sump setup with chaeto

My dt is 300 litres with dsb about 35kg live rock.tang, long nose butterfly, 3 chromis, 2 damsel, clean up crew.my sump is 150 litres with 3 chambers.foam filter in one,chaeto in 2 and 1000 lph return pump in 3. About 15w sump light running 24/7.prob is my chaeto has a black algae type film growing on it.im wanting more fish but is this black stuff the chaeto dying and what else can i add to overdo the filtration?

 

I only run my sump light for 8 hours. I alternate it to turn on when my DT lights shut off..

 

I run mine 12/12, opposite the DT.

I hope you change that 'foam' filter daily? Get rid of the phone.

15W? That's not enough to grow chaeto for a nano!

 

Todd.. DT 12 & Sump for 12?

 

No, it's not an exact opposite.

DT blues 11, whites 9ish

Chaeto 12/12- as oppostie as I can get!

 

Got it. I wonder if he is using a compact fluoro when he said 15w? My bulb is 100W or 23w compact fluoro equivelant 1600 lumens 5,000K. Is what I'm using strong enough down there? I also have a spare one, should I buy another fixture and hang that too?

 

When I buy a bulb to replace my refuge, I look for something that has 700+ lumens. Just because I think it is more than enough for macroalgae, so far I haven't killed any macro in any of my previous tanks.

 

so basically my compact light isnt enough watts for for my cheato?what should be the minimum watts and what light would you suggest? and the filtration is ok for more fish?I wash the foam everyday just to get rid of any particles in the water that makes its way to the sump

 

YOu can use what you like, and there are many combinations and lights that will grow chaeto well. For a small area, 15W might be OK.
MIne sees 200W 12 hours a day. I also may have more chaeto and more sump area- I dunno

I currently use 2 x 100W equivalent 6500K CFL bulbs, in those clamp on cone shaped reflectors. Very inexspensive- and work well.
In the last 2 years- I've had about $60 worth of store credit for the chaeto alone at my lfs. I also trade frags for store credit to the lfs.
I also give big clumps to anyone who would like some chaeto.

It's good you are cleaing the 'foam' daily. My only concern with this is it becomes it's own detritus trap- that becomes a nitrate factory in your tank- which isn't good.

Reef on, and figure what works best for you and your set up.

 

I run a 100W 6500K CFL bulb just like Todds. It's on the opposite schedule of lights 12/12ish.
A buddy of mine told me to try putting an airstone right in the middle, so I did. Now my chaeto floats at the top of the fuge section and is much more spread out, I suppose it's growing too. It also doesn't collect detritus while sitting on the bottom of the sump. I also run my sump with no sandbed at all.