How much Chaeto is too much Cheato?

Misterchinn · 01/20/2010, 10:58 PM

So my softball sized ball of Chaeto in my fuge is now a soccerball sized ball of Chaeto.

I stretch it out and roll it every few days, to try to get light to all sides. It still has a little room left in the fuge maybe 2 inches in each direction.

Question: When should I harvest? Should I just let it grow out to the edges and fill up the fuge and get denser or would thinning it out actually be better for nutrient uptake?

Sisterlimonpot · 01/20/2010, 11:00 PM

don't let it get dense, trim it back when it starts to pack tightly.

Octoshark · 01/20/2010, 11:01 PM

Well how big is your display tank and refuge? Don't let it get TOO dense. That would run the risk of the middle of the clump not receiving enough light, etc

If it only has about 2 inches of space on each side then it sounds like that is about as large as you would want it to get.

Aquarist007 · 01/20/2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misterchinn

So my softball sized ball of Chaeto in my fuge is now a soccerball sized ball of Chaeto.

I stretch it out and roll it every few days, to try to get light to all sides. It still has a little room left in the fuge maybe 2 inches in each direction.

Question: When should I harvest? Should I just let it grow out to the edges and fill up the fuge and get denser or would thinning it out actually be better for nutrient uptake?

Harvest it once a week. Its not the amount of cheato that is important but its growth rate. Increasing the growth rate uptakes more nitrates and phosphates from the system. Harvesting removes the nitrates and phosphates permanently from your system

Harvesting more frequently, ripping the ends of the chaeto when you harvest, keeping the lights on for about 16 hours a day and giving a dark time, and adding iron occasionally all increase the growth rate of the cheato

Shane Hoffman · 01/20/2010, 11:32 PM

When your seven year old tells you that you need to "mow the grass in the little tank thats under the big tank" you have to much cheato.......atleast thats how I know!!!

afernandez · 01/21/2010, 06:40 AM

Made me look at mine

and it sure is time some of the top Is out of the water! It grew rather quick even though I started with a good bunch

Aquarist007 · 01/21/2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane Hoffman

When your seven year old tells you that you need to "mow the grass in the little tank thats under the big tank" you have to much cheato.......atleast thats how I know!!!

Love it :

and when you find leggo pieces in the sump its time for a water change

Jstdv8 · 01/21/2010, 03:25 PM

i found two pieces of a banana in mine a couple days ago

Octoshark · 01/21/2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

Love it :

and when you find leggo pieces in the sump its time for a water change

Lol, someone was having fun

bertoni · 01/21/2010, 04:52 PM

If the Chaetomorpha is supposed to export nutrients, it needs to be trimmed and removed in order to do so. When the growth is limited by space, that's a good time to trim, but it takes some judgement, or guessing.

01/20/2010, 10:58 PM	#1
Misterchinn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 84	How much Chaeto is too much Cheato? So my softball sized ball of Chaeto in my fuge is now a soccerball sized ball of Chaeto. I stretch it out and roll it every few days, to try to get light to all sides. It still has a little room left in the fuge maybe 2 inches in each direction. Question: When should I harvest? Should I just let it grow out to the edges and fill up the fuge and get denser or would thinning it out actually be better for nutrient uptake?

01/20/2010, 11:00 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	don't let it get dense, trim it back when it starts to pack tightly. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/20/2010, 11:01 PM	#3
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Well how big is your display tank and refuge? Don't let it get TOO dense. That would run the risk of the middle of the clump not receiving enough light, etc If it only has about 2 inches of space on each side then it sounds like that is about as large as you would want it to get. __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

01/20/2010, 11:32 PM	#5
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	When your seven year old tells you that you need to "mow the grass in the little tank thats under the big tank" you have to much cheato.......atleast thats how I know!!! __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

01/21/2010, 06:40 AM	#6
afernandez Never Quit!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new york city! Posts: 1,505	Made me look at mine and it sure is time some of the top Is out of the water! It grew rather quick even though I started with a good bunch __________________ Arlin- Take your time and do it right. Current Tank Info: 120g Apex controller, (2) mp40w Es ,(3) Mp10W Es, Alfa vertex 170, 8 bulb ATI Dimable Sunpower,REEFOCTOPUS-BB-10000, Tunze Ato . 21G MINI-Reef, 250w MH, Mp10Wes

01/21/2010, 03:25 PM	#8
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	i found two pieces of a banana in mine a couple days ago

01/21/2010, 04:52 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the Chaetomorpha is supposed to export nutrients, it needs to be trimmed and removed in order to do so. When the growth is limited by space, that's a good time to trim, but it takes some judgement, or guessing. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni