chaeto not growing

ddckec6972 · 03/04/2018, 09:35 PM

ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS WITH NO GROWTH in my refug. What gives. nitrates and phosphates at about 0. seems odd to strive for low levels of these two nu-truants if they are needed for growth. i have a compact fluorescent and a led light over my refug. on in the evening

ddckec6972 · 03/04/2018, 09:46 PM

nicrew specs

JohnnyHildo · 03/04/2018, 09:58 PM

zero nutrients isn't doing your chaeto any favours. both macro algae and coral need at least trace nutrients to thrive.

ddckec6972 · 03/04/2018, 10:11 PM

im thinking a new bulb. heres what i got in the lamp. there are traces of each. 10 MAYBE 20 on the Nitrates and very low phos, Dont remember the last test results. so should i raise the nitrate levels? i strives so hard to get them low according to the advice from this group. was that a mistake? cycle the tank cycle the tank thats all i heard for weeks. nitrates need to be low. they said. its a sign of a cyled tank they said,

Phixman · 03/05/2018, 03:18 AM

Well, if your phosphates are 0, and the chaeto isn't removing that, then that's probably why. Are you running Carbon? Also, I would take the chaeto out of the the bag and let it float around , maybe it isn't getting enough light, I run my red leds for about 12 hours a day on mine. Also, flow might be too low? I've heard some flow helps.

ddckec6972 · 03/05/2018, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phixman

Well, if your phosphates are 0, and the chaeto isn't removing that, then that's probably why. Are you running Carbon? Also, I would take the chaeto out of the the bag and let it float around , maybe it isn't getting enough light,.

Im not running carbon, but am running a GFO Reactor, the bag is so that the chaeto does not go everywhere. when i first got it, i floated it with no bag and it SLOWLY separated into a bazillion pieces. and was clogging up everything.so the bag. i was worry about the light to but its still a good solid emerald green color and there are small hair shape pieces of it starting to grow thru the bag. the bag holes are large enough to pull thru 4 stir coffee stir sticks.

Goldeneagle126 · 03/05/2018, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddckec6972

ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS WITH NO GROWTH in my refug. What gives. nitrates and phosphates at about 0. seems odd to strive for low levels of these two nu-truants if they are needed for growth. i have a compact fluorescent and a led light over my refug. on in the evening

I not replying about the growth , but the mercury vapour in those bulbs will rot the skin off your body if broken and exposed to it ! Be careful

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nereefpat · 03/05/2018, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddckec6972

ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS WITH NO GROWTH in my refug. What gives. nitrates and phosphates at about 0.

It's because nitrates and phosphates are zero, and also because you are running GFO without having high phosphates. I would only use GFO for a phosphate problem.

The goal of chaeto is to reduce N and P, not to grow chaeto.

travisstewart · 03/05/2018, 10:10 AM

I have noticed issues with my chaeto growth due to how your sump is designed. Yours looks a lot like mine in that the water does not have to flow through the chaeto are. I have noticed with the new style sumps, water works from one end of sump to the other. All water passing through the chaeto. Giving this a little flow as well. Water in your fuge area looks like it may not be moving out of that chamber so no new nutrient rich water is helping with growth.

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travisstewart · 03/05/2018, 10:11 AM

I would also remove from bag and let tumble

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lapin · 03/05/2018, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

It's because nitrates and phosphates are zero, and also because you are running GFO without having high phosphates. I would only use GFO for a phosphate problem.

The goal of chaeto is to reduce N and P, not to grow chaeto.

+1 on this. So if you want to grow chaeto get rid of the GFO. Start dosing phyto for your corals and pods. You will see your nitrates and phosphates rise. Then your chaeto will grow like mad.

hegeh · 03/05/2018, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

It's because nitrates and phosphates are zero, and also because you are running GFO without having high phosphates. I would only use GFO for a phosphate problem.

The goal of chaeto is to reduce N and P, not to grow chaeto.

+1

My macroalgae has not been growing for months. Then one day my skimmer overflow and the skimmate released into my sump.. poof! My macroalgae grow 200% in one week.. haha so why worry when everything is under control

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bertoni · 03/05/2018, 08:06 PM

I'd guess that the alga is limited by light or by the nutrient levels, possibly both. If you want the Chaetomorpha to grow much, then I'd start by increasing the light. I agree that getting rid of the bag might help growth, although some of the Chaetomorpha might get into the display. 13W isn't a lot of light. If that doesn't help, some fertilizer of some sort would help. I'm not sure that it's worth the trouble or cost of adding lights and alga food, though.

03/04/2018, 09:35 PM	#1
ddckec6972 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 107	chaeto not growing ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS WITH NO GROWTH in my refug. What gives. nitrates and phosphates at about 0. seems odd to strive for low levels of these two nu-truants if they are needed for growth. i have a compact fluorescent and a led light over my refug. on in the evening

03/04/2018, 09:58 PM	#3
JohnnyHildo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 669	zero nutrients isn't doing your chaeto any favours. both macro algae and coral need at least trace nutrients to thrive. __________________ 120G Standard - 40G Sump. Apex - DOS - ATI Current Tank Info: Acros - Zoas - Palys

03/04/2018, 10:11 PM	#4
ddckec6972 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 107	im thinking a new bulb. heres what i got in the lamp. there are traces of each. 10 MAYBE 20 on the Nitrates and very low phos, Dont remember the last test results. so should i raise the nitrate levels? i strives so hard to get them low according to the advice from this group. was that a mistake? cycle the tank cycle the tank thats all i heard for weeks. nitrates need to be low. they said. its a sign of a cyled tank they said, Last edited by ddckec6972; 03/04/2018 at 10:25 PM.

03/05/2018, 08:06 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd guess that the alga is limited by light or by the nutrient levels, possibly both. If you want the Chaetomorpha to grow much, then I'd start by increasing the light. I agree that getting rid of the bag might help growth, although some of the Chaetomorpha might get into the display. 13W isn't a lot of light. If that doesn't help, some fertilizer of some sort would help. I'm not sure that it's worth the trouble or cost of adding lights and alga food, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/04/2018, 09:46 PM	#2
ddckec6972 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 107	nicrew specs

03/05/2018, 03:18 AM	#5
Phixman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 176	Well, if your phosphates are 0, and the chaeto isn't removing that, then that's probably why. Are you running Carbon? Also, I would take the chaeto out of the the bag and let it float around , maybe it isn't getting enough light, I run my red leds for about 12 hours a day on mine. Also, flow might be too low? I've heard some flow helps.

03/05/2018, 10:10 AM	#9
travisstewart Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 165	I have noticed issues with my chaeto growth due to how your sump is designed. Yours looks a lot like mine in that the water does not have to flow through the chaeto are. I have noticed with the new style sumps, water works from one end of sump to the other. All water passing through the chaeto. Giving this a little flow as well. Water in your fuge area looks like it may not be moving out of that chamber so no new nutrient rich water is helping with growth. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/05/2018, 10:11 AM	#10
travisstewart Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 165	I would also remove from bag and let tumble Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk