Did anyone experience any noticeable difference after adding Macro Algae

[dirtyreefer]

I am going to put a ball of cheato in my sump to help battle a bit of nitrates, but I was wondering how much of a difference this makes.

[theatrus]

I was running 10-15ppm with waterchanges, after about a month of adding two species of caulpera I went down to 0.25-2ppm.

[duec22]

I've never had a positive hit in my nirate/nitrite tests since adding cheato.

[Ralph ATL]

nope

[dirtyreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8347635#post8347635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mysterybox
nope

Great feedback, thanks for that great plethora of information :rolleyes: :lol:

[coreno16]

Short term, I couldn't tell you. However, long term thus far i've had pretty good sucess. I added cheato a few months back in prep for coral. Even with my peice of crap my phosphates read 0. How accurate that is i don't know. My nitrates are also little to none although I have to be honest on the fact i haven't tested them in a bit. It grew like crazy for the first few months, and now has hardley grown for a month.

So does it help? From my experiance I'd say yes. Will i continue to use it? Most definatly.

- Cory

[Lordhelmet]

I added some about a year ago. I couldn't really tell you what it did but it grow like and i have not nitrates and phos is 0 as well. do it if you have the room. at the very least you could sell it if someone want some or turn it in to your LFS for store credit.

[damienkee]

slowing down unwanted algae in my main tank. I i have great population of pods in my macro algae compartment.

[twon8]

about three weeks ago i cleaned out the macro tank on my 90 and took 95% of what was in there out, and a few days later i had a cyano bloom, which lasted about a week, by the time it disappeared the chaeto had more than doubled

i think it does make a good difference; i leave the light on 24/7, and last test was 0 for nitrates and phosphates(merck) and i feed often and large amounts.

[Laakmann]

I had my system start with cheato in the fuge and all my tests read 0 for nitrate and phosphate with a pretty maxxed out fish load for my tank and I feed 4 frozen food cubes per day+ cyclopeeze, nori and DT. Tests kits are Sailfert, Red Sea and cheap API ones.

Lol, 3 fist size balls of cheato in a couple of months have now grown to take up a whole 29 g tank, just insane.

[dirtyreefer]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Do I need light in order to keep the cheato or will it be okay in my sump fed by the nutrients alone?

Also, do pods actually thrive and do better if you have macro? I always hear of people saying that their pod population is great with the macro, but don't know why they're related.

[lgoins]

I think macro algea in a sump provides a safe haven and a food source for pods to grow in. I have a fairly large population of pods in the sump, but haven't noticed any in the main display.

[dirtyreefer]

Is lighting absolutely necessary for the macro to grow?

[GMAX]

Yes in my opinion the lighting is crucial. You want a 6.5 K growth bulb. I had a PC light on my refugium with lots of caulerpa but very slow growth, when I decided to switch to Chaeto I also went a got a 20 watt flourescent spotlight rated at 6.5K and a cheap clip on fixture. My growth rates went up astronomically and my small amount of Nitrate suddenly went to zero. I now harvest at least monthly.

[duec22]

Yes, light is a must inorder to get it to grow. I took a clump over to a friends house to try and pick up some of his pods. I threw it in his fuge that does not have a light...three weeks latter is was still there...same size as when I put it in..took it out and brought it back to my tank and put it back in my 5gal HOB fuge which is lite with a 24W T-5 6.5K bulb and it double in a week..

[theatrus]

Light is a must. I'm running 3 15W NO 6.5k fluorescents (leftover from an old planted setup). I have good, but not astronomical growth rates of my caulpera. I run the light 24/7. Also lots of pods live down there, plus my bulldozer pencil urchin.

[coreno16]

A cheap clip on PC spotlight from home depot will cost you a whole, wallet draining 16 bucks, or at the most 20. I know it hurts, but for a 19 watt light I think it is a resonable investment. :lol: you can check out melvs site for info on the lamp and if you can't find the 5100 k lamp at homedepot, they have a 2700 or something like that there which will suffice even though the 5100 will give you better growth. And if you can't find the 5100 and still want it heres the link...
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/Reflectors/1P381951

Best of luck,
Cory

[old salty]

Ever since I added a lump of chaeto, my skimmer pulls out less junk than before.

[panic]

The macro needs a break from light to let the oxygen/co2 cycle in the tank properly. Also a reverse photoperiod will help stabilize ph. I have found it effective for this and also in keeping nitrates at bay in my DSB system. I cannot keep it alive in my bb reef.