chaeto question???

[jun_18T]

how do you guys light your chaeto's???? does it really have to be on a reverse light cycle??? and how long does it have to be lighted???

thanks!

[IslandCrow]

It doesn't have to be on a reverse light schedule. That's simply a technique to help stabilize a tank's PH. My chaeto receives light for 12 hours, but anything from 10-16 hours should be fine. For the lighting itself, I use a 26w screw-in compact fluorescent bulb from Lowes (or Home Depot, Walmart, etc.)

[jun_18T]

thank you....that's all i need to know:)

[Jason Donohoe]

I light mine 24/7 and it is growing well. My refugium is an old tank with a canopy so I am using a T8 flourescent bulb.

[plancton]

I´ve always used a lamp that has 2x11watt t5 bulbs 11000k just because I buy this lamps for really cheap price, the chaeto hasn´t grown but at the same time I´ve never had nitrates or phosphates.

[phunkie99]

+1 for 24/7

[IslandCrow]

Chaeto grows best when it's a rest period without light. The 24/7 lighting thing became popular with Caulerpa as a prevention for sporulation (sexual reproduction). That method seems to have transferred to other forms of algae, but it's unnecessary, and probably even detrimental to its health.

[MUCHO REEF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14391935#post14391935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IslandCrow
Chaeto grows best when it's a rest period without light. The 24/7 lighting thing became popular with Caulerpa as a prevention for sporulation (sexual reproduction). That method seems to have transferred to other forms of algae, but it's unnecessary, and probably even detrimental to its health.

+1 and you took the words right out of my mouth. The only added benefit of a 24/7 illumination is for harvesting/selling purposes, not saying that's why one would run it 24/7. Chaeto grows roughly 1 inch per day. A light source is necessary for this growth. I've always used it on a RPP to stabilize PH when the tank isn't illuminated. Running it 24/7 won't harm the system, it's just not necessary for the purposes when use it for.

Mucho Reef

[reefscape15]

Chaeto will grow in almost any lighting condition. I used to have a 26watt 65k bulb over my 2.5gal. hang on fuge and now the fuge only gets the light that bounces off the tank from my 250watt MH. The chaeto still grows great, and i have 4 types of calurpa that are competing for space in there as well, and growing good. Also 2 mangroves