could it be?

For the last couple months I've had a bit of nitrate trouble causing brown film algae to cloud up a large portion of the glass overnight every night entailing lots of scraping. 3 or 4 days ago I added a baseball sized clump of chaeto and a 30 dollar 2x9 watt coralife PC to to the first half of my wet/dry. The second morning from the day that I added that clump of chaeto the film algae was WAY down. The glass was almost clear!!! Could it possibly have worked that quick?

 

Why not? You have your refug on a reverse lighting cycle?


Luna

 

maybe u might just be at the in of an algae bloom then again the chaeto might have out did the algae for consumption of nutrients

 

There are so many variables in this hobby that a definitive answer is impossible. You'd have to establish with certainty, that the nitrates were the culprit in your brown film algae accumulation. That's unlikely.

But--I suppose anything is possible. Was it the baseball sized clump of chaeto that cured your ills? Probably not. Is it the main contributing factor in your particular scenario where for one night; you didn't have to scrape? Maybe.

On the other hand--maybe not.

Matt had a point when he coined the phrase "Go slow, let it grow." That also suggests, go slow, stop it from growing. Also, go slow, and see what happens, or doesn't happen, (or stops happening, or happens more, etc. . . ).

No matter what anyone tells you, how well intentioned, well thought out, or how much knowledge or experience stands behind their words; one thing is for sure. Time will tell.

Time is always on your side. Your answer will become apparent after some has elapsed. If in a week you find your glass is still clear; then yes! Your bit of chaeto did the trick. IMO, more likely it's a combination of variables. Most likely, you'll never have a definitive answer. We're far from perfecting this hobby. Even further from establishing a cause and effect relationship for all that occurs in our reef tanks. What all the "heavy hitters" have in common in this hobby--is that they've maintained their block of reef without incident for some time.

When you become more experienced, and more attuned to what causes create what effect--you'll be better able to address your own question.

Don't you hate it when one question answered results in only more questions?

 

I am a big fan of the saying “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” perhaps it applies here, perhaps not.

Can the cheato absorb the nitrates that quickly – well, I am also a fan of the saying “anything is possible”. Tho I sincerely doubt it J

I wish you were testing your nitrates each day and were taking note of any visible cheato growth – that may have provided the insight required. I’d urge you to continue testing for nitrates, well – everything actually. I am not sold on the silver bullet theory, but I am willing to stand in your corner and cheer (loudly). At the end of the day regardless of the reason, you won the fight – that’s worth a beer in my book. Good for you !

 

Hey, I don't care what's going on to stop it. All I know is that the glass is clearer. My nitrates read up to 40-50 ppm, which is when I decided that the chaeto was necessary. I was so elated (and time devoid) that I haven't tested since the chaeto went in. I'll have to do that and get back to you guys.

 

ro/di?

 

don't have the dough