Macro algae

How can you tell if a cheato is dying?

 

Mine turned dark dark green/brown & started shrivelling away, but that was from what I can tell was because my ATS was starving it out.

 

I would put my money on color change and shrinkage in size.

 

I was trimming back on mine so I put it in big bucket of mixed salt water.. and yesterday I pulled off what I wanted for my fuge and the rest sat there.. and today it just smelled really bad.. it was mostly the water I rinsed off the algae in.. I pulled it out and rinsed it out, it looks okay I think its a bit darker green, I just put it in a plastic bag and put it in my fuge.. I dont really know why it smelled bad do you thin if it smells bad its dying or dead?

 

Interesting! IME usually it turns white and brittle and just falls apart. Can probably vary though....

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Almost always they turn extremely brittle when they are dying, and color changes from green to brown to white/clear.

 

Okay then I think mines fine

 

The smell might of been from die off of bacteria and other small critters that live in it.

Chaetto will generally discolor if unhealthy/dying

 

Yea it must have been the die off it smelled so nasty.. blehhh I rinsed it off its all good