PDA

View Full Version : Chaeto removal is phosphates rising


jiminy_crime
01/31/2016, 11:41 PM
Is it important to remove chaeto every so often to keep the phosphates from rising? I was looking for a way to keep nitrates low so I placed some chaeto in the my return section of the protein skimmer and wonder if I am seeing Phosphates rise due to the macro algae in the skimmer? It measured at a 0.25 most recently.

bertoni
02/01/2016, 01:10 AM
Eventually, the Chaetomorpha will stop growing in total volume, and the dying parts will start releasing phosphate at the same rate that the growing portions are consuming it. Generally, if a tank needs phosphate export, you'll need to remove something from the tank to reduce the level.

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 08:03 AM
Good info. The section where I place the chaeto in the protein skimmer didn't have a lot of room to grow. I noticed there was some brown parts in the chaeto. Is that the dying material? Should I cut it in half and throw half of it away?

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 08:16 AM
Also Johnathan, would you consider this too heavy a load on a 36g reef:

*1 young fairy wrasse
*2 young oscillaris clowns
*1 small BTA

Rest is inverts and corals. I was told I should place the chaeto in a mesh bag and place in the return section of the CPR bakpak since it has a clear acrylic and placed light on it. Could the mesh bag be restricting the chaeto and causing die off? Maybe take it out of the mesh bag and let it rest in the bakpak?

rt67ghy
02/01/2016, 08:28 AM
You could turn the chaeto over a couple of times a week unless it's already tumbling due to flow. Or, if there's no more space for expansion, I'd cut half and throw it away. It would help to establish a routine such as getting rid of half every fortnight. I'm having great success with chaeto keeping my PO4 and NO3 low and now don't need to run GFO. You could also provide more light either in intensity or duration. Both of these methods worked well for me.

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 08:37 AM
Would you remove the chaeto from the mesh bag? Was that a poor suggestion that I was given?

downbeach
02/01/2016, 09:22 AM
When I used chaeto, I had enough flow to keep it slowly tumbling, I didn't use a mesh bag. You need to trim it in order to export/remove the excess NO3 and PO4 that is has taken up, otherwise as/if it begins to decompose it simply adds all that back into your system.

outy
02/01/2016, 10:59 AM
Would you remove the chaeto from the mesh bag?

Yes that is dead wrong.

It is releasing phos back in your tank



It Is supposed to be in direct light growing not in a bag.

dreaddinit
02/01/2016, 11:04 AM
I have mine in a Walmart soap dish suction cupped to the inside of the tank. Stays nice and lit and also sways inside the dish with the flow. I don't have a sump. Here's a pic....

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160201/fe7382b8d673d11b26a906206a41f680.jpg

dreaddinit
02/01/2016, 11:06 AM
Here's a better one

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160201/bff2522413d1b8e2c6d979cb5ee1ee71.jpg

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 12:08 PM
Super helpful guys. Will post a pic of what I am thinking of changing when I get home. Good stuff and thanks for help

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 07:16 PM
Thoughts on improvised skimmer/hob refugium? Lol

Should I remove some chaeto or does that like like enough?

Also used standard marine land LED display light that almost spans the length of the skimmer perfectly.

bertoni
02/01/2016, 08:07 PM
The refugium looks okay. Hopefully, the Chaetomorpha will grow and spread.

jiminy_crime
02/01/2016, 08:36 PM
Should I cut half of that out and give the rest more room to grow? I ditched the mesh bag by hadn't cut any out yet.

bertoni
02/01/2016, 09:36 PM
Also Johnathan, would you consider this too heavy a load on a 36g reef:

*1 young fairy wrasse
*2 young oscillaris clowns
*1 small BTA

Oops, missed this. I don't know how large the fairy wrasse might get, but ocellaris clowns will be fine in that tank.

I might spread the Chaetomorpha out a bit, and a bit of trimming probably wouldn't hurt. Either way, the alga should start spreading and growing.

rt67ghy
02/02/2016, 09:23 AM
Your chaeto is showing dense growth so spreading it out as bertoni suggested would help the light to penetrate through it. Try to make it occupy the whole container and then trim after it gets dense again.

jiminy_crime
02/02/2016, 09:43 AM
Ok sweet info.

Yeah Jonathan I plan to trade wrasse in a few months. Didn't realize how big they could get before I bought him. I really want to stay with 2 clowns, a watchman goby and possibly a 6 like wrasse.

bertoni
02/02/2016, 07:33 PM
That probably should be a reasonable stocking level for a 36 g tank.

CoralNerd
02/04/2016, 01:03 AM
Google chaeto sandwich, it's an excellent way to grow chaeto. [emoji106]