Chaeto fail

[jclaus]

is it safe to assume that if you don't cycle your sump tank lights, your chaeto will do more harm than good?

[rfgonzo]

Are You talking about changing the lights?

[jclaus]

Turning them off and on.

[criticalencore]

Will probably grow faster if you give it a couple hour break at least but i of
Don't think it would re release nutrients like calupera would

[ca1ore]

I have always run my refugia with the same lighting cycle as my display in part because I often use them as a place to keep a fish or Invert as necessary. Dunno if running the lights 24/7 would affect chaeto specifically, but seems to me any algae would need a cycle. I run my ATS 12 on/12 off also, just on an opposite cycle from the display.

[rfgonzo]

It really doesn't matter some people Run lights 24/7 others run their lights on a cycle. Each way will be fine, is there a specific problem you're having?

[Raul-7]

I read a study where plants grow best with a rest period; I mean algae/plants can't keep photosynthesizing continuously.

[criticalencore]

Yes at some point i imagine the plants need to exhale

[jclaus]

Just finished cycling my tank and then adding most of my corals and having a small algae bloom. My chat looks like it is dieing off a little. Bought a small clip on desk lamp thinking that might be enough.

[rfgonzo]

^^^^ oh boy, someone should explain this to the people that run lights 24/7 and have huge gardens of Chaeto. Most plants will do better with a certain time frame without light, Chaeto on the other hand is fine with light 24/7 or a break in light.

[Goldndoodle]

Just finished cycling my tank and then adding most of my corals and having a small algae bloom. My chat looks like it is dieing off a little. Bought a small clip on desk lamp thinking that might be enough.

If you just finished cycling, is your bio-load still really low?

Maybe your water isn't "dirty" enough for the cheato to get anything to eat?

[Reef Frog]

I'm not sure what you mean by a desk lamp. But that's probably the problem.

[FraggledRock]

I run my fuge lights reverse my DT tank lights.

[FraggledRock]

check my recent thread out

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2476489

[morleyz]

I run mine on a reverse schedule as well. My current tank is the only one that I have experience with Cheato, but I did find that my Cheato did nothing for about 2 months after cycling (although it didn't die off, stayed green the whole time) but then it has been growing like crazy (doubling in size every week). If it's not turning white or dying off, I would just be patient with it (assuming you have an appropriate light for it).

[Kenmx10]

+3 ---- 12/ 7 reverse display tank lighting.

[jclaus]

I changed over and the chaeto looks better.
thanks everyone.

[Savant]

I had a ball of chaeto live in a non-circulating, non-lit, evaporated to 50% original volume 40 Breeder for couple of months. All of the gha and rha died leaving a pristine ball of chaeto. Now it wasnt in complete darkness 24/7 it got some light from the basement cf 10 feet away but the stuff didnt die, didnt grow either. Now its back in the system and growing agian....so take it for what its worth I suppose :bum:

[calistyle]

I run my sump light as soon as display lights go off until display lights come back on.