it up.
it can also poison your tank if left to do its own thing. if memory serves if it gets a regular photo period, not trimmed back, its propagation cycle is poisonous to tank mates.

also, i think cheato provides a better habitat for critters.

[PoukieBear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11954697#post11954697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Davoaldo
Why don't people use Caulerpa instead of cheato?

If not maintained properly, Cheato can cause problems in your tank. When it goes sexual, it can whipe out your tank. There are some real horror stories about people using cheato, and not knowing how to make sure that it doesn't go sexual.

My fish guy has had cheato in his tank for EVER and has never had a problem with it. Ever. People will come in his store and tell him that he should remove it, it'll destroy everything, blah blah blah... As long as you know how to trim it back and give it the proper light cycle, then you won't have a problem.

Most of the stories you hear of it whiping out a tank are from people who don't know how to look after it properly.

[HammerDude33]

you mean caulerpa..not cheato. chaeto is completely safe.

with that said, i use a mix of 3 different caulerpas-bubble, razor, and some other unidentified type, along with chaeto.
i haven't had any problems with any sexual event.
i have noticed the caulerpas are much better for nutrient uptake due to the 5x as fast growth rate.
i prune the refugium regularly...maybe this is why i have no trouble.
i sell(at 3 dollars a handful) my macros to my LFS. every few weeks i get about 40 dollars credit from them- i haven't paid for salt since i started up this refugium.

[Davoaldo]

So what lighting should be on the caulerpa?

For both the cheato and caulerpa, won't it get into your main tank when they fall apart or when it gets moved around? They will just get sucked up from the sump into the main display.

[HammerDude33]

you need some barrier between the macros and the return pump.
have baffles, and i also use a mesh grate at the top of the baffle, to catch any stray pieces. any caulerpa that enters my tank is quickly devoured by the tangs. the chaeto is eaten by the emerald crabs occasionally.

the lighting i use is a 23 watt 6400k energy saver bulb from home depot, with a cheap home depot relector- total cost 10 bucks.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb239/GORILLA_MONSOON/bulb.jpg

[PoukieBear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11954935#post11954935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HammerDude33
you mean caulerpa..not cheato. chaeto is completely safe.



OOPS, My bad. Caulerpa is right, not cheato.


:o

[R.W.]

poukie bear you should edit that post before someone gets really confused. hah

[zeblisik]

HammerDude33

how much (quantity wise) algae do you sell for 3$?

[HammerDude33]

1 handful.

[SReef]

My Chaeto ball would get huge in the fuge. I would trim it down to about two fist fulls. The excess I would either sell to freinds or trade the LFS for other items.

[zeblisik]

on the topic of fuge maintenance.....

I just bought some new fuge lights at home depot; "n:vision" 27 watt 'daylight'.

and they seem to die if i leave them on for extended periods of time; this morning i got up and the bulb was out except there was some light in the spiral, but it wasnt arc-ing.
i swapped it out for another one and went to work.
when i got home the same thing happened; so i tried the one i had taken out and now it works.

ive been using a 24/7 photo period for my vegetable filters, maybe these bulbs just cant handle it.

has anyone else encountered this?

if it happens again i think ill just return them.

[SReef]

ZEB I can not rember the exact name of the bulb, but I would buy the Plant Grow Light Bulb from home depot. It has a blue tint to it. This one worked well for me. I found that I had to change it about once a month.

[HammerDude33]

buy the 6500k bulb i took the time to show you above. you have to change it out about once a year. it grows macroalgae perfectly.