Chaeto reactor not doing so well.

Mr. Manty · 05/15/2017, 09:30 PM

I have had this chaeto reactor running for 2 weeks now on a month cycled tank and have had noticeable growth - maybe doubled in volume from the baseball size it was.

But now I am seeing some brown growth on top of the chaeto which was once bright green (see below) and on the acrylic. Some of the chaeto is even becoming pale, just look closely at the photos.

I am guessing this is some cyano or diatom that is covering the chaeto and blocking light and/or respiration .

I have very high nutrient levels and I run the lights 24/7. Running the lights 24/7 should not be a problem as I have seen many do this with macro reactors with no issues and great growth. It seems to just be stunted by this brown growth. Or maybe that is not what haa stunted it, I do not know.

Any tips?

scuzy · 05/15/2017, 09:38 PM

Mines only on reverse cycle and its doing great. It started off brown like your butt then overtime turn bright green.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mr. Manty · 05/15/2017, 09:41 PM

Is the brown just a natural step? Should I wait it out? Has yours been on reverse cycle since day one?

RCS82 · 05/15/2017, 09:44 PM

That looks great Scuzy. What kind of led string are you using if you don't mind?

scuzy · 05/15/2017, 09:47 PM

The ones from marine depot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

scuzy · 05/15/2017, 09:48 PM

Mine started like yours the ones one the right. Then when I came home from vacation it all off a sudden turned bright green and super clean.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mr. Manty · 05/15/2017, 09:49 PM

I am using the same strip. So should I just wait the brown out?

scuzy · 05/15/2017, 10:41 PM

Give it a week or two that's what happen to mine

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

coralfish · 05/15/2017, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

Mines only on reverse cycle and its doing great. It started off brown like your butt then overtime turn bright green.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

"...brown like your butt...."

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

scuzy · 05/15/2017, 11:15 PM

Oops when I said but it turn into butt

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

RCS82 · 05/16/2017, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

The ones from marine depot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Butt thanks anyways

Mr. Manty · 05/16/2017, 07:15 AM

Scuzy -

Was it a relatively new tank when you had the brown outbreak? I think it might be a diatom outbreak i am having.

scuzy · 05/16/2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Manty

Scuzy -

Was it a relatively new tank when you had the brown outbreak? I think it might be a diatom outbreak i am having.

Nah my tanks been running for two years

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mr. Manty · 05/16/2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

Nah my tanks been running for two years

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Maaaan.... I just wish i had some clue as to what was the cause so that i can prevent this and know what changed when yours cleared up.

scuzy · 05/16/2017, 12:58 PM

I asked the same question a few weeks back. It's like it cleared and the whole reactor walls no longer had stuff stick to it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mr. Manty · 05/16/2017, 01:09 PM

Maybe 24/7 lighting only works in low nutrients which discourage mircro growth on the macro algae. I have very high nitrates atm.

Maybe the chaeto lowered nutrients enough to not encourage that kind of brown growth?

Mr. Manty · 05/16/2017, 08:29 PM

Im all but certain it is just something you have to deal with when you have high nutrients. I washed the chaeto off today and it was bright green underneath.

Mr. Manty · 05/16/2017, 08:32 PM

[IMG]http://*******.com/r/25auavo/9[/IMG]

This is it now lol

scuzy · 05/17/2017, 12:09 AM

Picture don't work

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mr. Manty · 05/17/2017, 07:40 AM

I think this will work? i dont know how to post pics in replies yet i guess

Heuristic · 05/17/2017, 07:59 AM

What are the benefits of running a reverse cycle?

sde1500 · 05/17/2017, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heuristic

What are the benefits of running a reverse cycle?

Balances PH.

Mr. Manty · 05/17/2017, 10:42 AM

I don't turn lights on in my tank except to view the tank because it is a peacock mantis tank. They don't like light.

Vio · 05/17/2017, 07:10 PM

I think that kind of reactor may work for 5 Gal. tank, if you really want to see drop on PO4 and Nitrate have to be a "way" much bigger.
i use 90 Gal. tank (refuge) for 300 Gal. tank, yes i do NOT use GFO anymore.

sde1500 · 05/17/2017, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vio

I think that kind of reactor may work for 5 Gal. tank, if you really want to see drop on PO4 and Nitrate have to be a "way" much bigger.

i use 90 Gal. tank (refuge) for 300 Gal. tank, yes i do NOT use GFO anymore.

Plenty have used this type reactor with a lot of success.

05/15/2017, 09:44 PM	#4
RCS82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Sherwood Park, AB, Canada Posts: 273	That looks great Scuzy. What kind of led string are you using if you don't mind? __________________ After about a 16 year break from fish keeping, Wow, how things have changed. Current Tank Info: 90g, mixed reef, I hope haha

05/15/2017, 09:48 PM	#6
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Chaeto reactor not doing so well. Mine started like yours the ones one the right. Then when I came home from vacation it all off a sudden turned bright green and super clean. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/15/2017, 09:38 PM	#2
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Mines only on reverse cycle and its doing great. It started off brown like your butt then overtime turn bright green. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/15/2017, 09:41 PM	#3
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	Is the brown just a natural step? Should I wait it out? Has yours been on reverse cycle since day one?

05/15/2017, 09:47 PM	#5
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	The ones from marine depot Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/15/2017, 09:49 PM	#7
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	I am using the same strip. So should I just wait the brown out?

05/15/2017, 10:41 PM	#8
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Give it a week or two that's what happen to mine Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/15/2017, 11:15 PM	#10
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Oops when I said but it turn into butt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/16/2017, 07:15 AM	#12
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	Scuzy - Was it a relatively new tank when you had the brown outbreak? I think it might be a diatom outbreak i am having.

05/16/2017, 12:58 PM	#15
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	I asked the same question a few weeks back. It's like it cleared and the whole reactor walls no longer had stuff stick to it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/16/2017, 01:09 PM	#16
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	Maybe 24/7 lighting only works in low nutrients which discourage mircro growth on the macro algae. I have very high nitrates atm. Maybe the chaeto lowered nutrients enough to not encourage that kind of brown growth?

05/16/2017, 08:29 PM	#17
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	Im all but certain it is just something you have to deal with when you have high nutrients. I washed the chaeto off today and it was bright green underneath.

05/16/2017, 08:32 PM	#18
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	[IMG]http://*******.com/r/25auavo/9[/IMG] This is it now lol

05/17/2017, 12:09 AM	#19
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Picture don't work Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/17/2017, 07:59 AM	#21
Heuristic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Sacramento Posts: 295	What are the benefits of running a reverse cycle?

05/17/2017, 10:42 AM	#23
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	I don't turn lights on in my tank except to view the tank because it is a peacock mantis tank. They don't like light.